Method and device for measuring muscle signals
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a skeletal muscle signal, comprising:
- electrodes of conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with a skin surface when said apparatus is operated, said electrodes forming at least two pairs of electrodes for picking up the skeletal muscle signal, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the said at least two pairs of electrodes;
an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface, the electrical insulator surrounding at least one of said electrodes disposed on the skin surface; and
an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said apparatus is operated, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area on the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface generated from outside of an extent of said earth body;
electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, andwherein said earth body encompasses said electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to determine the state of a muscle between a normal non-tired state, a tired state and a passive involuntary tension state, a signal from the muscle is recorded at rest by using an electrode arrangement, where an earth body may prevent the electrodes from picking up signals beyond the extent of the earth body. The frequency content of the signal is determined by spectral analysis, e.g. by computing a moment of the spectrum. A normal frequency content indicates a non-tired muscle state, whereas a low and a high frequency content indicate a tired and a passive involuntary tension muscle state. A mapping is used to improve accuracy of state determination, e.g. with a reference database.
29 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a skeletal muscle signal, comprising:
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electrodes of conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with a skin surface when said apparatus is operated, said electrodes forming at least two pairs of electrodes for picking up the skeletal muscle signal, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the said at least two pairs of electrodes; an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface, the electrical insulator surrounding at least one of said electrodes disposed on the skin surface; and an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said apparatus is operated, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area on the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface generated from outside of an extent of said earth body; electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, and wherein said earth body encompasses said electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An electrode device for measuring skeletal muscle signals, said electrode device comprising:
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electrodes of conducting material arranged to make contact with a skin surface when said electrode device is used, said electrodes forming at least two electrode pairs for picking up the skeletal muscle signals, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the said at least two pairs of electrodes, an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on the skin surface and surrounding at least one of said electrodes, an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said electrode device is used, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area along the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding the electrical insulator and said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface that is generated from outside of an extent of said earth body, and electronics to receive and handle the muscle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, wherein said earth body essentially encompasses said electronics. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An electrode arrangement for use in a skeletal muscle state analyzer, said electrode arrangement comprising:
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electrodes of conducting material configured to be applied to and make contact with a skin surface when said electrode arrangement is operated, said electrodes forming at least two pairs of electrodes for picking up a skeletal muscle signal, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the at least two pairs of electrodes, an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on the skin surface and surrounding at least one of said electrodes disposed on the skin surface, and an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said electrode arrangement is operated, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area along the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding the electrical insulator and said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area along the skin surface, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface that is generated from outside of an extent of said earth body; and electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, and wherein said earth body is arranged to essentially encompass said electronics. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification