Biomedical

Instrumentation
Electrophysiology (ENG-
EMG)
Carlos E. Davila, Electrical Engineering Dept.
Southern Methodist University
 Electroneurogram (ENG)
• Nerve response along nerve periphery is then measured.

• Measured by stimulating a peripheral nerve with electric s

• Can be used to determine nerve conduction velocity:
5

ENG (cont.)
hypothenar muscle

+ vo
_

biphasic

±
stimulate ulnar
nerve
±

±
 ENG(cont.)
right ulnar neuropathy in elbow (Aminoff)

10
6 L
mV 2
peak amplitude R

10 R
latency
6
ms 2 L

0 10 20 30 40 50

EE 5340/7340, SMU Electrical Engineering Department, © 2005 6

Electromyogram (EMG)

■ signal generated by muscle cells

■ amplitude: 0.1-5 mV
■ freq range: 0-10,00 Hz
■ measurement: needle electrodes
■ single motor unit (SMU): smallest area of muscle
tissue that can be activated by a volitional effort
■ SMU generates a triphasic potential having a
amplitude of 20-2000 µ V lasting 3-15 ms. Firing rate
of SMU 6-30 per second.

EE 5340/7340, SMU Electrical Engineering Department, © 2005 7

Electromyogram (EMG) Recruitment

SMU SMU
SMU SMU SMU

contraction
effort

can’t distinguish
individual SMU’s
interference pattern
EE 5340/7340, SMU Electrical Engineering Department, © 2005 8
EMG Affected by Disease

■ In neuropathy, diseased nerves degenerate, then

regenerate.
■ Regenerated nerves conduct more slowly than
healthy ones.
■ This produces a desynchronization in the EMG
pattern.

EE 5340/7340, SMU Electrical Engineering Department, © 2005 9

Evoked EMG Measurements/ENG
hypothenar muscle
healthy

+ vo
_
10 ms

± pathology

stimulate ulnar
nerve

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