US developer of high technology fabrics and textile systems Textronics, is set to release its first consumer product made specifically for women - a heart sensing sports bra, NuMetrex. The advanced NuMetrex bra features electronic sensing technology integrated into the fabric, which is said to offer a new level of comfort to women wishing to monitor their heart rate while exercising.

Designed to work with the Polar WearLink transmitter that snaps directly into a special compartment in the bra, NuMetrex eliminates the need for a separate heart rate monitoring chest strap and the discomfort that can go with it.

The sensors in the fabric pick up the wearer's heartbeat and relay it to the WearLink transmitter in the front of the bra. The transmitter captures the heart rate information and sends it to a heart rate monitoring watch, which displays it instantaneously.

"The NuMetrex heart sensing bra is the introductory garment in a collection of clothing we're developing which integrates technology to monitor your body," said Stacey Burr, Chief Executive of Textronics. "We plan to continue using our technology to create new garment styles and monitoring functionalities that enable health and well being."

The bra uses an advanced seamless construction for second skin comfort and is made with quick drying nylon and Lycra.

Textronics is a developer and producer of electro-textiles or "e-textiles," which are fabric systems that can conduct, warm, illuminate or sense. The company, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is a spin-off from INVISTA S.a.r.l., formerly DuPont Textiles and Interiors.