Instrumented flexible active electrode matrix suitable for human-computer interface applications

Abstract

We present the design of a compact, wearable and reusable, 16-channel flexible active electrode matrix suitable for long term biomedical monitoring, myo-activated prosthesis and human-computer interfaces. USB scalability together with dry electrodes enables a compact approach to the human-computer interface paradigm. The full instrumentation comprising microcontroller units, two 16-bit octal ADCs and analog signal amplification is entirely assembled on the top layer of a lightweight flexible PCB. This allows the facilitation of EMG electrodes on the underside layer. Thus the resulting system is comparable in size to the standard flexible wearable electrodes matrix commonly used for EMG applications. The Gerber files, the bill of material and the processor firmware necessary to reproduce our work as well as access to manufacturer tools for manufacturing/assembly are available (on an As-Is basis based on the most up to date GPL licence) upon on request.