Patent ID: 7634311

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for extracting an EMG signal out of a raw signal, said raw signal being obtained by a plurality of electrodes adapted to interact with a patient to capture signals from the diaphragm of the patient, each electrode having an associated signal channel in which a raw signal is received from the associated electrode, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the respective raw signals from said electrodes to a processor and, in said processor for each of said channels, automatically electronically determining a signal-to-noise ratio for the raw signal in that channel by automatically estimating a level of ECG activity in the raw signal, and automatically electronically estimating a level of EMG activity in the raw signal, and automatically electronically determining said signal-to-noise ratio based on the estimated level of ECG activity and the estimated level of EMG activity; in said processor, for each of said channels, automatically electronically determining a weighting factor for that channel dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio of that channel; in said processor, weighting the respective raw signals from the channels by the respective weighting factors determined for the channels, to obtain weighted raw signals, and summing the weighted raw signals to obtain a summed signal representing a total EMG signal in said raw signals; and emitting said summed signal as an output from said processor.