Method and device for measuring muscle signals

An electrode device for measuring skeletal muscle signals, said electrode device comprising:

• electrodes of conducting material arranged to make contact with a skin surface when said electrode device is used, said electrodes forming at least two electrode pairs for picking up the skeletal muscle signals, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the said at least two pairs of electrodes,
• an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on the skin surface and surrounding at least one of said electrodes,
• an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said electrode device is used, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area along the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding the electrical insulator and said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface that is generated from outside of an extent of said earth body, and
• electronics to receive and handle the muscle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, wherein said earth body essentially encompasses said electronics.

An electrode arrangement for use in a skeletal muscle state analyzer, said electrode arrangement comprising:

• electrodes of conducting material configured to be applied to and make contact with a skin surface when said electrode arrangement is operated, said electrodes forming at least two pairs of electrodes for picking up a skeletal muscle signal, wherein a distance between electrodes in respective ones of said at least two pairs of electrodes is different, thereby creating a different depth sensitivity for respective pairs of the at least two pairs of electrodes,
• an electrical insulator configured to be disposed on the skin surface and surrounding at least one of said electrodes disposed on the skin surface, and
• an earth body of a conducting material configured to be disposed on and make contact with the skin surface when said electrode arrangement is operated, the earth body having an inner perimeter that defines an open interior area along the skin surface, said inner perimeter of the earth body surrounding the electrical insulator and said electrodes together as at least two pairs within the open interior area along the skin surface, the earth body configured to limit said at least two pairs of electrodes from picking up a signal along the skin surface that is generated from outside of an extent of said earth body;
• and
• electronics to receive and handle signals from said at least two electrode pairs, and wherein said earth body is arranged to essentially encompass said electronics.