Case Study - Revolutionary Myoelectric Control for Enhanced Mobility
Myotron is developing a groundbreaking real-time proportional myo-control exoskeleton that leverages the Central Nervous System through antagonist co-activation to restore mobility for neuropathy patients.
- Client
- Myotron
- Year
- Service
- Medical Device Engineering, Signal Processing
Overview
Myotron's founder, Dr. Mehmet Özkan, recognized the critical gap in rehabilitation technology for neuropathy patients after witnessing his father's struggle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Traditional myoelectric control systems failed because they relied on peripheral nerves that were compromised by the condition.
Myotron approached us with a revolutionary concept: leveraging the Central Nervous System's natural ability to transmit motor intention through antagonist co-activation. Instead of trying to extract signals from damaged nerves, their system would use healthy antagonist muscles that naturally participate in joint movement.
We developed the core signal processing algorithms that extract SEMG signals from biceps and triceps muscles, process them through digital filters, and convert them into real-time proportional control commands. Our system achieves response times under 200ms, dramatically improving upon traditional systems that often exceed this threshold due to complex AI processing.
The breakthrough came when we implemented the "hydraulic model" for elbow-hand relationship, which allows the CNS to adapt naturally to the exoskeleton control through continuous biofeedback, eliminating the need for complex neural network classifications.
What we did
- Signal Processing Algorithms
- Real-time Control Systems
- EMG Signal Analysis
- Biofeedback Integration
Myotron's engineering expertise was crucial in developing our signal processing algorithms. Their understanding of both the technical and medical requirements resulted in a system that truly puts patients first and achieves the real-time performance we needed.
Chief Medical Officer at Myotron
- Response time
- <200ms
- Non-invasive operation
- 100%
- Force variation range
- 10-100%
- Potential beneficiaries
- 70K+
Technical Innovation
Our core contribution to Myotron's system lies in the sophisticated signal processing pipeline:
- SEMG Signal Extraction: We developed algorithms to capture surface electromyography signals from healthy antagonist muscles (biceps and triceps) that naturally co-activate during intended movement.
- Real-time Processing: Our digital signal processing chain includes 2Hz low-pass filtering, envelope extraction, and normalization to achieve sub-200ms response times.
- Proportional Control: The system generates control commands directly proportional to the level of antagonist co-activation, enabling fluid and natural movement control.
- CNS Adaptation: Through continuous biofeedback, the Central Nervous System learns to control the exoskeleton intuitively, eliminating the need for complex AI classification.
Impact on Healthcare
Myotron's technology addresses critical needs in the rehabilitation sector:
- Neuropathy Patients: Primary beneficiaries include those with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other peripheral nerve disorders.
- Earthquake Victims: The February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey created an immediate need for advanced rehabilitation solutions for an estimated 70,000 people with permanent disabilities.
- Regional Healthcare: The non-invasive, cost-effective nature makes it accessible to underserved populations in neighboring countries facing conflict-related injuries.
The system's ability to work with the CNS's natural adaptation mechanisms represents a paradigm shift from traditional myoelectric control, offering hope to patients who previously had limited rehabilitation options.