System, method and apparatus for assessing and monitoring muscle performance with self-adjusting feedback

An apparatus for evaluating progress in physiotherapy received by patients who have suffered muscle damage, comprising:

• a first module for acquiring muscle or biopotential signals;
• a second module for analog/electronic conditioning of the muscle or biopotential signals;
• a third module for processing the muscle or biopotential signals, and for sending and receiving information with feedback with the first module;
• and
• a fourth module for display or feedback of sensory or nerve conduction information,
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth modules are powered from a power source,
• wherein such third module receives a voltage-compensated signal and comprises
• at least one 8 to 64-bit microcontroller or processor,
• one or more memories selected from the group of internal memories, external memories, RAM, and ROM,
• one or more indicators,
• one or more of analog and digital ports,
• analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and
• digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for feedback to the first module, and
• wireless protocols communication circuits for communicating with at least one external computer and/or monitor or graphic interface selected from the group consisting of a computer, a cell phone, and a tablet, for viewing or displaying information,
• wherein at least one of the ADCs digitizes the voltage-compensated signal which is stored in one or more of the memories to later calculate a maximum value in the acquired muscle or biopotential signal samples during one cycle and/or a period of electrical activity and/or muscle contraction and/or activation of muscle or nerve fibers,
• wherein recording of the signals is achieved by implementing at least one differential mode amplifier,
• wherein the differential mode amplifier contains at least one potentiometer capable of modifying its impedance value z manually or electronically,
• wherein the microcontroller or processor is configured such that if the maximum value in the acquired muscle or biopotential signal samples does not exceed a minimum threshold selected or pre-configured in the apparatus, then the microcontroller or processor modifies the impedance value z in the differential mode amplifier of the first module in order to automatically adjust the amplitudes of the conditioned muscle or biopotential signal samples, and
• wherein said adjustments are made in (Vin) (1+|z|) type increments, wherein Vin is the voltage of the acquired muscle or biopotential signal samples.

A method for measuring, extracting, and processing parameters for assessing and monitoring muscle performance with self-adjusting feedback in order to evaluate progress in physiotherapy received by patients who have suffered muscle damage, the method comprising:

• A) Placing at least two or more biopotential signal sensors for recording a reading of signals from the muscle and/or nerve fibers, of at least one apparatus for acquiring muscle or biopotential signals, for signal conditioning, signal processing, sending, and receiving information, and self-adjusting feedback;
• B) Selecting at least one external computer and/or monitor or graphic interface for viewing external information and several recording parameters from said at least one apparatus for acquiring muscle or biopotential signals, for signal conditioning, for signal processing, sending, and receiving information, and self-adjusting feedback, which are, but are not limited to, sampling duration and/or time, session number, calibration, initial amplification value, type of user (with or without muscle damage), and injury;
• C) Recording the reference muscle or biopotential signals which, when first used, serve as a calibration parameter,
• wherein recording of the signals is achieved by implementing at least one differential mode amplifier,
• wherein the differential mode amplifier contains at least one potentiometer capable of modifying its impedance value z manually or electronically,
• D) Calculating, in a module for processing of the signals, a maximum value in the acquired muscle or biopotential signal samples during a reference cycle of contraction or electrical activity;
• E) If the maximum value does not exceed a calibration or preconfigured or selected minimum threshold from the computer system and/or monitor or graphic interface for viewing external information, then
• F) Adjusting the potentiometer gain, (Vin) (1+|z|),
• wherein Vin is the voltage of the acquired muscle or biopotential signal samples and the potentiometer gain is called digital control loop amplification;
• G) Re-recording the signals as in step C);
• H) Sending the information to the external computer and/or monitor or graphic interface, for viewing external information;
• I) Calculating a muscle assessment and monitoring indicator as a percentage increase or decrease of a difference between the calibration or selected minimum threshold and the maximum value of the current sample muscle or biopotential signal divided by the calibration minimum threshold;
• J) Applying a variety of finite impulse response (FIR) and/or infinite impulse response (IIR) type filters for averaging of the muscle assessment and monitoring indicator;
• K) Calculating the indicator by means of calculation of discrete integrals of percentage increase or decrease of the difference;
• and
• L) Applying machine learning or deep learning techniques to develop optimizations of use, therapies, or exercises.