Sensor system for detecting and processing EMG signals

• US 20060079801A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Altec Incorporated
• Inventors: Gilmore, L. Donald, DeLuca, Carlo J.
• Application Number:
  US11/225,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor

Abstract

A sensor system for detecting and processing EMG signals including a substrate having a bottom surface adapted for attachment to skin; a plurality of spaced apart electrode arrays projecting from the bottom surface so as to engage the skin and detect EMG signals in muscles located under the substrate; and four differential amplifiers connected to receive EMG signals from four distinct pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays detect the action potentials of the muscle fibers from various orientations so that the shape of an action potential appears substantially dissimilar in each of the four differential pairs.

Claims

1. A sensor system for detecting and processing EMG signals comprising:

a substrate having a bottom surface adapted for attachment to skin;

a plurality of spaced apart electrode arrays projecting from said bottom surface so as to engage the skin and detect EMG signals in muscles located under the substrate; and

four differential amplifiers connected to receive EMG signals from four distinct pairs of said electrode arrays.

2. A sensor system according to claim 1 wherein each of said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays are spaced apart in different directions on said substrate.

3. A sensor system according to claim 2 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in an orthogonal pattern.

4. A sensor system according to claim 3 wherein said substrate is elongated in one of the orthogonal directions of said pattern.

5. A sensor system according to claim 2 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in a radial pattern.

6. A sensor system according to claim 1 wherein said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays include two said pairs spaced apart in first aligned directions, and two said pairs spaced apart in second aligned directions substantially parallel to said first directions.

7. A sensor system according to claim 6 wherein said substrate is elongated in said first and second directions.

8. A sensor system according to claim 1 wherein said electrode arrays are uniformly spaced apart a distance in the range between 1.5 mm and 5 mm.

9. A sensor system according to claim 8 wherein each of said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays are spaced apart in different directions on said substrate.

10. A sensor system according to claim 9 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in an orthogonal pattern.

11. A sensor system according to claim 10 wherein said substrate is elongated in one of the orthogonal directions of said pattern.

12. A sensor system according to claim 9 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in a radial pattern.

13. A sensor system according to claim 8 wherein said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays include two said pairs spaced apart in first aligned directions, and two said pairs spaced apart in second aligned directions substantially parallel to said first directions.

14. A sensor system according to claim 13 wherein said substrate is elongated in said first and second directions.

15. A sensor system according to claim 1 wherein said system further comprises decomposing means connected to receive the four channel signal output from said amplifiers;

said substrate is flexible; and

said electrode arrays are pins with rounded tips, a uniform diameter in the range between 0.3 mm and 11 mm, and a projection length of approximately 2 mm.

16. A sensor system according to claim 15 wherein each of said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays are spaced apart in different directions on said substrate.

17. A sensor system according to claim 16 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in an orthogonal pattern.

18. A sensor system according to claim 17 wherein said substrate is elongated in one of the orthogonal directions of said pattern.

19. A sensor system according to claim 16 wherein said distinct pairs of electrode arrays are arranged in a radial pattern.

20. A sensor system according to claim 15 wherein said distinct pairs of said electrode arrays include two said pairs spaced apart in first aligned directions, and two said pairs spaced apart in second aligned directions substantially parallel to said first directions.

21. A sensor system according to claim 20 wherein said substrate is elongated in said first and second directions.