iEMG: Imaging Electromyography

Abstract

iEMG - imaging electromyography - is a novel approach for processing EMG data. To date, it is very difficult to reliably detect deeper muscle activation by surface EMG measurements - mainly because of severe crosstalk between deep and superficial muscle activation. iEMG makes use of this crosstalk between a large number of EMG-electrodes to reconstruct a 3D image of the generating potential distribution within a given area. The depth of muscular activity is directly visible, even for deeply buried muscles. The iEMG method is robust and valid as was shown by various simulations as well as by in vivo sEMG and ultrasound measurements on the human forearm. This new method will be valuable for kinesiologic research, e.g. revealing to date hidden muscle synergies. It will also be useful for advanced prosthetics, allowing for better control of high-DOF-prosthetics, but may also help to avoid some applications of invasive EMG.