Mektec Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and CEO: Taro Ito; hereinafter referred to as “Mektec”), a Group company of NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Group Chief Executive Officer: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter referred to as “NOK”), has jointly developed a thin-film sensor sheet for evaluating swallowing function, called the Stretchable FPC for Swallowing Function Evaluation, with the Biomechanics Laboratory in the Course of Mechanical, Intelligent System and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Science and Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University (Professor Makoto Sasaki; hereinafter referred to as “Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory”). This flexible printed circuit (FPC) sensor adheres to the neck area to detect subtle bioelectrical signals (surface electromyographic signals) and non-invasively capture muscle activity during swallowing. 

The Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory has integrated its proprietary signal analysis technology (Japanese Patent No. 7533919) into this product and, by combining it with an ultrasound imaging device, developed a new method that enables simultaneous observation of swallowing-related organs and the bolus movement, allowing for the assessment of swallowing function and risks such as aspiration and choking.

The new evaluation method was presented at LIFE2025 (the 24th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Life Support Engineering, the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Welfare Engineering Symposium 2025, and the 40th Annual Meeting of the Life Support Society), held from August 27 (Wednesday) to 29 (Friday), 2025. The presenter, Saori Shimizu, a first-year master’s student at the Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory, was selected as a finalist for the Life Support Society Barrier-Free System Development Foundation Encouragement Award, receiving high academic recognition for the research.

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In Japan, aspiration pneumonia caused by dysphagia ranks as the sixth leading cause of death*¹, with approximately 60,000 fatalities each year. In medical institutions, videofluoroscopic swallowing studies under X-ray fluoroscopy are widely used as the gold standard for detailed examinations. However, because the procedure places a considerable burden on patients, it is generally limited to individuals who have already developed severe symptoms or are strongly suspected of having dysphagia. Furthermore, the equipment is large and difficult to transport, making it challenging to perform detailed examinations in homes or nursing facilities, where many older adults requiring care reside. In June 2024, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare added support for meal and nutrition management to its list of priority areas for the use of care technology*². This reflects the growing importance of monitoring and assessing swallowing function outside medical institutions, such as during mealtimes in care settings, and underscores the increasing need for new technologies focused on swallowing.

In response to this social context, the Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory is developing a simple yet multifaceted method for evaluating swallowing function, an ability directly linked to quality of life (QOL) and a key factor in preventing aspiration pneumonia. For the practical implementation of this method in society, Mektec’s stretchable FPC serves as an essential technology that enables the delivery of evaluation devices to homes and care facilities where older adults and people with disabilities live, helping to create safer and more secure environments for eating. Mektec will continue to support research on swallowing and contribute to addressing the challenges of an aging society.

 1 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Vital Statistics 2024”
 2 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Priority Areas for the Use of Care Technology”
　https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000209634_00013.html (Japanese only)

About the Stretchable FPC for Swallowing Function Evaluation

Mektec's Stretchable FPC features exceptional thinness and flexibility, allowing it to naturally conform to complex curved surfaces. It utilizes a skin-safe adhesive and maintains conductivity even when stretched up to 150% in any direction, allowing for easy and comfortable application. The Stretchable FPC for Swallowing Function Evaluation, jointly developed with the Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory, places multiple sensors over the muscles essential for swallowing. This enables simultaneous, high-precision, multi-point acquisition of muscle activity data, allowing for detailed evaluations of swallowing function while reducing testing time and significantly lessening the burden on test subjects. Furthermore, its ultrasonic permeability ensures that overlaying an ultrasound probe on top of the Stretchable FPC for Swallowing Function Evaluation does not interfere with dynamic ultrasound imaging, enabling a multifaceted assessment based on a broader range of biological information.

Overview of the Biomechanics Laboratory, Course of Mechanical, Intelligent System and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Science and Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University

The Iwate University Biomechanics Laboratory specializes in biomechanics, robotics, and rehabilitation engineering, conducting research aimed at solving issues in the medical and welfare fields through advanced engineering approaches. Through joint research with medical institutions and private companies, the laboratory excels at integrating knowledge and technologies from different disciplines to develop unique innovations, resulting in numerous patented technologies. The laboratory is also deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers, with students frequently receiving awards at academic conferences. In the field of swallowing research, the laboratory is engaged in various projects, including a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Project No. 25K03503, titled Development of a facility and home-use system to detect and resolve mismatches between masticatory/swallowing ability and dietary intake), and a project under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s R&D Support Program for Growing Small and Medium Enterprises (Project No. JPJ005698, titled Research and development of a non-radiative, pain-free system for evaluating eating and swallowing function). Through these initiatives, the laboratory continues to pursue technologies that help preserve the joy of eating.

・Professor: Makoto Sasaki
・Laboratory website: https://www.mech.iwate-u.ac.jp/~makotosa/index.html