Electromyography equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides an electromyography device. The electromyography EMG device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a main circuit board having a first face and a second face opposite to each other. A plurality of first connectors of a first type are arranged on the first face, and a plurality of input contacts are arranged on the second face. An EMG circuit is arranged on the main circuit board. The EMG circuit is used to obtain an EMG input signal using the input contacts as input, and to process the EMG input signal to provide an EMG output signal based on the EMG input signal but different from the EMG input signal. For each of the input contacts, there is no direct conductive path between the input contact and any of the first connectors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to electromyography (EMG), and more particularly to apparatus and methods for obtaining and processing EMG signals from action potential voltages. Background Art

[0002] Electromyography (EMG) refers to the assessment of electrical activity generated by the skeletal muscles of a subject (e.g., humans and animals). In particular, EMG measures the action potential voltage of a nerve activating a muscle. The action potential voltage can be measured from surface electrodes or intramuscular electrodes inserted into the subject's muscle. EMG can be used for therapeutic purposes, such as for physical therapy or rehabilitation. EMG is also used for entertainment, such as for controlling video games or other electronic devices. Summary of the invention

[0003] An electromyography (EMG) device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a main circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite each other. A plurality of first connectors of a first type are arranged on the first side, and a plurality of input contacts are arranged on the second side. An EMG circuit is arranged on the main circuit board. The EMG circuit is used to obtain an EMG input signal using the input contacts as input, and to process the EMG input signal to provide an EMG output signal based on the EMG input signal but different from the EMG input signal. For each of the input contacts, there is no direct conductive path between the input contact and any of the first connectors.

[0004] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the input contacts are second connectors of a second type different from the first type.

[0005] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the main circuit board includes a plurality of corner areas, and at least one of the first connector and the second connector is disposed in a corresponding one of the corner areas.

[0006] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, at least one of the first connector and the second connector is at least partially disposed in a respective opening in a respective corner region thereof.

[0007] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the first type of connector is a non-snap connector.

[0008] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the first connector and the second connector are snap-on connectors.

[0009] In another embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first connector and the second connector are arranged in pairs, each pair of connectors shares a corresponding central longitudinal axis, and each first connector is one of a snap post and a snap seat, and each second connector is the other of a snap post and a snap seat.

[0010] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, for each pair of connectors, the first connector and the second connector are connected to different nodes of the EMG circuit.

[0011] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, a sibling board is provided having a plurality of connectors for engaging the first connector or the second connector of the primary circuit board to mount the sibling board to the primary circuit board in a mounted configuration wherein the primary circuit board and the sibling board face each other and are substantially parallel to each other.

[0012] In another embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the brother board is a brother circuit board, and the connector of the brother circuit board is a snap connector. A first engagement between one of the snap connectors of the brother circuit board and one of the first connector and the second connector shares a ground signal between the brother circuit board and the main circuit board. A second engagement between one of the snap connectors of the brother circuit board and the other of the first connector and the second connector shares a power supply voltage between the brother circuit board and the main circuit board. A third engagement between one of the snap connectors of the brother circuit board and the other of the first connector and the second connector provides an EMG output signal from the main circuit board to the brother circuit board.

[0013] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the sibling board has an outline and area that is approximately the same as the outline and area of ​​the primary circuit board.

[0014] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the sibling board has an outline and an area that is different from an outline and an area of ​​the primary circuit board.

[0015] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the sibling board is a protection board that does not include circuit components and has a notched edge that provides access to pin sockets disposed along an edge of the primary circuit board in the mounting configuration.

[0016] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the sibling board is a sibling circuit board, and the primary circuit board includes a pin socket disposed along an edge of the primary circuit board and separate from the plurality of first and second connectors. The sibling circuit board includes a pin that is received in the pin socket in the mounting configuration and provides signal transmission between the primary circuit board and the sibling circuit board, the pin extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis and separate from the plurality of snap connectors of the sibling circuit board.

[0017] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the signal transmitted between the master circuit board and the sibling circuit board via the pins and the pin receptacles is the EMG output signal.

[0018] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the EMG circuit is configured to provide a plurality of different EMG output signals, each EMG output signal being based on the EMG input signal.

[0019] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the plurality of different EMG output signals include a first EMG output signal, a second EMG output signal, and a third EMG output signal, the first EMG output signal being a filtered version of the EMG input signal and comprising a voltage offset, the second EMG output signal corresponding to the first EMG output signal after rectification and centering around a non-zero voltage and removing the voltage offset, the third EMG output signal being an envelope signal and corresponding to an envelope of the second EMG output signal.

[0020] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the EMG circuit includes a differential circuit having an operational amplifier, the differential circuit being configured to utilize two of the first connectors to obtain corresponding action potential voltages and to generate the EMG input signal based on a difference between the two action potential voltages. The generation of the EMG input signal introduces a voltage offset that is not already present in the action potential voltage, the voltage offset causing the plurality of output signals to be centered around a non-zero voltage.

[0021] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the EMG circuit comprises a bandpass filter for receiving the EMG input signal from the differential circuit and providing as an output a filtered EMG signal that excludes at least one of frequencies in the EMG input signal above a predefined upper threshold and frequencies in the EMG input signal below a predefined lower threshold.

[0022] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the EMG circuit includes a rectification circuit for rectifying the EMG input signal about the non-zero voltage to generate a rectified EMG signal and an offset removal circuit for receiving the rectified EMG signal and providing an adjusted EMG signal in which the voltage offset is removed.

[0023] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the EMG circuit includes an output circuit connected to the offset removal circuit and configured to generate the EMG output signal as an EMG envelope signal based on the conditioned EMG signal.

[0024] An EMG device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a differential circuit including an operational amplifier coupled to two action potential voltages and configured to generate an EMG signal based on a difference between the two action potential voltages. The generation of the EMG signal introduces a voltage offset that is not already present in the action potential voltage, the voltage offset causing the EMG signal to be centered around a non-zero voltage. A bandpass filter is configured to receive the EMG signal from the differential circuit and provide a filtered EMG signal that excludes frequencies above a predefined upper threshold and frequencies below a predefined lower threshold in the EMG signal. A rectifier circuit is configured to rectify the filtered EMG signal to generate a rectified EMG signal centered around the non-zero voltage. An offset removal circuit is configured to receive the rectified EMG signal and provide an adjusted EMG signal in which the voltage offset is removed. An output circuit is connected to the offset removal circuit and configured to generate an EMG envelope signal based on the adjusted EMG signal.

[0025] In another embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the EMG circuit is disposed on a circuit board and includes a plurality of pairs of snap members, each pair of snap members including a snap post and a snap seat sharing a corresponding central longitudinal axis, the snap post extending outwardly from a first face of the circuit board, and the snap seat including a blind hole leading to a second face of the circuit board opposite to the first face. The EMG circuit is configured to obtain the action potential voltage through the snap seat, and for each of the plurality of pairs of snap members, the snap post is spaced apart from the snap seat, and there is no direct conductive path between the snap post and the snap seat.

[0026] A method for obtaining an EMG signal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes receiving an input voltage from a plurality of first snap connectors of a first type on a first face of a main circuit board, each first snap connector being part of a corresponding pair of snap members, the pair of snap members also including a second snap connector of a second type on a second face of the main circuit board opposite to the first face. For each pair of snap members, the first snap connector is spaced apart from the second snap connector, and there is no direct conductive path between the first snap connector and the second snap connector, and each pair of snap members shares a corresponding central longitudinal axis. The method includes stacking a sibling circuit board onto the main circuit board. The stacking includes engaging the first snap connector of the main circuit board with a corresponding snap connector of the sibling circuit board. An EMG output signal based on the input voltage is obtained using an EMG circuit on the main circuit board, and a signal from the EMG circuit on the main circuit board is provided to the sibling circuit board through a first snap connector of the main circuit board engaged with one of the snap connectors of the sibling circuit board.

[0027] In another embodiment of any of the preceding embodiments, the method includes receiving a pin into a pin receptacle of the primary circuit board, the pin extending from the sibling circuit board generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, the pin receptacle being disposed along an edge of the primary circuit board and separate from the first snap connector and the second snap connector of the primary circuit board. Signals are transmitted between the EMG circuit and the sibling circuit board via the pin and the pin receptacle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 An exemplary EMG circuit is schematically shown.

[0029] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of an EMG circuit.

[0030] Figure 3A Shown include Figure 1 A first side of an exemplary circuit board of at least a portion of an EMG circuit.

[0031] Figure 3B A second side of the circuit board of FIG. 3 opposite to the first side is shown.

[0032] Figure 3C Shows Figure 3A A side view of an exemplary circuit board is shown in FIG.

[0033] Figure 4A Shows Figure 3A A perspective view of the circuit board and the brother circuit board that can be mounted to the circuit board.

[0034] Figure 4B Shows the installation to Figure 3A Circuit board Figure 4A Side view of the Brother circuit board.

[0035] Figure 5 Shows the installation to Figure 3A A view of the protection plate of a circuit board.

[0036] Figure 6 It is shown that it may include Figure 1 A view of another example circuit board of at least a portion of an EMG circuit.

[0037] The embodiments, examples and alternatives described in the claims and the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless these features are incompatible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 An exemplary EMG circuit 10 is schematically shown electrically connected to electrodes 12A-12C secured to a human subject 13. Electrodes 12A-12C provide an action potential voltage 14 to the EMG circuit 10. For example, electrodes 12A-12C may be standard adhesive electrodes that a user adheres to their skin or electrodes embedded in wearable fabric.

[0039] The differential circuit 16 is used to generate an EMG input signal 17 based on the difference between the two action potential voltages 14. The action potential voltage 14 includes a voltage offset (e.g., a DC offset) before the EMG input signal 17 is generated by the differential circuit 16. This will be referred to herein as an "inherent voltage offset" because it may be inherent to the action potential voltage 14 and is not introduced by the EMG circuit 10.

[0040] In generating the EMG input signal 17, the differential circuit introduces an additional voltage offset that is not already present in the action potential voltage (i.e., different from the inherent voltage offset) that causes the EMG input signal 17 to be centered around a non-zero voltage. This additional voltage offset will be referred to herein as an "introduced voltage offset" because it is intentionally introduced by the EMG circuit 10. In one or more embodiments, the non-zero voltage around which the EMG signal is centered is V S / 2, where V S is the voltage of power supply 40 of EMG circuit 10. In some such embodiments, V S / 2 acts as a virtual ground.

[0041] A bandpass filter 18 is connected to the differential circuit 16. The bandpass filter 18 is used to filter out frequencies above a predefined upper threshold and frequencies below a predefined lower threshold in the EMG input signal 17, wherein the upper threshold is greater than the lower threshold. The bandpass filter 18 is also used to remove inherent voltage offsets. The bandpass filter 18 provides a filtered EMG signal 19 (or "raw EMG signal"), which is passed to the rectifier circuit 20 and provided as a first EMG output signal 36A. Removal of the inherent voltage offset can provide the EMG signal 119 with a reference voltage (e.g., V S / 2), if the inherent voltage offset is not removed, there may not be EMG signal 119 centered around its reference voltage.

[0042] The rectification circuit 20 is used to rectify the filtered EMG signal 19 to a non-zero voltage to generate a rectified EMG signal 21 .

[0043] The offset removal circuit 22 is used to remove the introduced voltage offset from the rectified EMG signal 21 to generate an adjusted EMG signal 23, which is provided as a second EMG output signal 36B.

[0044] The envelope detection circuit 24 is configured to receive the conditioned EMG signal 23 to generate a third EMG output signal 36C corresponding to the envelope of the conditioned EMG signal 23 .

[0045] Each of the output signals 36A-36C is based on the EMG input signal 17. For example, the output signals 36A-36C may be provided to a client device 38. A plurality of client devices 38 may be used, such as computers, tablet devices, smart phones, development boards (e.g., ARDUINO, RASPBERRY PI, etc.), microcontrollers, etc. Optionally, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 42 may be used on the client device 38 to generate a digital signal for a digital processing circuit.

[0046] Optionally, an adjustable gain amplifier 26 may be included for adjusting the gain of the EMG output signal 36C. An output light emitting diode (LED) indicator 28 may also be included, configured such that the EMG output signal 36 passes through the LED 28, and the illumination of the LED 28 varies based on the amplitude of the EMG output signal 36. Thus, the LED 28 may be used as a muscle activity indicator that increases in brightness as the human subject 13 flexes their muscles with greater intensity.

[0047] A power source 40 (e.g., a battery or some other energy storage device, such as a large capacitor) provides a supply voltage V that powers the EMG circuit 10. S. For example, power supply 40 may be a separate power supply (e.g., an AC adapter), may be part of client device 38, or may be part of a sibling circuit board. A power switch 30 may be connected between power supply 40 and EMG circuit 10 to control whether EMG circuit 10 is in an on state or an off state. A power indicator LED 32 may be connected to the power switch to indicate whether EMG circuit 10 is in an on state or an off state. Components 26, 28, 30, and 32 are optional components and may be omitted from EMG circuit 10 in some embodiments.

[0048] By using the EMG circuit 10, the user is able to utilize the entire analog input range of the microcontroller or ADC 42 used by the client device 38. By making the EMG signal at a non-zero voltage (e.g., V S / 2) as the center, the entire EMG signal can be placed in the positive voltage plane before rectification, which can avoid the loss of the "negative" part of the waveform during rectification. Then, with the subsequent removal of the introduced voltage offset, the adjusted EMG signal 23 can be set to have a 0 volt reference voltage so that the full resolution of the ADC 42 can be utilized. Otherwise, a portion of the voltage range of the ADC will be wasted. For example, assuming the ADC has a 10-bit resolution (1024 voltage levels = 2 10 If the introduced voltage offset is not removed, the voltage range can be significantly reduced, reducing the resolution to 9-bit resolution (512 voltage levels = 2 9 ), because the entire EMG signal range will be V S / 2~V S The amount of the portion of the voltage range that will be wasted depends on the non-zero voltage used by the differential circuit 16. For example, if the differential circuit 16 is V S / 2 as the center, half of the voltage range will be wasted.

[0049] In one or more implementations, the difference circuit 16 is an instrumentation amplifier, the offset removal circuit 22 is a differential amplifier, the envelope detection circuit 24 is an integrating amplifier, and the rectification circuit 20 is a full-wave or half-wave rectification circuit.

[0050] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of an EMG circuit. Figure 2 In the example of , the differential circuit 16 is an instrumentation amplifier that generates an EMG input signal 17 based on the difference between the two action potential voltages of electrodes 12A and 12B, respectively. Electrode 12C provides a reference voltage for the subject to which electrode 12C is attached. This can be used, for example, to determine the ground signal of the subject to which electrode C is attached.

[0051] The instrumentation amplifier includes an operational amplifier (op-amp) 41, resistors R1 and R2, and capacitors C1 and C2. Resistor R2 and capacitor C2 also form part of a low pass filter 18A, which together with a high pass filter 18B forms a band pass filter 18.

[0052] The high pass filter 18B includes an operational amplifier 42, resistors R3 and R4, and capacitors C3 and C4.

[0053] exist Figure 2 In the example of FIG. 1 , the rectifier circuit 20 is a full-wave rectifier that takes the EMG signal down to a non-zero voltage (eg, V S / 2) and inverts the portion below. The full-wave rectifier includes operational amplifiers 43 and 44, resistors R5, R6 and R7, and a diode D1.

[0054] exist Figure 2 In the example of , the offset removal circuit 22 that removes the introduced voltage offset is a differential amplifier including resistors R8 , R9 , R10 , and R11 , a capacitor C5 , and an operational amplifier 45 .

[0055] exist Figure 2 In the example of , the envelope detection circuit 24 is a low pass filter connected to a non-inverting amplifier including resistors R12 and R13, capacitor C6, and operational amplifier 46. The non-inverting amplifier can also be used as an adjustable gain amplifier by including a potentiometer R14.

[0056] The output indicator LED 28 is connected to the EMG envelope signal 36C via a resistor R15.

[0057] The power supply 40 provides a voltage V S The resistors R16 and R17 are used as a voltage divider to divide the voltage V S Reduce to V s / 2. Capacitor C7 and resistor R16 act as a low pass filter to S The AC voltage signal is removed. Operational amplifier 48 is used as a buffer amplifier to prevent impedance loading and interference. The output of operational amplifier 48 (which can be V S / 2) is connected to the voltage potential of the subject from which the first action potential voltage and the second action potential voltage (via electrode 12C) originate to form a reference voltage V REF This can be used to effectively synchronize the subject's body potential with the potential of the EMG circuit 10. The negative terminal of the power supply 40 provides a ground connection for the EMG circuit 10.

[0058] Figure 3AA first side 52A of an exemplary circuit board 50 is shown upon which some or all of the EMG circuit 10 may be disposed. Figure 3B A second side 52B of the circuit board 50 is shown opposite the first side 52A. Figure 3C A side view of the circuit board 50 is shown.

[0059] Circuit board 50 FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C 52A to 52B of the circuit board 50 are depicted as triangles having sides of approximately equal length. However, it should be understood that this is merely an example and that other shapes, such as shapes having other numbers of corners, may be used. Furthermore, although the faces 52A to 52B of the circuit board 50 are FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C Although depicted as planar, it should be understood that faces 52A-52B may be non-planar if desired.

[0060] Reference FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C The circuit board 50 includes a plurality of pairs of snap-fit ​​components, each pair of snap-fit ​​components including a first snap-fit ​​connector column 56 and a second snap-fit ​​connector 58. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C In the example of the first snap connector 56A-56C is a snap post, and the second snap connector 58A-58C is a snap seat. However, it should be understood that other structures can be used (e.g., all snap posts, all snap connectors, a mixture of snap posts and snap connectors on each face 52A-52B, snap seats for snap connectors 56A-56C and snap posts for snap connectors 58A-58C, etc.).

[0061] exist FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C In the example of FIG. 5 , each pair of snap members shares a corresponding central longitudinal axis 60. Thus, the pair of snap posts 56A and snap seats 58A share a central longitudinal axis 60A, the pair of snap posts 56B and snap seats 58B share a central longitudinal axis 60B, and the pair of snap posts 56C and snap seats 58C share a central longitudinal axis 60C. The central longitudinal axes 60A to 60C are substantially parallel to each other. The circuit board 50 includes three corner regions 54A to 54C, and each pair of snap posts and snap seats are disposed in a corresponding one of the corner regions 54A to 54C.

[0062] The circuit board 50 includes a plurality of openings 62A to 62C, and each snap seat 58B is at least partially disposed in a corresponding one of the openings 62A to 62C. The snap posts 56 extend outward from the first face 52A, and the snap seats 58 each include a blind hole 61 leading to the second face 52B.

[0063] Buckle seat 58 is used to receive Figure 1In one example, one of the snap-on mounts 58 connects electrode 12A to the EMG circuit 10, another of the snap-on mounts 58 connects electrode 12B to the EMG circuit 10, and yet another of the snap-on mounts 58 connects electrode 12C to the EMG circuit. The EMG circuit 10 is configured to obtain an EMG input signal 17 using the snap-on mounts 58 as an input, and as described above, the EMG circuit 10 is also configured to provide at least one EMG output signal 36 that is based on the EMG input signal 17 but is different from the EMG input signal 17.

[0064] For each pair of snap members, the snap post 56 is spaced apart from the snap seat 58, and there is no direct conductive path between the snap post 56 and the snap seat 58. Instead, the snap post 56 and the snap seat 58 of each pair are connected to different nodes of the EMG circuit 10. In the same example or another example, one of the snap posts 56 is connected to the ground node of the EMG circuit 10, and the other of the snap posts 56 is connected to the +V node of the EMG circuit 10. S The node is connected, and another of the snap posts 56 is connected to the node of the EMG output 36C. The snap posts 56 can be used to attach a sibling board to the circuit board 50 (eg, a sibling protection board or a sibling circuit board that omits the circuit components).

[0065] In one embodiment, the EMG circuit 10 is sized to be worn on the subject's body. In one such example, the first snap connectors 56 are spaced approximately 0.5 to 2 inches apart from one another. In another embodiment, the first snap connectors 56 are spaced 0.75 to 1.25 inches apart from one another. In such an example, the second snap connectors 58 can be spaced the same distance apart from one another. These relatively small distances between the snap connector pairs make the circuit board 50 suitable for being worn on a limb (e.g., arm) of a human subject 13.

[0066] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the circuit board 50 and the brother circuit board 70 before installation, Figure 4B is a side view of circuit board 50 and sibling circuit board 70 in a mounted configuration.

[0067] Reference now FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B The brother circuit board 70 includes a first surface 71A and a second surface 71B opposite to each other. Similar to the circuit board 50, the brother circuit board 70 also includes a plurality of snap-on seats 72A to 72C. Figure 4B In the mounting configuration, each snap post 56A to 56C of the circuit board 50 is received in a corresponding one of the snap seats 72A to 72C, and the central longitudinal axis of each snap seat 72 is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis 60 of its associated snap post 56.

[0068] Prior to installation, the circuit board 50 and the brother circuit board 70 may be vertically aligned, such as Figure 4A shown.

[0069] In the mounted configuration, the circuit board 50 and the sibling circuit board 70 are arranged in a stacked configuration such that the circuit boards 50, 70 are substantially parallel, face each other, are spaced apart from each other, and are electrically connected by at least one of the snap posts 56 and the snap seats 72. The sibling circuit board 70 can be removed from the circuit board 50 by separating the snap posts 56 of the circuit board 50 from the snap seats 72 of the sibling circuit board 70.

[0070] The sibling circuit board 70 can be used to take on the functionality of the circuit board 50 and / or to enhance the functionality of the circuit board 50 in a modular manner. The sibling circuit board 70 can be used to provide power, provide wireless capabilities, connect one or more electrodes to the circuit board 50 (for example, if the human subject 13 does not want to wear the circuit board 50), and / or provide an electronic display.

[0071] exist FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B In the example of , the outline and area of ​​the circuit board 50 are substantially the same as the outline and area of ​​the sibling circuit board 70. Of course, it should be understood that this is a non-limiting example, and other arrangements may be provided in which the outline and / or area of ​​the circuit board 50 is different from the outline and / or area of ​​the sibling circuit board 70.

[0072] Refer again Figure 3B The circuit board 50 includes a plurality of pin sockets 64 disposed along edges 66A to 66C of the circuit board separated from the plurality of snap-fit ​​seats 58A to 58C.

[0073] An exemplary configuration of the pin socket 64 is described below. Pin socket 64A may provide a connection to the EMG output signal 36A. Pin socket 64B may provide a connection to the EMG output signal 36B. Pin socket 64C may provide a connection to the EMG output signal 36B. Figure 2 The reference voltage "V REF " connection. Pin socket 64D can provide access to electrode 12A. Pin socket 64E can provide access to power supply voltage +V S Pin socket 64F may provide a connection to the ground of EMG circuit 10. Pin socket 64G may provide a connection to EMG output signal 36C. Pin socket 64H may provide a connection to electrode 12B. Of course, other pin configurations may be used.

[0074] Now refer to Figure 4A , the brother circuit board 70 includes two pins 74A to 74B extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis 60A to 60C and separated from a plurality of snap-fit ​​seats 72A to 72C of the brother circuit board 70 .

[0075] Pins 74A-74B are used to connect to pin receptacles 64A-64B of circuit board 50 in a mounted configuration to transmit signals between the primary circuit board 50 and the sibling circuit board 70. Thus, using the above example, pin 74A can provide sibling circuit board 70 with access to EMG output signal 36A by connecting to pin receptacle 64A, and pin 74B can provide sibling circuit board 70 with access to EMG output signal 36B by connecting to pin receptacle 64B.

[0076] Reference Figure 4A , the circuit board 50 and the sibling circuit board 70 each include corresponding auxiliary graphic indicators 76A to 76B for indicating the proper orientation of the circuit boards 50, 70 before being installed. Figure 4A In the example of , the graphic indicator depicts a flexed bicep. Of course, different graphic indicators may be used. By aligning the graphic indicators 76A-76B prior to installation, the user can avoid inserting the pins 74A to 74B into the incorrect pin receptacle 64 and can also avoid creating an undesirable electrical connection between the snap post 56 and the snap seat 72.

[0077] Figure 5 A view of a protective plate 80 removably mounted to a circuit board 50 is shown. For example, the protective plate 80 can be a blank PCB with no circuit components thereon. The protective plate 80 includes a plurality of socket openings 82A to 82C sized to receive and engage the snap posts 56 in the mounted configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the openings 82A to 82C are blind holes such that the snap posts 56 are hidden within the openings 82 and cannot be accessed through the openings 82 in the mounted configuration. In some embodiments, the socket openings 82A to 82C can be non-snap seats, or alternatively can be snap seats.

[0078] The protective plate 80 has notched edges 84A-84C that, in the mounted configuration, provide access to the pin receptacles 64A-64H disposed along the edges 66A-66C of the circuit board 50. The protective plate 80 protects the EMG circuit 10 and also provides protection from a user inadvertently touching the snap posts 56A-56C and making an unintentional electrical connection to the associated electrical signals of the snap posts 56A-56C.

[0079] Despite FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C and FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B Specific embodiments are depicted in the drawings, but it should be understood that other embodiments may be implemented. For example, non-snap connectors may be used in place of snap connectors 56 and / or 58 (e.g., contacts having a generally flat outer surface adapted to rest against a user's body without the use of adhesive electrodes, magnetic connectors, pin-based connectors, etc.).

[0080] In one example, the snap connectors 56 , 58 are not arranged in pairs, but are offset from each other (eg, disposed in different corners of the hexagonal polygonal circuit board). In one example, the number of first connectors 56 is different from the number of second connectors 58 .

[0081] In this disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like elements where appropriate, and reference numerals incremented by one hundred or multiples thereof refer to modified elements that are understood to incorporate the same features and benefits of the corresponding elements.

[0082] Figure 6 It is shown that it may include Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram of another example circuit board 150 of at least a portion of the EMG circuit 10. Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , the circuit board 150 is circular and has no “corner” areas. Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , connectors 156A- 156C (eg, snap-on connectors) on side 152A of circuit board 150 are offset from connectors 158A- 158C (eg, snap-on connectors) on an opposing second side of circuit board 150 .

[0083] Although exemplary embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An electromyography (EMG) device, comprising: A main circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite to each other; An EMG circuit, the EMG circuit being arranged on the main circuit board; a plurality of first connectors disposed on the first face, wherein each first connector is configured to provide attachment to the first face; a plurality of second connectors disposed on the second face, wherein each second connector is configured to provide attachment to the second face; Wherein, the EMG circuit is used for: obtaining an EMG input signal using the second connector as an input; and processing the EMG input signal to provide an EMG output signal that is based on the EMG input signal but different from the EMG input signal; wherein each of the first connector and the second connector is connected to a respective different node of the EMG circuit, and there is no direct conductive path between any of the first connector and any of the second connector; and Wherein, the first connector and the second connector are snap connectors or magnetic connectors.

2. The EMG device according to claim 1, wherein: The main circuit board includes at least three corner areas; and At least one of the first connector and the second connector is disposed at a corresponding opening in a corresponding corner region of the at least three corner regions.

3. The EMG device according to claim 1, wherein: The first connector and the second connector are both snap-on connectors.

4. The EMG device according to claim 3, wherein: The first connector and the second connector are arranged in pairs, each pair of connectors sharing a respective central longitudinal axis; and Each of the plurality of first connectors is one of a snap post and a snap seat, and each of the plurality of second connectors is the other of a snap post and a snap seat.

5. The EMG device according to claim 1, comprising: a brother board having a plurality of snap connectors for engaging the plurality of first connectors to mount the brother board to the master circuit board in a mounting configuration; Wherein, in the mounting configuration, the main circuit board and the brother board face each other and are parallel to each other.

6. The EMG device according to claim 5, wherein: The brother board is a brother circuit board; a first engagement between one of the snap connectors of the sibling circuit board and one of the first connector and the second connector to share a ground signal between the sibling circuit board and the master circuit board; A second engagement between one of the snap connectors of the sibling circuit board and the other of the first connector and the second connector shares a power supply voltage between the sibling circuit board and the master circuit board; and A third engagement between one of the snap connectors of the sibling circuit board and the other of the first connector and the second connector provides an EMG output signal from the master circuit board to the sibling circuit board.

7. The EMG device according to claim 5, wherein: The outline and area of ​​the brother board are the same as the outline and area of ​​the main circuit board.

8. The EMG device according to claim 5, wherein: The outline and area of ​​the brother board are different from the outline and area of ​​the main circuit board.

9. The EMG device according to claim 8, wherein: The sibling board is a protective board that does not include circuit components, the protective board having a notched edge that provides access to pin receptacles disposed along an edge of the primary circuit board in the mounting configuration.

10. The EMG device according to claim 5, wherein: Brother boards are Brother circuit boards; The first connector and the second connector are arranged in pairs, each pair of connectors sharing a corresponding central longitudinal axis; The main circuit board includes a pin socket disposed along an edge of the main circuit board and separated from the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors; and The sibling circuit board includes a pin that is received in the pin socket in the mounting configuration and provides signal transmission between the main circuit board and the sibling circuit board, the pin extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis and separated from the plurality of snap-in connectors of the sibling circuit board.

11. The EMG device according to claim 10, wherein: The signal transmitted between the main circuit board and the sibling circuit board via the pins and the pin sockets is the EMG output signal.

12. The EMG device according to claim 1, wherein: The EMG circuit is used to provide a plurality of different EMG output signals, each EMG output signal is based on the EMG input signal; and The plurality of different EMG output signals include: a first EMG output signal that is a filtered version of the EMG input signal and includes a voltage offset; a second EMG output signal corresponding to the first EMG output signal after rectification and centering to a non-zero voltage and removing the voltage offset; and A third EMG output signal, which is an envelope signal and corresponds to the envelope of the second EMG output signal.

13. The EMG device according to claim 1, wherein: The EMG circuit comprises: A differential circuit comprising an operational amplifier for obtaining corresponding action potential voltages using two of the first connectors and generating the EMG input signal based on a difference between the two action potential voltages, wherein the generation of the EMG input signal introduces a voltage offset that is not already present in the action potential voltage, and the voltage offset causes a plurality of output signals to be centered around a non-zero voltage.

14. The EMG device according to claim 13, wherein: The EMG circuit comprises: a bandpass filter for receiving the EMG input signal from the differential circuit and providing as an output a filtered EMG signal excluding at least one of frequencies in the EMG input signal above a predefined upper threshold and frequencies in the EMG input signal below a predefined lower threshold.

15. The EMG device according to claim 14, wherein: The EMG circuit comprises: a rectifying circuit for rectifying the EMG input signal with respect to the non-zero voltage to generate a rectified EMG signal; and An offset removal circuit is configured to receive the rectified EMG signal and provide a conditioned EMG signal in which the voltage offset is removed.

16. The EMG device according to claim 15, wherein: The EMG circuit comprises: An output circuit is connected to the offset removal circuit and is used to generate the EMG output signal as an EMG envelope signal based on the adjusted EMG signal.

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