IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2021 Apr;68(4):1389-1398. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2020.3032354. Epub 2021 Mar 18.
High-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) has been utilized extensively in neuromuscular research. Despite its potential advantages, limitations in electrode design have largely prevented widespread acceptance of the technology. Commercial electrodes have limited spatial fidelity, because of a lack of sharpness of the signal, and variable signal stability. We demonstrate here a novel tattoo electrode that addresses these issues. Our dry HD electrode grid exhibits remarkable deformability which ensures superior conformity with the skin surface, while faithfully recording signals during different levels of muscle contraction.
We fabricated a 4 cm×3 cm tattoo HD electrode grid on a stretchable electronics membrane for sEMG applications. The grid was placed on the skin overlying the biceps brachii of healthy subjects, and was used to record signals for several hours while tracking different isometric contractions.
The sEMG signals were recorded successfully from all 64 electrodes across the grid. These electrodes were able to faithfully record sEMG signals during repeated contractions while maintaining a stable baseline at rest. During voluntary contractions, broad EMG frequency content was preserved, with accurate reproduction of the EMG spectrum across the full signal bandwidth.
The tattoo grid electrode can potentially be used for recording high-density sEMG from skin overlying major limb muscles. Layout programmability, good signal quality, excellent baseline stability, and easy wearability make this electrode a potentially valuable component of future HD electrode grid applications.
The tattoo electrode can facilitate high fidelity recording in clinical applications such as tracking the evolution and time-course of challenging neuromuscular degenerative disorders.
高密度表面肌电图（HD-sEMG）已广泛应用于神经肌肉研究。尽管具有潜在优势，但由于电极设计的局限性，该技术尚未得到广泛接受。商用电极的空间分辨率有限，因为信号的锐度不足，且信号稳定性也存在差异。我们在此展示了一种新型纹身电极，该电极解决了这些问题。我们的干式 HD 电极网格具有显著的可变形性，可确保与皮肤表面的卓越贴合度，同时在不同程度的肌肉收缩过程中忠实地记录信号。
我们在可拉伸电子膜上制作了一个 4cm×3cm 的纹身式 HD 电极网格，用于 sEMG 应用。将网格放置在健康受试者肱二头肌上方的皮肤上，并在跟踪不同等长收缩的同时使用数小时记录信号。
成功地从网格上的所有 64 个电极记录到了 sEMG 信号。这些电极能够在反复收缩时忠实地记录 sEMG 信号，同时在休息时保持稳定的基线。在自愿收缩期间，保留了广泛的肌电频率内容，在整个信号带宽内准确再现了肌电频谱。
纹身网格电极有可能用于记录覆盖主要肢体肌肉的皮肤的高密度 sEMG。布局可编程性、良好的信号质量、出色的基线稳定性和易于佩戴性使该电极成为未来 HD 电极网格应用的有价值组件。
纹身电极可以促进临床应用中的高保真记录，例如跟踪具有挑战性的神经肌肉退行性疾病的演变和时程。
