• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1393-1401
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• 2010

In this experimental study, we have examined the correlation between a human carpal motion and a surface electromyogram. The carpal motion patterns have been identified and the main muscles involved in the carpal motion have been determined by investigating the anatomical structure of a carpal. The torque acting against the carpal motion has been applied by using a device for carpal rehabilitation training, and the surface electromyogram signal corresponding to the torque at the main muscles has been measured. The root-mean-square (RMS) magnitude of the surface electromyogram signal has been calculated and used to analyze the correlation between the surface electromyogram signal and carpal motion. The experimental results have proved that for carpal torque values below $0.1\;N{\cdot}m$, the RMS magnitude of the surface electromyogram signal is linearly proportional to the carpal torque magnitude and that the carpal torque magnitude is linearly proportional to the cross-sectional area of the carpal muscles. Further, the analysis of the contribution of each muscle to the carpal motion has shown that the contribution of the most dominant muscle is consistently 60%. These three results can be applied to develop more sophisticated devices or robots for carpal rehabilitation training.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.769-776
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• 2007

This paper proposes the human arm motion tracking algorithm based on the signal processing for surface EMG (electromyogram) sensors attached on both upper arm and shoulder. The signals acquired by using surface EMG sensors are processed with choosing the maximum in a short period, taking the absolute value, and filtering noises out with a low-pass filter. The processed signals are directly used for the motion generation of virtual arm in real time simulator. The virtual arm of simulator has two degrees of freedom and complies with the flexion and extension motions of elbow and shoulder. Also, we show the validity of the suggested algorithms through the experiments.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2019

Surface electromyogram (sEMG), which is a bio-electrical signal originated from action potentials of nerves and muscle fibers activated by motor neurons, has been widely used for recognizing motion intention of robotic prosthesis for amputees because it enables a device to be operated intuitively by users without any artificial and additional work. In this paper, we propose a training-free unsupervised sEMG pattern recognition algorithm. It is useful for the gesture recognition for the amputees from whom we cannot achieve motion labels for the previous supervised pattern recognition algorithms. Using the proposed algorithm, we can classify the sEMG signals for gesture recognition and the calculated threshold probability value can be used as a sensitivity parameter for pattern registration. The proposed algorithm was verified by a case study of a patient with partial-hand amputation.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2012

In this paper, we present the method of gait phases detection using multi biomedical signals during normal gait. Electromyogram(EMG) signals, muscle of thigh angle measurement device and resistive sensors are used for experiments. We implemented a test targeting five adult male and identified the pattern of EMG signal of normal gait. For acquiring the EMG signal, subjects attached surface Ag/AgCl electrodes to quadriceps femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis. Resistance sensors are attached to the heel toe and soles of the each feet for measuring attachment state of between feet and ground. Infrared sensors are attached on the thigh and thigh angle measurement device has the range from flection 25 degrees to extension 20 degrees. The results of this paper, The stance and swing phase could be confirmed during the normal gait and be classified in detail the eight steps.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1121-1127
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• 2013

This study deals with experimental studies on electromyogram (EMG) measurements and functional electrical stimulation (FES) for the rehabilitation of a shoulder-joint. Based on the structure, motion, and main functions of the musculoskeletal system in a shoulder-joint, the muscles playing a major role for the motion in the sagittal plane were selected for the experiment. First, the surface electromyogram of the main muscles was measured according to the joint angle. The results showed that the change in the surface EMG was linearly proportional to the change in the joint angle. Second, the joint angle was measured during FES at shoulder muscles. The results showed that the joint angle increased as the FES current increased in a certain range of FES. It was confirmed that the willingness of muscles to move could be detected by measuring EMG and that the generation of muscle tension could be assisted by FES for active rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.28-39
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• 2010

In this paper, a new method to estimate MU (motor unit) location in the short head of BIC (biceps brachii) muscle using surface EMG (electromyogram) is proposed. The SMUAP (single motor unit action potential) is generated from a MU located at certain depth from the skin surface. The depth is referred as MU location. For estimating muscle force precisely, the information of the MU location is required. The reference SMUAPs are simulated based on anatomical structure of human muscle, and compared with acquired real EMG signals using 3-channel surface EMG electrode. The proposed method was compared with the results of previous researchers and verified its accuracy by computer simulation. From the simulation result in case of the MU located in 8[mm], the average estimation error of proposed method was 0.01[mm]. But the average estimation error of Roeleveld's method was 2.33[mm] and Akazawa's method was 1.70[mm]. Therefore the proposed method was more accurate than the methods of previous researchers.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2005

Gait control capacity for most trans-femoral prostheses is significantly different from that of a normal person, and training is required for a long period of time in order for a patient to walk properly. People become easily tired when wearing a prosthesis or orthosis for a long period typically because the gait angle cannot be smoothly adjusted during wearing. Therefore, to improve the gait control problems of a trans-femoral prosthesis, the proper gait angle is estimated through surface EMG(electromyogram) signals on a normal leg, then the gait posture which the trans-femoral prosthesis should take is calculated in the neural network, which learns the gait kinetics on the basis of the normal leg's gait angle. Based on this predicted angle, a postural control method is proposed and tested adaptively following the patient's gait habit based on the predicted angle. In this study, the gait angle prediction showed accuracy of over $97\%$, and the posture control capacity of over $90\%$.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2008

An optimization-based real-time joint angle extraction method of human elbow is proposed by processing the biomedical signal of surface EMG (electromyogram) measured at the center point of biceps brachii. The EMG signal is known as non-stationary (time-varying) signal, but we assume that it is quasi-stationary because a physical or physiological system has limitations in the rate at which it can change its characteristics. Based on the assumption, a pre-processing method to obtain pre-angle values from raw EMG signal is firstly suggested, and then an optimization method to minimize the error between the pre-angle and real joint angle is proposed in this paper. Finally, we suggest the experimental results showing the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1051-1058
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the improvement effect of obesity by treatment with a developed low frequency electrical stimulation system. Thirty female in their 20's as an experiment subjects divided 3 groups(control, commercialized device, developed device) were treated with electrical stimulation on abdomen for 4 weeks. The body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio(WHR), muscle strength, muscle(transverse abdominis(TrA), internal obliquus abdominis(IO), external obliquus abdominis(EO)), fat thickness and abdominal surface temperature were measured by electromyogram(EMG), ultrasound and digital infrared thermal image(DITI). In the result, the body weight and BMI were decreased. Subcutaneous abdominal fat were significantly reduced after 4 weeks. The muscle strength and TrA muscle thickness was increased 13.2%(p<0.05), and 35.5%, respectively. The fat thickness showed decrease in abdomen (p<0.05). Infrared measurement on abdominal surface temperature as a parameter of improvement in blood circulation was significantly increased(p<0.05). Therefore, the low frequency stimulation showed positive effects on parameters of the obesity improvement.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.634-642
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of the study is to find out whether effect of acupuncture is depending on the diameter of needle, which is a possible component of dose of acupuncture needling. Methods : To compare acupuncture effects in different diameters of needle, we measured the changes in muscle fatigue recovery using surface electromyogram(sEMG) in healthy 8 volunteers. Muscle fatigue was induced by 20 times sit-up for 1 min. Immediately after induction of muscle fatigue, acupuncture needle was inserted into ST36 or ST25 for 10 min by diameters of 0.20 mm, 0.30 mm, or 0.40 mm needles. The sEMG recording was followed by acupuncture for 30 min. As a control group, sEMG was recorded for the same period at rest after muscle fatigue induction. Results : In both of ST 36 and ST 25, stimulation with 0.4 mm diameter needle showed significant rapid recovery followed by short period of muscle fatigue increase. Stimulation with 0.2 mm diameter significantly suppressed the increase of muscle fatigue. Conclusions : These data suggest that acupuncture effect is, at least in part, dependent on diameter of needle. Therefore, diameter of needle is also considered to achieve effective outcome of acupuncture.