Apparatus and method for processing electromyography signals related to respiratory activity

A processing apparatus for processing an electromyography signal indicative of an activity of a target muscle in a human or animal body that relates to a measurement of respiratory effort amid an activity of at least one further muscle, comprising:

• a first electrode interface within an electromyography device, the first electrode interface configured to receive a first electromyography signal obtained from the target muscle and the further muscle at a first location on the body;
• a second electrode interface within the electromyography device, the second electrode interface configured to receive a second electromyography signal obtained from the further muscle at a second location on the body;
• a processor within the electromyography device, the processor configured to determine a similarity signal based on a similarity between the first electromyography signal and the second electromyography signal;
• wherein the processor is further configured to provide, based on the similarity signal, a respiratory phase signal indicative of an inspiratory phase and an expiratory phase;
• and
• wherein the processing apparatus is further configured to determine a respiratory effort based on the respiratory phase signal and the first electromyography signal;
• and
• wherein the processor is further configured to control an output to visualize the inspiratory phase and the expiratory phase and generate an alarm if a physiological parameter associated with the inspiratory phase or the expiratory phase exceeds a threshold value.

A method for processing an electromyography signal indicative of an activity of a target muscle in a human or animal body that relates to a measurement of respiratory effort amid an activity of at least one further muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by a first electrode interface within an electromyography device, a first electromyography signal obtained from the target muscle and the further muscle at a first location on the body, wherein the target muscle and the further muscle are innervated separately;
• receiving, by a second electrode interface within the electromyography device, a second electromyography signal obtained from the further muscle at a second location on the body;
• determining, by a processor within the electromyography device, a similarity signal based on a similarity between the first electromyography signal and the second electromyography signal;
• and
• determining, by the processor, a respiratory phase as an inspiratory phase if the similarity signal obtained from the first and the second electromyography signal is below a first predetermined threshold and/or
• determining, by the processor, the respiratory phase as an expiratory phase if the similarity signal obtained from the first and the second electromyography signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold;
• controlling an output to visualize the inspiratory phase or the expiratory phase or generating an alarm if a physiological parameter associated with the inspiratory phase or the expiratory phase exceeds a threshold value.

A method for processing an electromyography signal indicative of an activity of a target muscle in a human or animal body that relates to a measurement of respiratory effort amid an activity of at least one further muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by a first electrode interface within an electromyography device, a first electromyography signal obtained from the target muscle and the further muscle at a first location on the body, wherein the target muscle and the further muscle are innervated separately;
• receiving, by a second electrode interface within the electromyography device, a second electromyography signal obtained from the further muscle at a second location on the body;
• determining, by a processor within the electromyography device, a similarity signal based on a similarity between the first electromyography signal and the second electromyography signal;
• and
• providing, by the processor, based on the similarity signal, a respiratory phase signal indicative of a respiratory phase;
• and determining, by the processor, a respiratory effort based on the respiratory phase signal and the first electromyography signal;
• controlling an output to visualize the respiratory phase or generating an alarm if a physiological parameter associated with the respiratory phase exceeds a threshold value.