Unit-II Bio Signal Characteristics

and Electrode configurations

Prepared By
Dr.K.HelenPrabha, HOD/ECE
Mr.P.Arul, Assistant Professor
 Types of Bio electric signals
ECG Electro-Cardiogram- Heart activity

EEG Electro-Encephalogram- Brain Signals

EMG Electro-Myogram - Muscle movement
EOG Electro-Oculogram - Eye movement
GSR Galvanic Skin Response

● Measured with electrodes:

skin-electrode interface: Ions <--> Electrodes

Breathing, temperature, movement etc.

● Measured with other sensors / transducers:
 Primary Characteristics of Bio electric signals

Parameter Frequency range Amplitude Type of

Electrode
Electrocardiogrpahy 0.05 to 120 Hz 0.1 to 5µV Surface
(ECG) 1µV
Electroencephalography 0.1 to 100 Hz 2 to 200µV Scalp
(EEG) 50µV
Electromyography 5 to 2000 Hz 0.1 to 5µV Needle
(EMG)
Electroretinography Dc to 20Hz 0.5 to 1µV Contact
(ERG)
Electro-oculography Dc to 100 Hz 10 to Contact
(EOG) 3500µV
 ECG – Electrocardiogram
Standardised electrode positions

1. Bipolar limb leads(or) standard leads

2. Augmented unipolar limb leads

3. Chest leads(or) precordial leads

4. Frank lead system(or) corrected

orthogonal leads
 Augmented voltage
aVR = -VI - VIII / 2

aVL = VI - VII / 2

aVR = VII - VI / 2
ECG: Heart- vector, QRS Complex
ECG - applications

● Diagnostics
● Functional analysis
● Implants (pace maker)
● Biofeedback (Heartrate variability, HRV)
● Peak Performacne Training, Monitoring
EMG - Electromyogram
EMG surface (glue-) electrodes EMG - signal (up to 3mV, 1kHz)
EMG electrodes EMG electrodes
(passive) (active)
EMG electrodes
(active)
Recording locations for facial EMG
Needle electrodes adhesive electrode
EMG activity: averaging absolute vaues
EMG - applications

● Rehabilitation
● Functional analysis
● active Prothetics, Orthesis
● Biomechanics, Sports medicine
EEG - Electroencephalogram
EEG Electrode – cap locations of
the 10/20 system
Unipolar measurement
( indifferential right ear
electrode )

Bipolar measurement
EEG, dominant frequencies, < 300 uV
EEG, Alpha bursts when eyes closed,
alpha desynchronisation when eyes opened
EEG - applications

● Diagnostics (Epilepsy, Oncology, ..)

● Cognitive Sciences
● Sleep Analysis
● Human Computer Interfaces (BCIs)
● Pharmacology
● Intensive Care, Monitoring
Summary bioelectric signals

Frequency Amplitude (mV)

ECG 0,2 – 300 0,1 - 3

EEG DC – 100 0,005 - 0,2
EEG (cortical) 10 – 100 0,015 - 0,3
EMG 10 – 1000 0,1 - 5
EMG (needle) 10 – 10000 0,05 - 5
EOG 0 – 30 0,1 - 2

Intracell. 0 – 10000 50 .. 130

Video Links:

EEG 10-20 Electrode System:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfjRhoC2V0E