Digital approaches to myoelectric state control of prostheses

The design of a new three-state myoelectric control system is presented. This controller determines its operating state from the initial rate of increase of the myoelectric signal, and the concept is realized in great measure through digital logic techniques. Proportional control of both active states (same dynamic range) is a unique feature of the controller. A microcomputer was interfaced in a simple way with myoelectric potentials to simulate the three-state controller described and to simulate various other state-determined control methods (some multifunctional). This was found to be a valuable method of evaluating control schemes without building the actual devices.