Facial Muscle Response Testing With Electrical Stimulation and EMG
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the efficacy of facial muscle relaxants rely on subjective data, leading to inconsistent and unreproducible results due to personalized facial movements, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of treatment materials in reducing wrinkles.
Innovation Solution
A method using an external electrical stimulus to objectively contract facial muscles, allowing for controlled and repeatable measurements of muscle contraction before and after treatment application, utilizing an apparatus to apply electrical stimulus and measure contractile activity with surface electromyography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If subjective facial movements are used to measure muscle contraction, then the measurement process is simple and easy to perform, but the reliability and reproducibility of the results deteriorate due to personalization and subjectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of subjective facial movement assessment with an electrical stimulation system combined with EMG measurement. Electrical stimuli are applied to trigger standardized muscle contractions, and EMG sensors objectively measure the resulting muscle activity, eliminating human subjectivity while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from subjective visual assessment of facial movements to objective electrical measurement of muscle contraction via EMG. By measuring electrical signals from muscle fibers during standardized contractions, the system transforms the measurement into a quantifiable, reproducible parameter that eliminates interpersonal variability
2Measurement precision
If standardized electrical stimulus is applied to contract facial muscles, then the measurement precision and reliability improve, but the device complexity and measurement setup become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional measurement system where a single apparatus performs both electrical stimulation delivery and EMG signal acquisition. The device can measure various facial muscles using the same basic architecture, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced measurement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary standardized protocol between the stimulus application and measurement process. The electrical stimulus parameters (intensity, duration, frequency) are standardized to serve as a universal mediator that triggers consistent muscle contractions across different subjects, simplifying the interpretation of EMG measurements despite the complexity of the underlying physiology
3Loss of time
If subjective facial movement assessment is used, then the testing procedure is quick and simple, but the productivity and efficiency of treatment evaluation deteriorate due to inconsistent results requiring repeated testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where EMG measurements provide real-time quantitative data on muscle contraction intensity. This feedback allows for immediate assessment of treatment efficacy, enabling researchers to quickly determine whether a treatment material is effective without waiting for subjective reports or requiring multiple repeated tests to establish consistency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides objective and reliable data on the effectiveness of treatment materials in relaxing facial muscles, enabling precise determination of their ability to reduce wrinkles by quantifying muscle contraction changes.
Implementation Method 1
applying an external electrical stimulus to facial skin sufficient to contract a facial muscle
Implementation Method 2
measuring the contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle
Data Source
AI summary
A method for quantitatively assessing muscle contraction of a facial muscle in a person and determining the ability of a treatment material to reduce contraction of the facial muscle is disclosed. The method can include applying an external electrical stimulus to facial skin sufficient to contract a facial muscle, measuring the contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle by measuring the compound motor action potential (CMAP) of the contracted facial muscle to obtain a first average measurement of contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle, administering the treatment material by topically applying the treatment material to the facial skin, and repeating steps (a) and (b) to obtain a second average measurement of contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle.