An Approach of Using Ultrasound to Obtain Information About Muscle Contraction

The work is devoted to checking a possibility of introducing ultrasound to analyze alterations in forearm anatomical structures and potential use of ultrasound systems in prostheses control. The studies were carried out with the participation of healthy volunteers using a special laboratory complex, which main components included a precision motion bench constructed with the ultrasonic sensor. The work presents dependences of alterations in forearm inner layer thickness, namely in the skin-fat and muscle layers, on muscle activity. Sonomyography appears to be one of the promising methods in controlling bionic devices. Ultrasonic signal makes it possible to encode multiple actions. Besides, it provides a potential possibility to link control signal to the prosthesis position linearly, allowing intuitive control. As a result of the research, it was found that tissue alterations (such as skin-fat and muscle layers) visible during ultrasound examination carry information about the action performed. Thus, data on alterations in anatomical structures position and cross-sectional dimensions of forearm muscles during muscle contraction obtained using sonomyography could be introduced in robotic devices control systems.