A wireless acquisition system for monitoring the influence of loads on vertebral column behaviour Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • This paper presents a wireless acquisition module (WAM). This allows the monitoring of heavy loads influence on vertebral column’s behaviour. Each module makes the electromyography (EMG), to measure the electric potentials on the iliocostalis and longissimus thoracis muscles, and use a dual-axis accelerometer to get the movements of the body, in order to obtain the complete behaviour of the vertebral column. The solution chosen to transmit the body’s measured signals for further processing, is a wireless link working in the 433 MHz ISM band. The acquired information is transmitted with a maximum rate of 40 kbps, a resolution of 9.8 V, and accommodates two analog channels. An analog channel with differential input connected to the electrodes, is used to measure the EMG signal, while the remained channel is used in the patient’s movements measurements. The dimensions of the proposed acquisition system are about 7×5×2 cm, and will help to understand the influence of heavy loads as a risk factors in the vertebral column, such as the scoliosis and lordosis.

publication date

  • January 1, 2008