A new approach for rehabilitation and upper-limb prosthesis control using optomyography (OMG)

Myoelectric (EMG) and mechano-myographic (MMG) signals recorded during muscular activities are useful not only for monitoring and assessing these activities but can also help in providing effective rehabilitation for disabled patients as well as constructing and controlling sophisticated prosthesis for various amputees. While the existing training methods using EMG and MMG signal data have compelling benefits, many engineering challenges still remain with regard to the sensory control system. Studies show that prosthesis’ users support arguments considering the continued development of comfortable, reliable and better functionality of the sensors of the available applications. The aim of this paper is to study muscular activity by using an armband with embedded OptoMyoGraphy (OMG) sensors arranged as a one dimensional sensor array. The armband and the signals’ acquisition system are designed and developed at the beginning of the research project. The used sensors are capable of measuring lateral dimensional changes, on the landscape formed by the skin surface, caused due to underlying muscles’ activities around the forearm region. As a novel contribution, the paper discusses a possible methodology to control portable upper limb prosthetic devices using the OMG technique. Furthermore, the developed armband can be used as a biofeedback system for rehabilitation purposes in upper-limb amputees (ULAs) cases with below-the-forearm amputation and help them gain control over their remaining sensory-motor system and get rid of phantom and/or residual limb pain (PLP, RLP).