BioSensr: Reliable Muscle Analysis in Real-Time with a Novel Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Sensor

Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors show promise across clinical, sport, military, and industrial settings, monitoring muscle activity for applications in musculoskeletal performance, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and prosthetic control. Existing sEMG sensors face challenges of reliability, specificity, and integration across these diverse domains. Developed during the PhD and now in commercialisation, BioSensr represents an innovative approach to address these challenges.

BioSensr is a flexible and wearable sEMG sensor characterised by its novel manufacturing method, resulting in a unitary body that is mechanically robust. Unlike conventional sEMG devices with rigid bodies, BioSensr's integrated design ensures stable, artifact-free signal acquisition with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The sensor is biocompatible and resilient against sweat and skin pressure.

BioSensr's performance is optimised through a user-centred design approach, ensuring ease of use and high muscle specificity with tailored electrode parameters. BioSensr currently interfaces via USB-C for real-time muscle analysis on laptops, with future capability for wireless operation. Its scalable manufacturing process supports widespread adoption. A provisional patent has been filed for BioSensr's flexible device and manufacturing method.

BioSensr Dashboard, the accompanying software, features robust algorithms for real-time muscle performance analysis, converting EMG signals into interpretable analytics with an intuitive UI. The platform securely processes and stores data on-device, facilitating integration with other sensors and databases for comprehensive analysis and future application developments.

This thesis explores electrodes in sEMG sensors, BioSensr's electromechanical properties, and muscle analytics using BioSensr in fitness settings, highlighting its potential to transform muscle diagnostics and performance across clinical and industrial applications.