diff --git a/src/ehr/ehr.cxx b/src/ehr/ehr.cxx
index 39667efe..42ff9a2d 100644
--- a/src/ehr/ehr.cxx
+++ b/src/ehr/ehr.cxx
@@ -46,6 +46,23 @@ EHR::EHR(int pin)
   m_beatCounter = 0;
 }
 
+EHR::EHR(std::string initStr) : mraaIo(initStr)
+{
+  mraa_io_descriptor* descs = mraaIo.getMraaDescriptors();
+
+  if(!descs->gpios) {
+    throw std::invalid_argument(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                ": mraa_gpio_init() failed, invalid pin?");
+  } else {
+    m_gpio = descs->gpios[0];
+  }
+
+  mraa_gpio_dir(m_gpio, MRAA_GPIO_IN);
+
+  initClock();
+  m_beatCounter = 0;
+}
+
 EHR::~EHR()
 {
   mraa_gpio_close(m_gpio);
diff --git a/src/ehr/ehr.hpp b/src/ehr/ehr.hpp
index f22f5f4c..eb460709 100644
--- a/src/ehr/ehr.hpp
+++ b/src/ehr/ehr.hpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <mraa/gpio.h>
+#include <mraa/initio.hpp>
 #include <interfaces/iHeartRate.hpp>
 
 namespace upm {
@@ -60,6 +61,13 @@ namespace upm {
      * @param pin Digital pin to use
      */
     EHR(int pin);
+    /**
+     * Instantiates EHR Heart Rate sensor based on a given string.
+     *
+     * @param initStr string containing specific information for EHR initialization.
+     */
+    EHR(std::string initStr);
+
     /**
      * EHR destructor
      */
@@ -128,5 +136,6 @@ namespace upm {
     volatile uint32_t m_beatCounter;
     struct timeval m_startTime;
     mraa_gpio_context m_gpio;
+    mraa::MraaIo mraaIo;
   };
 }