In situ structural-functional synchronous dissection of dynamic neuromuscular system via an integrated multimodal...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuromuscular Physiology
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Neuromuscular abnormalities are a primary cause of adult disability.
• Accurate assessment is hindered by significant muscle deformation (up to 40%) during movement.
• Understanding muscle structure-function interplay is vital for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a wearable structural-functional sensing patch (WSFP) for synchronous muscle structure and function analysis.
• To overcome challenges posed by substantial muscle deformation during movement.
• To improve the accuracy of neuromuscular assessment and disease diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Developed a WSFP with a soft, stretchable electrode array for stable electrophysiological monitoring.
• Integrated a flexible ultrasound transducer array to absorb skin deformation and enable high-fidelity imaging.
• Utilized dynamic tissue imaging for real-time muscle structure visualization.

Main Results:

• The WSFP enables synchronous analysis of muscle structure and function.
• Achieved superior accuracy in dynamic action recognition and disease assessment compared to single-modal methods.
• Demonstrated stable WSFP operation during motion for up to 72 hours.

Conclusions:

• The WSFP advances neuromuscular system analysis by providing real-time, high-fidelity structural and functional data.
• This technology improves diagnostic precision for neuromuscular abnormalities.
• The wearable patch offers a stable and accurate solution for assessing muscle dynamics during movement.