The Medical Devices Research Laboratory zeros in on the needs of patients suffering from acute diseases, and has made important advances in artificial kidneys, catheters and other medical materials, new extracorporeal circulation systems to remove selected pathogenic substances from the bloodstream and other trend-setting fields.

The Laboratory likewise mobilizes the latest advances in polymer synthesis, polymer surface treatment, biotechnology and cellular engineering, chemical engineering, hollow-fiber and module fabrication technology and other fields, developing high-function treatment materials finely tuned to minute organic functions as well as treatment systems to put those materials to lasting and meaningful use. Focusing on these primary research targets, the Laboratory promotes a wide range of research in the mission to support society with the conception of pioneering medical treatment systems.

Manifesting especially outstanding results have been the Filtryzer* stereo-structurally controlled polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) hollow-fiber artificial kidney, the Toraysulfone* polysulfone hollow-fiber artificial kidney, the Toraymyxin* emergency care extracorporeal body blood circulation system and other advances that support patient lifesaving care.

To date, the Specialty Polymers Research Laboratory has focused its research on efforts to create specialty polymers for use in contact lens, display filters and other optical products, and has achieved numerous outstanding fruits in the process.

The Laboratory's work includes specialty polymer synthesis, polymer property analysis, surface processing, computer-aided chemistry and other research in support of Toray specialty polymers, as well as revolutionary breakthroughs in highly original and advanced specialty polymer materials.

The Breath-O* Hard CL, a hard contact lens developed on the strength of polymer design and synthesis technology, is instilled with the world's highest level of oxygen permeability and widely patronized for its premier eyesight correcting function.

In information technology (IT), a field for which the markets are forecast to dramatically expand in scale over the years to come, the Laboratory advances research into new materials and products targeting the energy and information & telecommunications sectors. Particularly stellar in performance is the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, an advance built with materials successfully designed and synthesized through the use of computer-aided chemistry and keenly anticipated to move on to commercial use in the near future.