Merletti Roberto, Farina Dario, Gazzoni Marco
Centro di Bioingegneria, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2003 Feb;13(1):37-47. doi: 10.1016/s1050-6411(02)00082-2.
In this review we describe the basic principles of operation of linear electrode arrays for the detection of surface EMG signals, together with their most relevant current applications. A linear array of electrodes is a system which detects surface EMG signals in a number of points located along a line. A spatial filter is usually placed in each point for signal detection, so that the recording of EMG signals with linear arrays corresponds to the sampling in one spatial direction of a spatially filtered version of the potential distribution over the skin. Linear arrays provide indications on motor unit (MU) anatomical properties, such as the locations of the innervation zones and tendons, and the fiber length. Such systems allow the investigation of the properties of the volume conductor and its effect on surface detected signals. Moreover, linear arrays allow to estimate muscle fiber conduction velocity with a very low standard deviation of estimation (of the order of 0.1-0.2 m/s), thus providing reliable indications on muscle fiber membrane properties and their changes in time (for example with fatigue or during treatment). Conduction velocity can be estimated from a signal epoch (global estimate) or at the single MU level. In the latter case, MU action potentials are identified from the interference EMG signals and conduction velocity is estimated for each detected potential. In this way it is possible, in certain conditions, to investigate single MU control and conduction properties with a completely non-invasive approach. Linear arrays provide valuable information on the neuromuscular system properties and appear to be promising tools for applied studies and clinical research.
在本综述中，我们描述了用于检测表面肌电信号的线性电极阵列的基本工作原理及其当前最相关的应用。线性电极阵列系统可在沿一条线分布的多个点检测表面肌电信号。通常在每个点放置一个空间滤波器用于信号检测，因此用线性阵列记录肌电信号相当于对皮肤表面电位分布的空间滤波版本在一个空间方向上进行采样。线性阵列可提供有关运动单位（MU）解剖学特性的信息，如神经支配区和肌腱的位置以及纤维长度。此类系统有助于研究容积导体的特性及其对表面检测信号的影响。此外，线性阵列能够以非常低的估计标准差（约0.1 - 0.2 m/s）估计肌肉纤维传导速度，从而为肌肉纤维膜特性及其随时间的变化（例如疲劳或治疗期间）提供可靠信息。传导速度可从一个信号时段（全局估计）或在单个运动单位水平进行估计。在后一种情况下，从干扰肌电信号中识别出运动单位动作电位，并对每个检测到的电位估计传导速度。通过这种方式，在某些条件下，有可能采用完全非侵入性的方法研究单个运动单位的控制和传导特性。线性阵列可提供有关神经肌肉系统特性的有价值信息，似乎是应用研究和临床研究的有前景的工具。
