Myolink: A 128-Channel, [Formula: see text], Embedded Recording System, Optimized for High-Density Surface...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Electrophysiology amplifiers are crucial for acquiring biological signals.
• High-density surface electromyogram (HD sEMG) requires high-fidelity signal acquisition.
• Existing systems may have limitations in noise performance and channel density.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize Myolink, a portable, modular, low-noise amplifier for HD sEMG.
• To evaluate the performance of Myolink compared to commercial systems.
• To assess the impact of improved signal quality on motor unit decomposition.

Main Methods:

• Designed a modular amplifier system with custom analog front-end and FPGA controller.
• Achieved low input-referred noise (IRN) within a specific bandwidth.
• Tested the system with experimental HD sEMG recordings and motor unit decomposition.

Main Results:

• Myolink modules acquire 32 channels each, expandable up to 128 channels.
• Achieved ultra-low input-referred noise (IRN) below current commercial systems.
• Demonstrated higher-quality HD sEMG acquisition and improved motor unit decomposition accuracy, especially at low forces.

Conclusions:

• Myolink offers a portable, ultra-low-noise solution for HD sEMG.
• The system's superior IRN performance significantly enhances HD sEMG decomposition.
• This advancement has implications for various applications requiring precise muscle activity analysis.