WEARABLE ELECTROMYOGRAM SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20140364703A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: KIM, Keehoon, KIM, Min Kyu, KIM, Sin-Jung
• Granted Patent: US 9,999,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

A wearable electromyogram sensor system is provided. The wearable electromyogram sensor system includes: an elastic band having a plurality of electrodes; an electromyogram sensor including an electrode connected to an electrode of the band so as to receive a bio-signal related to contraction of a muscle, and configured to sense a change of motion information through the bio-signal or previously sense the change of the motion information before the motion information is changed; and a fixing unit fixing the electromyogram sensor to the band. The electrode of the electromyogram sensor is connected to an electrode at an arbitrary position of the band.

Claims

1. A wearable electromyogram sensor system comprising:

an elastic band having a plurality of electrodes installed through a surface thereof;

an electromyogram sensor comprising an electrode connected to an electrode of the band so as to receive a bio-signal related to contraction of a muscle, and configured to sense a change of motion information including one or more of a user'"'"'s motion, a direction of force, a magnitude of force, and energy distribution through the bio-signal or previously sense the change of the motion information before the motion information is changed; and

a fixing unit fixing the electromyogram sensor to the band,

wherein the electrode of the electromyogram sensor is connected to an electrode at an arbitrary position of the band.

2. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 1, wherein the fixing unit comprises one of a magnet, Velcro, and a detachable tape, which are attached to the band and the electromyogram sensor.

3. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 1, wherein the electromyogram sensor comprises:

an amplification and filtering module configured to amplify and filter the bio-signal;

a movement measurement sensor configured to measure a movement and posture of a part to be measured in a state where the electromyogram sensor is coupled to the band;

a muscle fatigue measurement module configured to mechanically or optically measure fatigue accumulated in the muscle; and

an electrode contact sensing module configured to sense a contact state between the electrode of the band and the electrode of the electromyogram sensor.

4. A wearable electromyogram sensor system which is worn on a user so as to sense bio-signals related to contraction of muscles, comprising an electromyogram sensor having an electrode to receive the bio-signals and configured to sense a change of motion information including one or more of a user'"'"'s motion, a direction of force, a magnitude of force, and energy distribution through the bio-signals or previously sense the change of the motion information before the motion information is changed.

5. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 4, wherein the electromyogram sensor comprises:

an amplification and filtering module configured to amplify and filter the bio-signals;

a movement measurement sensor configured to measure a movement and posture of a part to be measured; and

a muscle fatigue measurement module configured to mechanically or optically measure fatigue accumulated in the muscle.

6. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 4, further comprising:

a controller configured to analyze a pattern of the bio-signal and sense or previously sense the change of the motion information; and

a conversion module configured to convert the motion information into one or more of motion, energy, force, sound, image, tactility, and data based on the pattern analysis for the motion information.

7. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 6, wherein the controller comprises:

a muscular contraction signal processing module configured to individually or integrally amplify or attenuate the bio-signals transmitted from the electromyogram sensor;

a training module configured to previously receive information on a user'"'"'s movement, posture, and muscle contraction which occur before a predetermined motion of the user;

a pattern analysis module configured to analyze a pattern of the user'"'"'s motion based on the bio-signals measured by the electromyogram sensor and information inputted from the training module; and

a signal input storage module configured to receive and store the bio-signals measured by the electromyogram sensor in real time.

8. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 7, wherein the controller further comprises a muscular contraction signal control module configured to control amplification and attenuation for the bio-signals, for the pattern analysis of the pattern analysis module.

9. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 6, wherein the controller further comprises a command block module configured to determine that a muscular contraction signal is abnormal when muscle fatigue exceeds a predetermined critical value, and block a command based on the user'"'"'s bio-signals from being transmitted to the conversion module.

10. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 6, wherein the conversion module comprises a device to convert sign language into sound based on pattern analysis for a motion of a user wearing the electromyogram sensor.

11. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 6, wherein the conversion module comprises an actuator configured to convert the motion information sensed by the electromyogram sensor into the same motion as or motion corresponding to the motion information.

12. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 6, wherein the conversion module comprises a remote control device or orthosis to convert the motion information sensed by the electromyogram sensor into the same motion as or motion corresponding to the motion information, while separated from a user.

13. The wearable electromyogram sensor system of claim 4, wherein the electromyogram sensor comprises a display module configured to display one or more of a sound signal, an image signal, and a tactile signal corresponding to the sensed motion information.