Characteristics of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) as EMG Sensor

Abstract

The following chapter is a comparative study of signals obtained using Electromyogram sensors and Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) sensors. This chapter studies in detail the behavior of the electromechanical sensor, i.e., IPMC as an EMG sensor. The former being an electromechanical sensor picks up the electrochemical gradient due to flow of ions through the axon ends released within the muscle which ultimately causes the muscle contraction, and also detects the mechanical tension created because of muscle contraction. EMG sensors are an electrical sensor that is able to detect voltage changes due to electrochemical changes under our skin due to voluntary muscle movements. During the relaxed phase, both the sensors stay stagnant at different reference voltage levels, and shows variation in voltages only during the instants of contraction. The characteristic obtained by plotting the experimental readings are compared in the chapter.