Healthcare

January 2004

Terumo Corp. has launched clinical trials of the left ventricular assist system for heart in Germany. Terumo initially planned to conduct trials in the first half of 2003, but more time was needed to establish the device's safety and prepare facilities to implant it. After conducting trials at numerous facilities, Terumo will commercialize the system in Europe next year. Clinical trials in the U.S. are set to begin in 2005 as well. Plans for Japan have yet to be formulated. The Duraheart assists the left ventricle in patients suffering from severe heart disease. Its pump uses a special magnetically levitated non-contact bearing in the mechanism that pumps the blood. The device is generated by battery carried around the waist. The use of maglev technology solves the problem of stagnation and pooling of the blood, and also lowers the risk of infection. (January 21, the Nikkei Business Daily)

Foreign welfare equipment makers are preparing to enter the Japanese market to benefit from the growing number of elderly consumers. Panthera, a major Swedish wheelchair maker, has developed a wheelchair tailored to Japanese elderly consumers and is set to start selling it in Japan in fiscal 2005. The product developed for the Japanese market is lighter than the company's wheelchairs for use by physically-handicapped people. The firm will aim for sales of 1,000 wheelchairs in Japan in three years. Another Swedish firm Etac will introduce products like chairs for use as bathing and walking aids. The chairs will feature lower seating locations than the company's conventional chair products. Welfare products for the elderly available on the domestic market are currently mostly made by Japanese companies, because foreign-made products are too large for average Japanese elderly users. (January 8, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun)