Medical manufacturers are competing to develop new devices that will make visits to the doctor's office less painful.
The rivalry to make pain-free devices to test for and treat diseases is being fueled by Japan's aging population and competition among hospitals to provide easier and more comfortable medical services, observers said.
Hitachi Ltd. has developed the first blood-sugar measuring device that does not require a blood sample. The company hopes to market the small, portable kit before the end of the year.