eBioSpine Co., Ltd., a startup spun off from Hokkaido University (Hokkaido University Hospital), has successfully developed and brought to market the “SCOLIOMAP Scoliosis Monitor,” a medical device that officially enables the measurement of scoliosis angles while the patient is fully clothed, based on research findings from the Department of Orthopedics.

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common musculoskeletal disorder in adolescents, characterized by a high incidence of 2 in 100 children. Although school health checkups are mandated by law, they are mainly conducted visually, and cases of missed diagnoses have been reported. Furthermore, in recent years, the psychological burden on children and concerns about privacy regarding health checkups that require them to be shirtless have become major social issues. Balancing accurate disease detection with consideration for children's feelings has become an urgent task for educational and medical settings.

This achievement makes it possible to conduct scoliosis screening while fully clothed, using an AI "brain" and 3D "eyes." Because it does not involve X-ray exposure and can be measured non-contact, it is expected to contribute to creating a screening environment that reduces the psychological burden on children and protects their privacy, as well as creating a new option for scoliosis screening.

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