Surface electromyographic signals using a dry electrode

A new flexible, dry electrode is examined for recording surface electromyographic signals and compared to a conventional Ag/AgCl electrode. A suitable dry electrode would enable practical implementation of wearable mobility monitoring systems. Results from a preliminary experiment are presented in this paper. Measurements were performed on the right tibialis anterior during a series of small and large contractions. The effects of skin preparation, which included shaving and cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, are also examined. Results show that the dry electrode is sensitive enough to detect the small, unloaded muscle contractions. The dry electrode signal strength was similar to the Ag/AgCl electrode; however, the noise level was higher by approximately 13.5±1.3 %. Skin preparation reduced the noise level by approximately 7.9% for the dry electrodes and 8.1% for the Ag/AgCl electrodes.