Wearable Biosignal Garment for Simplified EMG Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current EMG systems require users to have a foundational understanding of the musculoskeletal system for accurate electrode placement, fail to provide meaningful insights into muscle synergies during task-based movements, and do not offer user-friendly feedback for individuals with motor-deficit inducing injuries.
Innovation Solution
A wearable biosignal device with integrated sensors embedded in textile that wirelessly transmit biosignals to a computing device, providing real-time feedback and therapeutic exercises without the need for adhesive patches, allowing users to interpret their muscle activity and engage in rehabilitative training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional wet silver chloride electrodes are used, then biosignal collection is possible, but the system requires users to have foundational understanding of musculoskeletal system for accurate electrode placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wearable garment with integrated conductive elements as an intermediary between the user and the biosignal measurement system. The garment includes conductive threads, fabrics, or coatings that serve as built-in electrodes, eliminating the need for separate adhesive electrodes and simplifying the measurement process while maintaining signal quality
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable garment serves multiple functions: it acts as both clothing and a biosignal measurement device. The integrated conductive elements can be positioned at multiple standard electrode locations, allowing the single garment to perform various EMG measurements across different muscle groups without requiring separate electrode sets
2Ease of operation
If adhesive patches are integrated into wearable garment, then convenience is improved, but the patches lose adhesive or become folded making signals unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional adhesive patches that stick to the skin, the patent creates a copy of the electrode function through conductive materials integrated into the garment fabric. The conductive threads or coatings replicate the electrical contact function without relying on adhesive properties, thus maintaining reliability while improving wearability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible conductive fabrics, thin conductive coatings, or elastic conductive materials that conform to the body's surface through the garment structure. These flexible conductive elements maintain continuous skin contact through the garment's fit rather than adhesive, preventing folding and signal loss while preserving convenience
3Measurement precision
If traditional EMG systems are used, then muscle signal detection is achieved, but the systems fail to provide meaningful insights into muscle synergies or co-contractions during task-based movements
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable garment is designed with multiple conductive elements positioned to detect signals from multiple muscle groups simultaneously. This multi-point detection capability enables the system to capture muscle synergies and co-contractions during task-based movements, providing comprehensive information about muscular coordination patterns that single-point systems cannot detect
4Measurement precision
If conventional EMG systems are used, then signal collection is possible, but the systems fail to provide patients with meaningful information and feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms that process the collected EMG signals and present them to users in an easily interpretable format. The wearable device or connected system provides immediate feedback about muscle activation patterns, posture, and movement quality, enabling patients to understand and adjust their movements without requiring expert interpretation
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
The device offers intuitive, real-time feedback and customized exercises, enhancing rehabilitative training compliance and engagement for neuro-compromised and motor-compromised individuals, overcoming the limitations of traditional EMG systems.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a bioelectric signal such as an electromyogram
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a new apparatus, system, and method for providing therapeutic feedback through use of a biosignal collection device that includes at least one sensor and a monitoring device, such as a computing device, which are communicatively connected to one another preferably in a wireless fashion for measuring, collecting, and analyzing biosignals. In a preferred embodiment, the proposed system features a wearable muscle-sensing device and user-friendly mobile biofeedback application used to improve the daily living of neuro-compromised and motor-compromised individuals. The system can provide users with immediate and real-time feedback on motor recruitment, muscle engagement and coordination, along with a series of customized and therapeutic exercises to enhance their rehabilitative training.