Review Paper 1 Ibrahim Basar AKA Instructor, Dr.

Sridhar Ungarala BME 570 December 3, y A Review of History and Modern Applications of EMG The idea of correlation between local electricity and contraction of a muscle first discovered after middle 17th century in Europe. Luigi Galvani, Von Humboldt and Duchenne (de Boulogne) are considered early scientists by many scientists though, most of the original manuscripts of these works are not discovered. Some other scientists give the credit of discovering the relation between muscle contraction and electricity to Francesco Redi(Clarys,1994). The pioneer of the electromyography is considered as L. Galvani by most scientists, in contradiction to that, J. Swammerdam had shown mechanics of muscular contraction earlier in 1658 with the terminology electrology or localized electrisation, now which is known as electromyography. As a clinical tool, EMG is initially used as a diagnostic tool for studies of muscle weakness, fatigue, pareses, paralysis, and nerve conduction velocities, lesions of the motor unit or for neurogenic and myogenic problems (Clarys,2000). Besides, EMG is applied on diagnosing chronic pains, lowering the partial chronic pain, therapy of motor control disorders, rehabilitation after partial stroke with EMG-triggered robots or EMG-triggered functional electrical stimulations(FES). Moreover, many different researches are conducted on EMG signals to drive myoelectric prostheses for amputees. Forearm contains muscles controlling the hand, therefore even an amputee can contract these remaining muscles. First myoelectric prosthesis was relied on that fact and was developed in U.S.S.R in 1964 which was a revolutionary contribution on bioprostheses field. Russian bioelectric artificial arm was a precursor of modern ones which

Review Paper 2 provided only two motions: opening and closing of the hand (D.Sherman,1964). Modern bioprostheses are capable of miming many other gestures of a human hand though they are not satisfactory yet. Excellence of interpretation of the acquired EMG signal is the key point to improve myoelectric prosthetics to mimic desired gestures which was foreseen by D. Sherman(1964). Todays artificial arm research mostly still rely on the fundamentals of the very first one. However, there are different existing approaches. The Common practice initiates with acquiring process of the EMG signals which can be measured by two different techniques as needle-EMG and surface-EMG. SEMG electrodes provides wider screen for acquiring EMG data and a better option for the patient as an painless application (I.Yazici,E.Koklukaya,B.Baslo,2009). However, SEMG is considered as a very weak signal whose rms range is between 0 to 1.5mV and peak to peak value range is between 0 to 6mV(Y.Wang,2010). Thereafter monitoring EMG signal, analog/digital conversion, signal amplification, filtering and processing stage takes place. The main idea is deciding on the desired gesture according to the measured myopotential patterns of voluntary muscles. However, the reliable human-machine interface to drive control system of the prostheses remains as a question(A.Wolczowski,2010). The results of the research conducted in Tokai University, Japan in 2008 states a rate of recognition of 13 different hand gestures over 90%(Y.Wakita,2008). Unlikely the most recent researches, 48 silver electrode sequenced silicone rubber was used for EMG reading,which can be considered as significantly high number. 12 different electrodes were randomly selected for 1000 times and the recorded data was evaluated on recognition rate of each hand gesture. Thereby best number and position of electrodes are determined for each of the subjects. As an instance, 13 Basic motions of the hand is recorded as 13 separate clusters and the shortest Euclid

Review Paper 3 distance between measured point and mean point considered as real motion. This gesture recognizing algorithm provides 94.62% success rate and a real time trial done with a robotic arm which is controlled by this approach for transporting a little box successfully. In Conclusion part, the method is claim as being capable of recognizing even complex gestures, if it is operated by experienced subjects. Polish researchers, Andrzej Wolczowski and Marek Kurzynski(2010) showed a sequential decision process via a fuzzy relation which based on initiating learning sets as a matrix of affinity of the signal to a specific gesture. A commonly used differential measurement system is applied during acquiring EMG signals. A reference electrode is placed on an electrically neutral tissue and the output only contains environmental noise which is subtracted from signal to eliminate that noise. Subsequently, features are extracted from the filtered and separated signals by fast fourier transform and finally the most differentiating harmonics are chosen by the operator for each gestures. The key idea of the sequential recognition relies on the assumption that any recent motion depends on earlier intentions and the bio-prostheses suppose to examine and eliminate unreasonable signals. Therefore the intention recognition algorithm compares recent data with the previous one before driving control algorithm. For instance, a grasp preparation class signal must be seen before an emerging grasp class signal or a releasing class signal can not be seen just before a grasp class signal. For determination of the gestures with respect to time, a synchronous recording camera was installed in addition to the sensor glove which is essential for gathering sequential information. Accuracy of the classification algorithm is given as 80.4% after applying a classical Bayes classifier. In contradiction to the work of Wakita(2008), multi-point measurement approach is considered limited for very complex motions, due to the possible crosstalk impact caused by nearby muscles.

Review Paper 4 Another different approach used for designing a human-machine interface is shown in a research conducted in Sakarya University, Turkey in 2009(I.Yazici). 480 SEMG signals were used corresponding to gestures as adduction/flexion of thumb and abduction of fingers. Dissimilarly to the claim of Wolczowski(2010), wavelet transform is considered as a superior technique than Fourier transform for feature extraction from the data, since SEMG signals are expressed as naturally random and unstable. The wavelet signals are classified for artificial neural networks as feed forward and back propagation network, radial basis network and linear vector quantization network. 120 samples are used for learning algorithm and 40 samples are for examining recognizing results. Maximum accuracy rate was given as 90% for feed forward/back propagation networks, 92% for radial basis network and 75,5% for learning vector quantization network. EMG signals are used for operating machines for aiding partial stroke or paralysis patients as well. Exoskeleton robots are external structures worn by operator to aid walking or running. U.S. Army conducts research about exoskeleton robots and recently developed U.S Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC). Ambition of the project is increasing combat capacities of a soldier(Y.Wang,2010). Patten recognition quality is a significant problem about exoskeleton robots as well. Y. Wangs work(2010) demonstrates recognition patterns, not for different gestures but different characteristics. Resting, walking and running conditions are identified by using classical Bayes method. Four different leg muscles are used for acquiring data and gastrocnernius muscle provides contrast mean values of signal for identifying these different patterns. EMG is also used for Functional Electrical Stimulation(FES) for helping partial paralysis patients with spinal cord injuries. Anirban Dutta and colleagues(2011) were compared EMG-

Review Paper 5 triggered FES with traditional switch-triggered FES over-ground walking with two volunteer patients. As a result EMG-triggered method was considered superior or equivalent to switchtriggered method. Robot assisted rehabilitation therapy is another method used for stroke treatment as well. Laura Dipietros work(2005) indicates EMG-triggered rehabilitation robots provides greater recovery in contrast to traditional occupational therapy. Future applications of EMG may lead modern world to the old science fiction movies era with talented bionic-artifical limbs and remote-muscle control mechanisms used to drive vehicles. A research conducting by NASA called Extension of the Human Senses is based on reading gestures by a sensory EMG bio-sleeve and interpret them to the computer just as a joystick motion to drive flight simulators. In future remote control of space vehicles can be real by sensory systems which worn by astronauts. Microsoft is conducting similar researches for EMG sensory game consoles too. Future limitations and improvements of these technologies mostly depends on the affection of EMG human-machine interfaces and will be much effective with the prospective researches on signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques. (I.Yazici,2009).