Analiza widmowa potencjałów jednostek ruchowych

Statystyczne opracowanie wyników badania elektromiograficznego realizowane w dziedzinie czasu zapewnia w większości przypadków prawidłową klasyfikację patologii bez określenia stopnia zaawansowania choroby. Celem prezentowanych badań jest stworzenie aplikacji, która wykorzystując specjalnie opracowane algorytmy cyfrowego przetwarzania sygnałów, w sposób automatyczny i jednoznaczny wyznaczy rodzaj patologii oraz stopień uszkodzenia badanego mięśnia. Celem niniejszej publikacji jest wprowadzenie w dziedzinę elektromiografii klinicznej oraz uporządkowanie medycznych pojęć związanych z badaniami elektromiograficznymi w kontekście inżynierskim, pozwalające na stworzenie niezbędnej płaszczyzny łączącej krajowe środowiska medyczne i techniczne.

Electromyography (EMG) is a functional examination which plays a fundamental role in diagnostics of muscles and nerves diseases. The method allows us for distinction between records of healthy muscle and a changed one as well as for determination whether pathological changes are of primary myogenic or neurogenic character. Statistical processing of electromyography examination performed in the time domain ensures mostly correct classification of pathology without determination of a disease progression. However, because of an ambiguity of temporal parameters definitions, a diagnosis can include a significant error which depends strongly on physician experience. So far, medical practice imposes, as a consensus, registration of at least 20 different functional potentials of motor units belonging to one muscle. Then, selected temporal parameters (presented in the paper) are determined for each run and their mean values are calculated. In the final stage these mean the values are compared with a standard and, including also additional clinical information, a diagnosis is given. A final effect of the first research stage was development of a definition for single point discriminant directly enabling a unique diagnosis to be made. An essential advantage of the suggested discriminant is a precise and algorithmically realized definition which enables an objective comparison of examination results obtained by physicians with different experience and working in different research centers. So, the definition fulfils a fundamental criterion for the parameter used for standard preparation. A suggestion of the standard for selected muscle is presented in the last part of the paper. The aim of next studies is a definition of standards which could allow a unique classification of myogenic, neurogenic, and normal cases for a large group of muscles based on a more numerous population. Currently, the authors are working on implementation of suggested procedures into diagnostic software that could be compatible with Viking IV D system developed by the Nicolet BioMedical Inc. The secondary purpose of the paper is a systematization of medical concepts related to electromyography examinations in the engineering context. The systematization should create a useful platform connecting domestic medical and technical societies.