A fingerprint recognition device which confirms that the finger is still attached to its owner will be demonstrated at a US government technology conference next week.

Nitgen Co of Korea will show the new product at the FOSE 2006 government technology exposition in Washington, show organisers said in a press release.

In a literal case of fingerprint hacking last year, a Malaysian businessman had his finger chopped off by thieves who drove off with the digit still in the fingerprint scanner of his Mercedes.

While several movies have featured similar scenarios, this appears to be the only real life case of a severed finger being used to bypass a fingerprint recognition security system.

Researchers have previously demonstrated simple techniques for defeating such systems with fake fingertips made from various materials. Nitgen's fingerprint scanner is designed to prevent this type of fraud.

"The system detects fake fingerprints such as silicon, gelatin and film," the show organisers said. No information on the technology behind the system was released.

FOSE 2006 is sponsored by the US government's General Services Administration.