A Microprocessor-Based Polarity Correlator for the

On-Line Measurement of Muscle Fibre Conduction Velocity

M. I. A. HARBA AND A. K. NAIEFM. I. A. HARBA AND A. K. NAIEF

This is with reference to paper A Microprocessor based correlator for the on line measurement of muscle fibre
conduction velocity published on 12 December 1985 at IEEE conference.
This paper derives its importance from the fact that it helps to measure conduction velocity of action potential
generated by muscle fibres whenever some amount of work is performed which helps us to estimate muscle
fatigue study and ergonomics.
Normally muscle generates action potential whenever some work is performed .We can measure this potential
by keeping electrodes close to muscle. The velocity of this signal can be used as important tool to ascertain
stress that muscle is undergoing because it increases in proportion to velocity.
Several methods were adapted to sense action potential right form bipolar electrode signals to digital bandpass
filter but they failed to serve the purpose to satisfactory level because they possessed inherent errors which
resulted in timedelays and it was difficult to measure time shifts.Moreover their calibration was difficult to
carryout. So finally Microprocessor based correlator was used which served the purpose at low cost and less
errors.
In this method two signals generated from muscle fibre are taken by two electrodes maintaining finite distance
distance between two points of measurement .This two signals are fed to microprocessor through its input port.
Spectrum of two signals is generated by processor which also has its main memory.The timeshift between peak
of two correlated polarity signals is measured. The polarity of signal is detected using zero cross detector which
detects 1 for positive and zero for negative. By measuring this timeshifts conduction velocity can be measured
because distance is fixed.Depending upon number of signals there can be various timeshifts we have to correlate
all those signals to detect peak at certain rate called Nyquist rate which is also called sampling rate.Which helps
us to calculate speed of operation.Once the time shift between various correlated signal is detected we can
measure speed of signals and henceforth stress on muscles.
Normally this experiment is performed in two stages in first stage a person is asked to hold certain weight for
certain time and velocity of signals is calculated this method is called as Medium tension with no observable
fatigue .In second method which is called as High tension resulting in muscle fatigue weight is increased after
certain time intervals as a result muscle is exposed to variable stress generating variable velocity signals and
graph is plotted between correlation value and time value.
The technique presented above is one of the reliable technique which is used to calculate velocity of signal by
using simple 8 bit microprocessor ,preamplifier and zero cross detector to generate reports on stress that muscle
is undergoing at very cheap rate. Moreover this equipment is easy to install and handle.