Skip to main content
Log in

Resolving superimposed motor unit action potentials

  • Signal Processing
  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new algorithm to resolve superimposed motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) is described, which uses a reduced search space and is based on the peel off approach. Knowledge specific to the problem domain, such as temporal relationships between and within motor unit action potential trains and MUAP energy information, is used to reduce the search space of motor units, possibly contributing to a superposition. The algorithm is tested using real electromyographic signals, and it demonstrates robust performance across the signals tested. For the signals tested, the average total resolution rate is 94%, the average correct resolution rate is 99.2% and the average error rate is 0.85%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreassen, S., andRosenfalck, A. (1980): ‘Regulation of the firing pattern of single motor units,’J. Neurol., Neurosurg. Psychiat.,33, pp. 897–906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barkhaus, P. E., andNandedkar, S. D. (1993): ‘Clinical evaluation of a decomposition algorithm for motor unit action potential analysis,’Muscle Nerve,16, p. 1085

    Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff, C., Stalberg, E., Falck, B., andEeg-Olofsson, K. E. (1994): ‘Reference values of motor unit action potentials obtained with multi-MUAP analysis,’Muscle Nerve,17, pp. 842–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broman, H. (1988): ‘Knowledge based signal processing in the decomposition of myoelectric signals,’IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Mag., (6), pp. 24–28

  • Brown, W. F. (1984): ‘The physiological and technical basis of electromyography’ (Butterworth, Boston)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunn, D. (1984): ‘Applied decision analysis’ (McGraw-Hill, New York)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • de Luca, C. J., Le Fever, R. S., McCue, M. P., andXenakis, A. P. (1982): ‘Behaviour of human motor units in different muscles during linearly varying contractions,’J. Physiol. Lond.,329, pp. 113–128

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luca, C. J., Roy, A. M., andErim, Z. (1993): ‘Synchronization of motor unit firings in several human muscles,’J. Neurophysiol.,70, (5), pp. 2010–2023

    Google Scholar 

  • Etawil, H. (1994): ‘Motor unit action potentials: discovering temporal relation of their trains and resolving their superpositions.’ Master's Thesis, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo, R., andGerber, A. (1983): ‘Separation of superimposed signals by a cross correlation method,’IEEE Trans.,ASP-31, pp. 1084–1089

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. E. McGill, K. C., andDorfman, L. J. (1988): ‘Properties of motor unit action potentials recorded with concentric and monopolar needle electrodes: ADEMG analysis,’Muscle Nerve,11, pp. 1051–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Fever, R. S., andDe Luca, C. J. (1982): ‘Procedure for decomposing the myoelectric signal into its constituent action potentials,’IEEE Trans.,BME29, pp. 149–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Loudon, G. H., Jones, N. B., andSemhi, A. S. (1992): ‘New signal processing techniques for the decomposition of EMG signals,’Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.,30, pp. 591–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luenberger, D. (1969): ‘Optimization by vector space method’ (Wiley, New York)McGill, K., andDorfman, L. (1984): ‘High-resolution alignment of sampled waveforms,’IEEE Trans.,BME-31, pp. 462–468

    Google Scholar 

  • McGill, K., Cummins, K. L., andDorfman, L. J. (1985): ‘Automatic decomposition of the clinical electromyogram,’IEEE Trans.,BME-32, pp. 470–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Nandedkar, S. D., andBarkhaus, P. E. (1993): ‘Motor unit action potential analysis using a decomposition algorithm,’Muscle Nerve,16, p. 1085

    Google Scholar 

  • Paoli, G. (1993): ‘Estimating certainty in classification of motor unit action potentials.’ Masters thesis, University of Waterloo, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Prochazka, V. J., andKornhuber, H. H. (1973): ‘On-line multi-unit sorting with resolution of superposition potentials,’Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol.,34, pp. 91–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stashuk, D., andQu, Y. (1996a): ‘A robust method for estimating motor unit firing-pattern statistics,’Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.,34, (1)

  • Stashuk, D., andQu, Y. (1995b): ‘Adaptive motor unit action potential clustering using shape and temporal information,’Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.,34 (1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu, Y. (1993): ‘Automatic clustering of motor unit action, potentials using shape and firing time information.’ Masters thesis, University of Waterloo, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiavi, R., andNegin, M. (1973): ‘The effect of measurement errors on correlation estimates in spike-interval sequences,’IEEE Trans.,BME-20, pp. 374–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Stalberg, E., Bischoff, C., andFalck, B. (1994): ‘Outliers a way to detect abnormality in quantitative EMG,’Muscle Nerve,17, pp. 392–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stalberg, E., andSonoo, M. (1994): ‘Assessment of variability in the shape of the motor unit action potential, the “jiggle” at consecutive discharges,’Muscle Nerve,17, pp. 1135–1144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stashuk, D., andBrown, W. F. (1994): ‘Decomposition enhanced spike-triggered averaging: an improved method for estimating motor unit numbers in proximal muscles,’Muscle Nerve,17, p. 1089

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Etawil, H., Stashuk, D. Resolving superimposed motor unit action potentials. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 34, 33–40 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02637020

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02637020

Keywords

Navigation