Method and apparatus for detecting myoelectric activity from the surface of the skin
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a myoelectrode that provides a myoelectric signal, the apparatus comprising:
- a comparator, electrically coupled to the myoelectrode, for receiving a first signal derived from the myoelectric signal and for comparing the first signal to a threshold signal, the comparator providing an output signal indicating whether or not the first signal exceeds the threshold signal; and
a switch, electrically coupled to the myoelectrode and to the comparator, for receiving a second signal derived from the myoelectric signal and for receiving a control signal derived from the output signal of the comparator, the switch providing at an output lead an output signal in response to the control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting myoelectric activity from the surface of the skin has an electrode pair, processing circuitry, and up to three output leads. The signals detected at the electrode contacts are differentiated, amplified, and then filtered. The filtered signals are provided as a first input signal to a switch and a ground signal is provided as a second input signal to the switch. The amplified, unfiltered signals are tested against a preset threshold. If the signals exceed the threshold, the signals are considered to have significant amounts of noise. In this case, a comparator causes the switch to provide the ground signal as the output signal. Otherwise, the switch provides the filtered signals as the output signal. One output line provides the amplified, unfiltered signals for testing and analysis. The apparatus can be used as part of a prosthetic device, or can be used for testing with a plurality of electrode pairs.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a myoelectrode that provides a myoelectric signal, the apparatus comprising:
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a comparator, electrically coupled to the myoelectrode, for receiving a first signal derived from the myoelectric signal and for comparing the first signal to a threshold signal, the comparator providing an output signal indicating whether or not the first signal exceeds the threshold signal; and a switch, electrically coupled to the myoelectrode and to the comparator, for receiving a second signal derived from the myoelectric signal and for receiving a control signal derived from the output signal of the comparator, the switch providing at an output lead an output signal in response to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A circuit for use with a myoelectrode that detects a myoelectric signal from a surface of a patient'"'"'s skin, the circuit comprising:
a comparator including; a first input lead receiving a first signal derived from the myoelectric signal, a second input lead receiving a threshold signal, circuitry comparing the first signal and the threshold signal, and an output lead that provides an output signal that indicates whether the first signal exceeds the threshold signal; and a switch including; a first input lead receiving a second signal derived from the myoelectric signal, a second input lead coupled to a reference signal, a control lead that receives a control signal derived from the output signal, and an output lead providing as an output one of the second signal and the reference signal in response to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for processing a myoelectric signal including the steps of:
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determining whether a first signal derived from the myoelectric signal exceeds the reference signal; providing, at a first output lead, a second signal derived from the myoelectric signal in response to a determination that the first signal does not exceed the reference signal; and providing, at the first output lead, a fixed reference voltage in response to a determination that the first signal exceeds the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification