Electronics manufacturer Hitachi Ltd.said Tuesday it has fabricated a prototype wrist-worn sensor that can transmit pulse data to a remote monitoring center.

This is the first such sensor in the industry, Hitachi said. The company said it plans to commercialize the small wrist sensor in 2008, expecting it to be useful for monitoring the health and other conditions of elderly people who live alone.

The prototype contains what Hitachi said the smallest sensor with communications functions in the world, in addition to a battery. It measures 6 centimeters long, 4 cm wide and 1.5 cm high.

Pulse and other data of sensor wearers will be radioed to a remote computer for recording and monitoring.

A power source can be switched off to save power consumption when the sensor does not have to work.

If it is used for taking pulse data every hour, the battery will not have to be replaced for one month, Hitachi said.

Source: Xinhua