Fall Impact Absorbing Flooring 'Koroyawa®' Proven Effective—Collaboration between Magic Shields, METI, and Tokyo Institute of Science Published in International Journal 'Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering'

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Press Release Information Title: Fall Impact Absorbing Flooring 'Koroyawa®' Proven Effective—Collaboration between Magic Shields, METI, and Tokyo Institute of Science Published in International Journal 'Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering' Subtitle: Company Name: Industry: Body (first 8000 characters): Figure 1. Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration

A joint research project that previously won an academic award has now reached a new milestone with publication in an international journal. Led by Associate Professor Wang Yaodong (Research Principal) from the Department of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery and Therapeutic Development, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Science (Science Tokyo), the collaborative research between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (now Tokyo Institute of Science) and Magic Shields Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, Magic Shields) has resulted in the research paper 'Development of a CT-based finite element model to evaluate the efficacy of shock-absorbing floors for fragility hip fracture prevention: An industry–government–academia partnership in Japan’s super-aging society,' published in the international English-language journal 'Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering' (Elsevier). Having received academic awards from domestic and international academic societies, the publication in an international journal signifies international recognition of the scientific evidence of the research results.

This joint research is an industry-government-academia collaboration that connected industry and academia through the Japan Healthcare Business Contest (JHeC), a healthcare business contest organized by the Healthcare Industry Division of the Commerce and Service Group, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Healthcare Innovation Hub (InnoHub), a one-stop consultation window for healthcare venture companies operated by the same division (Figure 1).

Background of Joint Research

Proximal femoral fractures currently occur approximately 200,000 times per year in Japan, and are estimated to reach 320,000 cases by 2040. Elderly people who suffer proximal femoral fractures often find it difficult to return home and are forced to transition to long-term care insurance services, placing a burden on society as a whole. As the world's first super-aged society, Japan must urgently address this issue. However, conventional means for preventing fragility proximal femoral fractures, such as pharmacotherapy, exercise therapy, and hip protectors, have been unable to overcome the barriers of 'difficulty in continuation' and 'inability to completely prevent falls.'

The key to overcoming this situation was a paradigm shift from 'not letting them fall' to 'not letting them fracture even if they fall.' Magic Shields developed 'Koroyawa®' based on the philosophy of 'solving the social issue of fall-related fractures in the elderly through original technology and innovative mechanisms.' Its unique mechanical metamaterial structure, which deforms in response to impact during a fall, achieves both walking stability and impact absorption. Its innovative characteristics garnered widespread attention when it won the Grand Prize at JHeC2021, increasing momentum for industry-government-academia collaboration toward building medical evidence (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Magic Shields' flooring material 'Koroyawa®' adopting a mechanical metamaterial structure. Source: Oh Y, et al. Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering (2026) / CC BY 4.0

In response to this momentum, a joint research contract was signed in July 2021 with Dr. Wang Yaodong (Medicine) of Tokyo Medical and Dental University (now Tokyo Institute of Science) to build medical evidence not only for walking stability but also for fracture prevention effects. Since then, the results of the joint research have won academic awards from domestic and international academic societies, leading to this publication in an international journal.

Summary of Joint Research Results

Using the numerical analysis method known as the finite element method, to scientifically verify the fragility proximal femoral fracture prevention effect of fall impact absorbing flooring, a three-dimensional model of the femur was created on a computer from CT DICOM data of the femur of an elderly woman who had suffered a proximal femoral fracture. A dynamic analysis model reproducing a drop-weight impact test equivalent to the impact energy of a backward fall was developed, and simulations were performed with various flooring materials placed on a concrete floor to compare and examine the fracture prevention effects of each flooring material (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Simulation of fragility proximal femoral fracture prevention effect using CT finite element analysis model (A, D: Vinyl sheet, B, E: Sponge mat, C, F: Koroyawa®). Source: Oh Y, et al. Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering (2026) / CC BY 4.0

As a result, while a vinyl sheet (2mm thick) commonly used in medical and long-term care facilities caused complete destruction of the bone shape of the proximal femur, 'Koroyawa®' (22mm thick), which is hard and stable during walking and wheelchair movement, suppressed the maximum reaction force and maintained the bone shape through elastic rebound. It was demonstrated that it has a fracture prevention effect equivalent to that of conventional sponge mats (40mm thick), which have the issue of instability during walking, while also providing stability in daily life (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Data on the proximal femoral fracture prevention effect of various flooring materials (A: Vinyl sheet, B: Sponge mat, C: Koroyawa®). Source: Oh Y, et al. Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering (2026) / CC BY 4.0

This research has high originality and potential in that it utilized actual biological data from elderly people who had suffered proximal femoral fractures and developed a biomechanical analysis model that can verify the fragility proximal femoral fracture prevention effect of fall impact absorbing flooring without any risk or physical burden on subjects. Furthermore, by leveraging the characteristics of this model, which allows free setting and modification of physical properties such as material, shape, and dimensions of flooring, it is expected to be used as a platform to accelerate the development and improvement of next-generation flooring that accommodates diverse body types, races, and bone qualities, quickly and without risk or excessive cost to subjects.

Significance of Joint Research Results and Future Development

The publication of the paper in an international journal is a major milestone in building medical evidence for 'Koroyawa®' and at the same time a starting point for the next leap forward. By utilizing the biomechanical analysis method developed in this joint research for product evolution, it will lead to immeasurable benefits for society as a whole, including improving the QOL of the elderly and significantly reducing the medical and long-term care costs related to fragility fractures, which are estimated to be about 2 trillion yen per year.

This joint research is an industry-government-academia collaboration initiated by policies such as METI's JHeC and InnoHub. The fact that its results have led to publication in an international journal after winning academic awards demonstrates the essential power of this ecosystem. Falls causing fractures are not just injuries; they are serious global social problems that lead to bedriddenness and worsened life prognosis. Precisely because Japan is aging at a rate unprecedented in the world, it is essential for industry, government, and academia to work together to accumulate evidence and further advance. (Note: The original Japanese text seems to be cut off at the end; the translation reflects the content up to that point.)