title: An EMG-CT method using multiple surface electrodes in the forearm.
abstract: Electromyography computed tomography (EMG-CT) method is proposed for visualizing the individual muscle activities in the human forearm. An EMG conduction model was formulated for reverse-estimation of muscle activities using EMG signals obtained with multi surface electrodes. The optimization process was calculated using sequential quadratic programming by comparing the estimated EMG values from the model with the measured values. The individual muscle activities in the deep region were estimated and used to produce an EMG tomographic image. For validation of the method, isometric contractions of finger muscles were examined for three subjects, applying a flexion load (4.9, 7.4 and 9.8 N) to the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger. EMG signals in the forearm were recorded during the tasks using multiple surface electrodes, which were bound around the subject's forearm. The EMG-CT method illustrates the distribution of muscle activities within the forearm. The change in amplitude and area of activated muscles can be observed. The normalized muscle activities of all three subjects appear to increase monotonically with increases in the load. Kinesiologically, this method was able to estimate individual muscle activation values and could provide a novel tool for studying hand function and development of an examination for evaluating rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, Kita 19-jo, Nishi 11-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Mechanical Systems and Design, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13-jo, Nishi 8-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Saran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keeratihattayakorn
authors.affiliation: Industrial Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, Kita 19-jo, Nishi 11-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshinari
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Mechanical Systems and Design, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13-jo, Nishi 8-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan. Electronic address: tadano@eng.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tadano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D014054:Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Conductive model; Forearm; Muscle activity; Optimization; Surface electromyography