Computer-based clinical instrumentation for processing and analysis of mechanically evoked electromyographic signals in the upper limb

Abstract

A computer-based clinical instrument was developed to simultaneously acquire, process, display, quantify and correlate electromyographic (EMG) activity, resistive torque, range of motion (ROM), and pain responses evoked by mechanical stimuli (i.e. passive elbow extensions) in humans. This integrated multichannel system was designed around AMLAB® analog modules and software objects called ICAMs. Although this system was designed to specifically study the patterns and nature of evoked motor responses in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) patients, it could equally well be modified to allow acquisition, processing and analysis of EMG signals in other studies and applications. In this paper, we describe an integrated system to simultaneously study and analyze the mechanically evoked electromyographic, torque and ROM signals and correlate various levels of pain to these signals.