Signal processing unit of an emg measuring system

Abstract

An EMG measuring system has a signal processing unit ( 8 ) and with at least one electrode ( 4 ) for measuring a potential difference in a muscle, a muscle fiber or in a skin area of a patient. At least one measured signal representing the potential difference is transmitted from the electrode ( 4 ) to the signal processing unit ( 8 ). Another signal, which is transmitted to the at least one external device ( 9 ), is generated in the signal processing unit ( 8 ) on the basis of this measured signal. A signal transmitted from the at least one external device ( 9 ) is processed by the signal processing unit ( 8 ) and at least one control signal is generated on the basis of this signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electromyogram (EMG) measuring system comprising:
 a signal processing unit;   an external device transmitting a signal to the signal processing unit; and   at least two electrodes for measuring an EMG signal representing a potential difference created by electrical activity in contraction of a muscle, a muscle fiber and/or in a skin area of a patient, wherein the EMG signal is transmitted from the electrodes to the signal processing unit, and a processed EMG signal, which is transmitted to the external device, is generated in the signal processing unit on the basis of the measured EMG signal, the signal processing unit further processing the signal transmitted from the external device, and the signal processing unit generating at least one control signal on the basis of the signal transmitted from the external device, the control signal affecting the measurement of the potential difference.   
     
     
         2 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least two electrodes are designed as surface electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control signal generated by the signal processing unit is transmitted to the at least one external device. 
     
     
         4 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit and the at least one external device are connected for carrying out a data exchange between the signal processing unit and the external device. 
     
     
         5 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an EMG front end, connected with the electrodes, the measured EMG signal being transmitted to the signal processing unit via the EMG front end. 
     
     
         6 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the signal processing unit is arranged in or at the EMG front end. 
     
     
         7 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein a module for preprocessing the measured EMG signal is provided in the EMG front end. 
     
     
         8 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the preprocessed measured EMG signal is transmitted to the signal processing unit. 
     
     
         9 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein:
 the two electrodes also measure electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, the EMG and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are separated from each other in the module for preprocessing the measured EMG signal.   
     
     
         10 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the external device is a ventilator and/or a patient monitor. 
     
     
         11 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein a ventilator fan of the ventilator and/or a ventilator valve of the ventilator is actuated on the basis of the control signal. 
     
     
         12 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the two electrodes also measure electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, the EMG and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are separated from one another in the signal processing unit. 
     
     
         13 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a monitor and/or a keyboard is provided. 
     
     
         14 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 a memory cooperates with the signal processing unit, data transmitted from the at least one external device to the signal processing unit is stored in the memory.   
     
     
         15 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein data relating to a cardiocirculatory system of the patient is stored and/or processed. 
     
     
         16 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a data interface and an input unit wherein patient-specific information is transmitted to the signal processing unit via a data interface or an input unit. 
     
     
         17 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is arranged in or at an electric cable leading to the external device. 
     
     
         18 . An electromyogram (EMG) measuring system comprising:
 two electrodes mountable on a patient to receive a patient signal representing electrical activity of the patient;   a signal processing unit receiving from said two electrodes the patient signal representing the electrical activity, said signal processing unit processing the patient signal to generate an EMG signal based on the patient signal, said signal processing unit transmitting the EMG signal to an external device, the signal processing unit generating the EMG signal for improved transmission to said external device, said signal processing unit receiving an external device signal from the external device, said signal processing unit receiving and processing the external device signal transmitted from said external device, said signal processing unit generating a control signal based on the external device signal, said control signal affecting a measurement of the patient signal.   
     
     
         19 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein:
 said control signal is one of a plurality of different control signals signal selectively generated by said signal processing unit based on the external device signal, each of said control signals differently affecting a measurement of the patient signal.   
     
     
         20 . An EMG measuring system in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a module for preprocessing the patient signal before the patient signal is transmitted to said signal processing unit, said module including a measuring device, said module receiving said control signal.