Abstract
Surface electromyography is widely used in many fields to infer human intention. However, conventional electrodes are not appropriate for long-term measurements and are easily influenced by the environment, so the range of applications of sEMG is limited. In this paper, we propose a flexible band-integrated, curved microneedle array electrode for robust long-term measurements, high selectivity, and easy applicability. Signal quality, in terms of long-term usability and sensitivity to perspiration, was investigated. Its motion-discriminating performance was also evaluated. The results show that the proposed electrode is robust to perspiration and can maintain a high-quality measuring ability for over 8 h. The proposed electrode also has high selectivity for motion compared with a commercial wet electrode and dry electrode.
Highlights
During a muscle contraction, motor unit action potentials are generated and propagated up to the skin.A surface electromyography signal is the measured muscle activation signal at the skin surface.such sEMG signals are noisy and complex due to the stochastic nature of the signal [1].The most commonly-used electrode is the wet type, which includes an electrolyte to decrease skin impedance by diffusing into the skin layer
We developed a curved microneedle array (MNA) electrode made of a biodegradable polymer, polylactic acid (PLA)
The RMS amplitude of the dry electrode, and the MNA electrode in the rest condition decreased after exercise, because the sweat improved the contact between the electrode and the skin
Summary
Motor unit action potentials are generated and propagated up to the skin. The signal quality is still limited, because the skin impedance remains high, and the effects of environmental interference are not negligible [6] Both types of electrodes restrict the measurement conditions and have hampered the expansion of sEMG-based applications [7]. Perspiration and intense motion degrade the contact conditions of the electrode and cause signal distortion. Broken silicon needles can cause skin irritation, infection, and pain To alleviate these issues, biocompatible polymer-based MNA electrodes were fabricated using UV exposure [12].
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