Multi-Channel Myoelectric Signal Visualization for Prosthetic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with amputations or dysmelia face difficulties in controlling complex prosthetic movements due to the lack of visual feedback, as they cannot see the consequences of their muscle contractions, which hinders rehabilitation and prosthetic control effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method that visualizes multichannel sensor signals by assigning display directions and magnitudes to each signal, illustrating them in real time as graphical objects on a display instrument, allowing patients to see the intended movements and contraction patterns, with reference objects for training and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of signals is increased to implement more functions, then the complexity of prosthetic control increases, but the patient's ability to control the prosthesis deteriorates due to lack of visual feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The method segments multiple myoelectric signals into distinct spatial dimensions by assigning each signal a specific display direction in a 2D graphical object. This allows multiple functions to be represented simultaneously without overlapping, enabling patients to visually differentiate and control each function independently through targeted muscle contractions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms multiple 1D signal intensity measurements into a 2D graphical representation where signals are distributed across spatial dimensions (display directions). This dimensional transformation provides visual feedback that helps patients understand and control multiple prosthetic functions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between increased functionality and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If traditional signal display methods are used, then the system is simple, but the patient cannot understand the contraction patterns and their effects
Solution Approach 1:
The method implements real-time visual feedback by displaying the relationship between muscle contraction patterns and resulting prosthetic movements in a 2D graphical object. Patients can see how their muscle contractions map to specific display directions and control functions, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves understanding and control without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes visual differentiation in the graphical object display, where different regions or elements can be distinguished by color, intensity, or other visual properties. This provides intuitive feedback about which muscles are active and how they relate to prosthetic control, maintaining simplicity while preventing information loss.
3Measurement precision
If multiple electrodes are used to increase signal differentiation, then measurement precision improves, but the complexity of interpreting the signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each electrode signal is assigned a unique display direction in the 2D graphical object, segmenting the interpretation space. This allows multiple electrodes to provide differentiated measurement precision while maintaining simple interpretation, as each signal occupies a distinct spatial region that patients can easily identify and control.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for visualizing multi-channel sensor signals, especially myoelectric signals, which are derived from a limb or an amputation stump by way of electrodes, comprising the following steps: a display direction and a display amount are associated with each sensor signal, the display direction represents exactly one sensor signal, the display amount represents the intensity of the respective signal, the display direction and the display amount of all sensor signals are presented simultaneously in real time on a display device as a graphical object.