A Wireless-Sensor System for Reliable Recordings during Vigorous Muscle Activitie

描述（由申请人提供）：该I期SBIR提交将为开发可靠的身体穿戴数据采集系统的总体目标提供原理证明，该系统用于评估剧烈和其他高要求体育活动期间的肌肉性能和运动学。该系统将由无线传感器组成，该传感器结合了表面肌电图（sEMG）和加速度计（ACC）信号检测，以及用于获取这些数据的臀部模块。尽管无线传感器技术最近取得了进步，但在要求苛刻的应用中，例如在不受控制的运动障碍、体育活动或工作场所活动期间进行记录，这些传感器的功能仍然有限。设计上的突破需要产生一种技术，它不仅提供可移植性，而且满足有力应用的要求。第一阶段解决了这一需求，通过大幅降低传感器的高度，使其符合人体表面，通过将传感器皮肤接口组件与提供机电稳定性的接触几何形状结合起来，并通过引入覆盖连接带来保护和屏蔽传感器在衣服下使用时免受机械和静电干扰。这些功能中的每一个都代表了在可比较的商用系统中没有发现的创新。它们将共同提供一个系统，实现当前技术无法实现的性能指标。这项创新将扩大研究人员和临床医生在这些更有力和潜在不稳定的应用下研究人类运动和肌肉功能的能力。该研究策略将开发符合剧烈活动所需性能标准的传感器原型，并在三种测试场景下对其进行评估，这些测试场景包括临床、运动和人体工程学用例。这些标准是基于我们在开发商用传感器系统方面的经验。它们包括用于评估信号保真度的电气测试和用于评估传感器在皮肤上稳定性的机械测试。第一阶段将提供sEMG/ACC无线传感器的设计规范，满足或超过可靠和有用产品的性能标准。这一阶段将确定的技术优点和可行性

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase I SBIR submission will provide proof-of-principle for the overall goal of developing a reliable body-worn data-acquisition system for applications that assess muscle performance and kinematics during vigorous and otherwise demanding physical activities. The system will consist of wireless sensors which combine surface electromyographic (sEMG) and accelerometer (ACC) signal detection, and a hip module for acquiring these data. Despite recent advancements in wireless sensor technology, these retain limited functionality during demanding applications, such as recording during uncontrolled movement disorders, sports activities, or activities in the work place. A design breakthrough is needed to produce a technology that does more than just provide portability, but also meets the requirements for vigorous applications. Phase I addresses this need by substantially reducing the height of the sensor and enabling it to conform to the body surface, by incorporating sensor-skin interface components with a contact geometry that provides electromechanical stability, and by introducing an overlay attachment band that secures and shields the sensor from mechanical and electrostatic disturbances when used under clothing. Each of these features represents innovations not found in comparable commercially available systems. Together they will provide a system that achieves performance metrics unattainable using current technology. The innovation will expand the ability of researchers and clinicians to investigate human movement and muscle function under these more vigorous and potentially unstable applications. The research strategy will develop sensor prototypes which meet performance criteria required for vigorous activities and evaluate them under three test scenarios which replicate clinical, sports and ergonomic use cases. These criteria are based on our experience in developing commercial sensor systems. They include electrical tests for assessing signal fidelity and mechanical tests to assess stability of the sensor on the skin. Phase I will deliver design specifications for a sEMG/ACC wireless sensor that meet or exceed performance criteria for a reliable and useful product. This phase will establish the technical merit and feasibility of the sensor technology and provide design specifications to assure a high likelihood of success for Phase II. Phase II will utilize the sensor technology to develop a pre-commercial body-worn portable data acquisition system that will be tested during vigorous use-case scenarios. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The development of a new non-invasive sensor system for surface electromyography and accelerometer measurement during vigorous muscle activities will enable researchers and clinicians to investigate human muscle function and movement under a substantially greater range of conditions. The proposed technology opens the doors to clinical, sports, and ergonomic applications where rapid movement of limbs and exposure to electro-mechanical disturbances preclude the use of electromyographic or accelerometer measurements; two of the most commonly relied-upon tools in these disciplines. This project will improve the ability of a) clinicians to study movement disorders, b) sports scientists to do field studies of athletes, and c) ergonomists to study work place injuries.