According to "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" reported on September 29, Japanese chemical materials company Toray and communication operator NTT will jointly enter the medical field with the help of "smart clothing." Smart clothing is made from fibers that give you vital information. Recently, a new material developed by two companies that can monitor ECG for 24 hours and check for arrhythmia has been identified as a medical device in Japan. The two companies will begin selling specialized underwear for the use of this material to hospitals in 2017. Regarding smart clothing, various related companies are competing for development, but it is the first time to be used as a medical device. It is estimated that the development of the use of new materials will accelerate in the future.

Toray and NTT have been promoting the joint development of new materials under the “hitoe” brand. The new material uses a polyester resin that penetrates the polymer resin to read the weak electrical signal on the body surface. In monitoring the product of the electrocardiogram, four electrodes made by hitoe were installed on the special underwear.

By working on the texture and sewing of the special underwear, it is possible to continuously measure the activity of the heart muscle. It is generally used in the medical field and must meet the Japanese national standards. The new material was recently registered as a medical device in Japan's "Industrial Medicines and Devices Integrated Organization (PMDA)", an independent administrative body under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. The agency determined that the new material has almost the same level of precision as traditional ECG measurements.

Since it is registered as a medical device, it is applicable to medical insurance in Japan for wearing this kind of clothing, and the patient only needs to pay the same medical expenses as before. It is expected to be used to monitor ECG for 24 hours and to check for arrhythmia. The electrodes are disposable, but the clothes can be washed and reused many times. The price will be discussed in the future, and it is expected that the price will vary from a few thousand yen to 10,000 yen. When checking the arrhythmia before, you need to put the electrode connected to the device through the wire for a long time. The metal of the electrodes can cause physical allergies and impose a greater burden on the patient.

In the development of smart clothing, Toray and NTT are ahead of other competing companies. In 2014, they cooperated with Goldwin to launch smart clothing that can measure heart rate. In August 2016, the company also provided telematics services. Users can use the smart phones to grasp the health of workers in factories and other places.

With regard to other companies, Teijin and Kyoto University have teamed up to develop products that measure ECG activity when they are urgently delivered to the hospital. Gunze, a Japanese material manufacturer, is working with NEC to develop underwear that detects posture and burns calories. It is difficult for major fiber manufacturers to differentiate themselves through functions such as heat preservation, gas permeability and deodorization effects, and new products that contribute to the health of the wearer will be cultivated as a source of income in the future.