Comparison of surface EMG monitoring electrodes for long-term use in rehabilitation device control

In this paper different types of electrodes for long-term surface EMG recording are compared to a reference electrode that is established for clinical use. The electrode materials include four different polymers with conductive load and a fabric of threads coated by a conductive layer. Different criteria are used to evaluate surface EMG recording: the signal quality, including signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, and impedance in long-term monitoring. The aim of the study is to find an EMG electrode that allows for both silicone liner and textile integration for control of rehabilitation devices for quadriplegics with a partial residual function of the upper limb and for multifunctional prosthetic hands. Besides electrical properties, the biocompatibility and the wearing comfort have to be considered to achieve a wide acceptance by the patients. Except for one evaluated electrode, the signal quality of the four different surface electrodes is comparable to commercial Ag/AgCl gel electrodes in long-term monitoring.