According to the “Nihon Keizai Shimbun” report on September 29, Japanese chemical materials company Toray and communications operator NTT will jointly use “smart clothing” to get involved in the medical field. Smart clothing is made of fibers that can obtain information about living bodies. Recently, a new material jointly developed by two companies that can monitor electrocardiograms and detect irregular heartbeats 24 hours a day has been recognized as a medical device in Japan. The two companies will begin selling special underwear made of the material to hospitals in 2017. Regarding smart clothing, various related companies are competing to develop it, but this is the first time that it has been used as a medical device. It is expected that the development of new material applications 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 polyester resin infiltrated with electrically conductive polymer resin to read weak electrical signals on the body surface. For products that monitor electrocardiograms, four electrodes made by Hitoe are installed on special underwear.
By improving the texture and sewing of specialized underwear, it will be possible to continuously measure heart muscle activity. Generally, to be used in the medical field, it must meet Japan’s national standards, and this new material has recently been registered as a medical device by Japan’s “Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)”, an independent administrative agency under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The agency determined that the new material has nearly the same level of accuracy as traditional electrocardiogram measurements.
Since it is registered as a medical device, wearing this kind of clothing for examinations in Japan is covered by medical insurance, and patients only need to pay the same medical fees as before. It is expected to be used for continuous 24-hour monitoring of electrocardiograms to check for irregular heartbeats. The electrodes are for one-time use, but the clothes can be washed and used repeatedly. The price will be discussed in the future, but it is expected to range from a few thousand yen to about 10,000 yen per piece. Previously, checking for arrhythmia required electrodes connected to the device via wires to be placed on the body for an extended period of time. The metal of the electrodes may cause body allergies, causing a greater burden on the patient.
In terms of developing 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, it also started to provide remote information services, allowing users to monitor the health status of workers in factories and other places using smartphones and other places.
Regarding other companies, Teijin has teamed up with Kyoto University to develop a product that can measure cardiac electrical activity by simply wrapping it around the chest when patients are rushed to the hospital. Japanese material manufacturer Gunze is also working with NEC to develop underwear that can detect posture and calorie consumption. It has been difficult for major fiber manufacturers to achieve differentiation through functions such as thermal insulation, breathability, and deodorizing effects. In the future, new products that contribute to the health of the wearer will be cultivated as a source of revenue.
Source: Global Times
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex.com/product/Polyester-Oxford-cloth-plaid-Fabric.html
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex.com/product/DE-21-Memory-Fabric.html
Extended reading:https://www.yingjietex.com/product/Bright-TCM-Interweave-dobby-Fabric.html
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex.com /product/600D-Polyester-DOUBLE-FACE-TWILL-OXFORD-Fabric.html
Extended reading:https://www.yingjietex.com/product/1600D-Polyester-OXFORD-Fabric.html
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex.com/product/Tn -Textile-50d-75D-150d-Imitation-Memory-Fabric-100-Polyester-Filament-Fabric-for-Garment-Jacket.html
Extended reading:https://www.china-fire-retardant.com/post/9389.html
Extended reading:https://www.alltextile.cn/product/product-43-756.html
Extended reading: https://www.alltextile.cn/product/product-87-89.html
Extended reading: https://www.tpu-ptfe.com/post/7733.htm
