MYOELECTRIC SENSOR ARRAY

A myoelectric sensor array includes a plurality of myoelectric sensors, and a plurality of wiring members each electrically connecting corresponding two adjacent myoelectric sensors among the plurality of myoelectric sensors, wherein each of the plurality of the myoelectric sensors includes a substrate, a pair of myoelectric electrodes provided on the substrate, and a signal processing circuit electrically connected to the pair of myoelectric electrodes and at least one of the wiring members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-119907 filed on Jul. 27, 2022, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosures herein relate to a myoelectric sensor array.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, myoelectric electrodes are attached to multiple parts of the living body to produce an electromyogram of a living body. Each myoelectric electrode is connected to a controller provided with a monitor or the like via an independent cable.

When the above-described conventional myoelectric electrodes are used, attaching the myoelectric electrodes to a living body is complicated.

Accordingly, there may be a need to provide a myoelectric sensor array that can reduce the complexity of attaching myoelectric electrodes.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment, a myoelectric sensor array is provided. The myoelectric sensor array includes a plurality of myoelectric sensors, and a plurality of wiring members each electrically connecting corresponding two adjacent myoelectric sensors among the plurality of myoelectric sensors, wherein each of the plurality of the myoelectric sensors includes a substrate, a pair of myoelectric electrodes provided on the substrate, and a signal processing circuit electrically connected to the pair of myoelectric electrodes and at least one of the wiring members.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification and the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description thereof may be omitted.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment will be described. The first embodiment relates to a myoelectric sensor array.FIGS.1A and1Bare diagrams illustrating a myoelectric sensor array according to the first embodiment.FIG.1Ais a plan view andFIG.1Bis a cross-sectional view.FIG.1Bcorresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along a line Ib-Ib inFIG.1A.

A myoelectric sensor array1according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of myoelectric sensors10. The plurality of myoelectric sensors10is arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second direction is a direction rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees from the first direction. The myoelectric sensors10are arranged in a grid pattern, preferably in a square grid pattern. For example, a plurality of myoelectric sensors10in a first row arranged side by side in the first direction and a plurality of myoelectric sensors10in a second row arranged side by side in the first direction adjacent to the plurality of myoelectric sensors10in the first row are also arranged in columns in the second direction in plan view. The number of myoelectric sensors10arranged in the first direction is larger than the number of myoelectric sensors10arranged in the second direction. When assuming a rectangular region60that is the minimum region surrounding all of the myoelectric sensors10, as viewed in a plan view direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, two sides61of the rectangular region60are parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to the second direction, and the other two sides62are perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the second direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the sides61and the sides62of the rectangular region60are not tilted from the first direction and the second direction.

The myoelectric sensor10includes a substrate11, a pair of myoelectric electrodes12, electronic components13, and connectors14. For example, the electronic components13and the connectors14are provided on one surface of the substrate11, and the myoelectric electrodes12are provided on the other surface of the substrate11. The number of electronic components13is not limited. The electronic components13constitute a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit includes, for example, a filter, a differential amplifier, and a switch. Each of the connectors14is electrically connected to at least one of the electronic components13, and flexible printed circuit boards20described later are connected to the respective connectors14. Each of the myoelectric electrodes12is electrically connected to at least one of the electronic components13, and the signal processing circuit constituted by the electronic components13performs signal processing on an electrical signal such as a current flowing between the pair of myoelectric electrodes12. The myoelectric sensor10may be referred to as an active electrode.

The myoelectric sensor array1includes a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards20. Each flexible printed circuit board20electrically connects two myoelectric sensors10to each other. Specifically, some of the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards20extends in the first direction and electrically connects two adjacent myoelectric sensors10arranged side by side in the first direction. The rest of the flexible printed circuit boards20extends in the second direction and electrically connects two adjacent myoelectric sensors10arranged side by side in the second direction. Each flexible printed circuit board20includes, for example, a plurality of flexible insulating layers made of resin and an interconnect layer made of metal such as copper foil provided between the insulating layers.

A method of using the myoelectric sensor array1will be described.FIG.2is a diagram illustrating a method of using the myoelectric sensor array1according to the first embodiment.

As shown inFIG.2, the myoelectric sensor array1is attached to a living body in order that the myoelectric electrodes12of each myoelectric sensor10are in contact with the skin. For example, the myoelectric sensor array1is attached to an arm50of a human body. At this time, the sides61which are the long sides of the rectangular region60are set to be substantially parallel to the muscle fiber to be measured. The myoelectric sensor array1is connected to a controller30in a wired or wireless manner. In the case of wired connection, for example, one or two or more of the myoelectric sensors10located closest to the side61or the side62of the rectangular region60and the controller are connected by a cable or the like. In the case of wireless connection, for example, a wireless transceiver is mounted on any one of the myoelectric sensors10, or a wireless transceiver is connected to the myoelectric sensor array1.

Electric power is supplied to the myoelectric sensor array1from the controller30through the flexible printed circuit board20. Under the control of the controller30, any given myoelectric sensor10detects, via the myoelectric electrodes12, an electrical signal generated in response to the movement of a muscle, and outputs the signal processed by the signal processing circuit to the controller30via one or more intervening flexible printed circuit boards20and one or more intervening myoelectric sensors10intervening between the given myoelectric sensor10and the controller30. Processed electrical signals from the respective myoelectric sensors10are output to the controller30by sequentially scanning the myoelectric sensors10by, for example, the operation of the switches included in the signal processing circuits. In this way, the controller30can obtain the state of the muscle of the arm50using the myoelectric sensor array1. The controller30can then produce, for example, an electromyogram.

According to the present embodiment, since the myoelectric sensor array1includes the plurality of myoelectric sensors10and two adjacent myoelectric sensors10among the plurality of myoelectric sensors10are connected to each other via one of the flexible printed circuit boards20, attaching myoelectric electrodes to a living body is easy. Furthermore, the same number of cables between the myoelectric sensor array1and the controller30as the number of myoelectric sensors10are not required. The connection configuration between the myoelectric sensor array1and the controller30can therefore be simplified.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment relates to a myoelectric sensor array.FIG.3is a plan view illustrating the myoelectric sensor array according to the second embodiment.

A myoelectric sensor array2according to the second embodiment includes, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of myoelectric sensors10. The plurality of myoelectric sensors10is arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. For example, a plurality of myoelectric sensors10in a first row arranged side by side in the first direction and a plurality of myoelectric sensors10in a second row arranged side by side in the first direction adjacent to the plurality of myoelectric sensors10in the first row are arranged in a zigzag pattern that alternates between the first row and the second row in the second direction in plan view. That is, the plurality of myoelectric sensors10is arranged in a staggered pattern in the first direction and the second direction. For example, the number of myoelectric sensors10arranged along the side61is larger than the number of myoelectric sensors10arranged along the side62.

Similarly to the myoelectric sensor array1, the myoelectric sensor array2includes a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards20. Each flexible printed circuit board20electrically connects two myoelectric sensors10to each other. Specifically, each flexible printed circuit board20extends diagonally at 45 degrees with respect to the first direction and the second direction, and electrically connects two adjacent myoelectric sensors10, among the plurality of myoelectric sensors, arranged side by side diagonally at a 45-degree angle.

Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

A method of using the myoelectric sensor array2will be described.FIGS.4A and4Bare diagrams illustrating a method of using the myoelectric sensor array2according to the second embodiment.

As shown inFIG.4A, similarly to the first embodiment, the myoelectric sensor array2is attached to an arm50of a human body in a manner such that sides61, which are the long sides of a rectangular region60, are substantially parallel to the muscle fiber to be measured and the myoelectric electrodes12of each myoelectric sensor10are in contact with the skin. The myoelectric sensor array2is connected to a controller30in a wired or wireless manner.

Similarly to the first embodiment, electric power is supplied to the myoelectric sensor array2from the controller30through the flexible printed circuit board20. Under the control of the controller30, any given myoelectric sensor10detects, via the myoelectric electrodes12, an electrical signal generated in response to the movement of a muscle, and outputs the signal processed by the signal processing circuit to the controller30via one or more intervening flexible printed circuit boards20and one or more intervening myoelectric sensors10intervening between the given myoelectric sensor10and the controller30.

According to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, even when a muscle moves during the measurement using the myoelectric sensor array2, the myoelectric sensor array2is easy to deform in response to the movement of the muscle. For example, when a muscle stretches, the skin also stretches in a direction parallel to the muscle fiber. At this time, although stress acts on the myoelectric sensors10and the flexible printed circuit boards20, the magnitude of the stress is small, and the myoelectric sensors10and the flexible printed circuit boards20are not substantially deformed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown inFIG.4B, the myoelectric sensor array2is deformed so that the flexible printed circuit boards20become more parallel to the muscle fiber. The myoelectric sensor array2also expands in a direction parallel to the muscle fiber and contracts in a direction perpendicular to the direction. Thus, according to the second embodiment, excellent contractility can be obtained in the myoelectric sensor array2.

In the second embodiment, the angle at which the flexible printed circuit boards20extend diagonally with respect to the first direction and the second direction is not limited to 45 degrees, but is preferably between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, inclusive, and more preferably between 40 degrees and 50 degrees, inclusive.

In both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the long sides61of the rectangular region60are substantially parallel to the muscle fiber to be measured, but the short sides62of the rectangular region60may be substantially parallel to the muscle fiber to be measured. The myoelectric sensor array1or2may be attached so as to surround the entire circumference of the arm50. Further, the myoelectric sensor array1or2may be formed in a cylindrical shape such as a supporter so as to surround the entire circumference of the arm50. When the myoelectric sensor array2is formed in a cylindrical shape, the direction in which the myoelectric sensors10are arranged and the direction in which the flexible printed circuit board20expands are tilted relative to the axis of the array in the cylindrical shape.

As a wiring member, a cable may be used instead of the flexible printed circuit board20.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the complexity of attaching myoelectric electrodes.