Wearable Multifunctional Computer Mouse Based on EMG and Gyro for Amputees

Advances in low power electronics and the internet of things are driving the development of wearable medical devices. Innovations in this domain are imperative for individuals with amputated limbs who are willing to operate a wide range of practical devices and systems particularly the personal computer. In this paper, we practically demonstrate a wearable wireless mouse suitable for people with hand amputation up to the elbow. The device operates on a combination of signals from gyroscope and Electromyogram (EMG) sensors. The spatial movement is tracked by gyroscope whereas the mouse functionalities are controlled by signals from the EMG sensors. The system monitors EMG signals only from the biceps and triceps muscles reducing the device and algorithm complexities. To make the device more universal for the user, an automatic threshold calibration algorithm is implemented to determine the threshold of the working signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). Moreover, an SNR based algorithm is introduced to make the response of the system more robust and increase its operational accuracy. The device proposed in this paper can successfully perform all the functionalities capable of a conventional computer mouse.