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| Epson’s
E200 wrist watch pulse monitor. Photo courtesy of Epson Phils. |
Epson enters healthcare business with simple “wear & measure”
wristwatch pulse monitor
Epson has launched the E200 - a
revolutionary, simple-to–use wristwatch-type pulse monitor featuring the
company’s advanced sensing technology, as it aims to grow its healthcare device
business.
The Epson E200 wrist watch pulse monitor
uses an Epson-made sensor that measures one’s pulse rate by contact with the
wearer’s wrist while LCD screen indicates the amount of exercise required to
achieve a fat-burning heart rate. Currently, the E200 is only sold in Japan.
Sales plans for other markets have not been announced.
Ease of Use
Conventional pulse monitors – including
those previously manufactured on an OEM basis by Epson – involve a band sensor
wrapped around the finger. However, such finger bands are cumbersome and make
it difficult for users to perform work. Epson drew on its 20 years of
experience in pulse sensing technology to develop the E200 to answer customer
demands for a pulse monitor that did not require a finger band.
How it works
The E200 takes advantage of the
light-absorbing property of the hemoglobin in blood to measure the wearer’s
heart rate. The monitor directs a harmless LED into the skin, and then uses
light-absorbing elements to measure the amount of light that is not absorbed by
the hemoglobin and which is reflected back from inside the body. The device
measures the pulse rate according to the difference in the amount of light
reflected back to the light-absorbing elements. Users can also download their
heat rate information to their computers using a USB docking station.
Developmental challenges overcome
There were two main challenges
associated with measuring pulse rates from the wrist:
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| Photo from Epson Phils. |
The first of these is that there are far
fewer blood vessels that can be used for measuring the pulse rate in the wrist
compared to the finger. The amount of light that can be detected from the wrist
by the light-absorbing elements is only one thirtieth of the amount that can be
detected from fingers. To solve this issue, Epson increased the efficiency of
the light-absorbing elements and developed a sensor that concentrates these
elements on the wrist to ensure a stable pulse signal.
The second challenge was the blood flow
“noise” generated when moving the arm while walking. This can make it difficult
to measure the pulse rate. Epson therefore built into the pulse monitor an
accelerometer capable of measuring the excessive blood flow noise data
generated when the arms moved. This data is then automatically removed from the
actual data generated by the overall blood flow, making it possible to measure
the pulse rate accurately.
Helping more patients
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| Photo from Epson Phils. |
Epson has developed this new type of
pulse monitor by refining its sensing technology and after a lengthy series of
user trials. Thanks to these efforts, it is now possible for people to measure
their pulse rate simply by attaching the monitor to their wrists. In addition
to supporting people looking to lose weight, Epson hopes that the pulse monitor
will become a useful tool in the exercise programs of people suffering from
cardiac health related illnesses like mild diabetes, or those recovering from
heart ailments.
Going forward, Epson aims to contribute
to its customers’ healthy lifestyles by leveraging its technologies to create
new value-added products in healthcare, sports and medical care.
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