BM6504 Biomedical Instrumentation

Ms. Divya B AP/BME

ELECTROMYOGRAM
 INTRODUCTION

• Electromyogram (EMG) is a technique for evaluating

and recording the activation signal of muscles.
• EMG is performed by an electromyograph, which
records an electromyogram.
• Electromyograph detects the electrical potential
generated by muscle cells when these cells contract
and relax.

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 INTRODUCTION Contd.

EMG Apparatus Muscle Structure/EMG

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 EMG Electrodes

Fine wire

Needle
Surface electrode
Electrodes
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 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERITICS

• The electrical source is the muscle membrane

potential of about -70mV.
• Measured EMG potentials range between
< 50 μV up to 20 to 30 mV, depending on the muscle
under observation.
• Typical repetition rate of muscle unit firing is about 7-
20 Hz.
• Damage to motor units can be expected at ranges
between 450 and 780 mV

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 ELECTRODE TYPES

Intramuscular -
Needle Electrodes

Extramuscular - Surface
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Electrodes v 1.2
 EMG PROCEDURE

• Clean the site of application of

electrode;
• Insert needle/place surface
electrodes at muscle belly;
• Record muscle activity at rest;
• Record muscle activity upon
voluntary contraction of the
muscle.

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 EMG Contd.

• Muscle Signals are

Analog in nature.

• EMG signals are also

collected over a Analog Signal
specific period of
time.

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 Monopolar EMG

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 • Electromyograhic or EMG signal is the muscle electrical
activity. It is the superposition of the evoked action
potentials of all the active motor units in a muscle.
• In Monopolar configuration one electrode is place over
the belly of the muscle and one electrode some where
farther as the reference and the signal between the two
electrodes is amplified and recorded

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 Bipolar EMG

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 • Bipolar configuration two electrodes are placed over the
belly of the muscle within 1-2 cm from each other and
one electrode some where farther as the reference and
the signal between the two electrodes over the belly of
the muscle is amplified differentially respect to the
reference electrode.
• Advantage in this configuration is the common noise
between the two electrodes is eliminated and hence we’ll
have a cleaner EMG signal.
• signal-to-noise ratio will be much better.

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 EMG Contd.

EMG processing:

Signal pick up Amplificatio

n
& Filtering

Computer Conversion of Analog

signals to Digital signals

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 APPLICATION OF EMG

• EMG can be used for diagnosis of Neurogenic or

Myogenic Diseases.

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 THANK YOU

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