Fingertip force estimation from forearm muscle electrical activity

Existing commercial hand prostheses can be controlled from the electrical activity (electromyogram or EMG) of remnant muscle tissue within the forearm, but are limited in function to one degree of freedom of proportional control. In a pilot study (N=3 subjects), we used least squares estimation to identify a model between forearm electrical activity recorded by high-resolution (64 channel) electrode arrays (applied over the flexor and, separately, extensor muscles of the forearm) to force in the four fingertips. Average errors ranged from 4.21 to 10.20 %MVCF (flexion maximum voluntary contraction), depending on the muscle contraction task performed, number of EMG electrodes in the model and the electrode montage selected. Results suggest that, at least for intact subjects, 2-4 degrees of freedom of proportional control are available from the EMG signals of the forearm.

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