Conversion of Body Muscle Signal to Control a Gripper using Surface Electromyography.

Abstract

Measuring muscle activation via electric potential, referred to as electromyography (EMG), has traditionally been used for medical research and diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. However, with the advent of powerful integrated circuits and micro-controllers, the EMG circuits and sensors can find their way into prosthetics, robotics and control systems. Surface electromyography and needle electromyography are two general methods of recording the electrical activities of muscle tissue. In this paper, surface electromyography is used to analyse the human arm muscle nerve signals and convert the obtained nerve signal into mechanical movement in a motor. This kind of bionic control module finds its greatest use in prosthetics. The surface detection of the nerve signals reduces the risk of operation on the amputated part of the patient and gives a proper control to the person in movement of the prosthetic arm/leg. The module has the advantage of being small and simple, and easily manageable when compared to the other available options. Further development in the module can lead to fully developed and human safe prosthetic limbs that are very much alike and do all the functions as the actual human limbs.

Index Terms: Electromyography, Surface electromyography, Bio electrodes, Bionic Control, non-invasive technique, aphasia