Research Projects

Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic medical procedure where a thin needle electrode is inserted directly into the muscle being tested. This needle acts like a microphone, recording the electrical activity produced by the muscle when it's at rest and when it's contracted. It was observed that while there have been several advancements in the field of muscle monitoring and assessment tests, non-invasive Surface Electromyography(sEMG) is still behind in research compared to EMG. Moreover, sEMG enables measurement during physical movements (e.g., walking, running, rehabilitation exercises), making it more practical for rehabilitation and physiotherapy contexts by allowing extended IoT-based monitoring over hours or days. The proposed sEMG technology enables precise monitoring of muscle damage and growth, facilitating detailed assessment of user needs, such as posture correction, activity modification, and recovery from muscle atrophy or motor neuron diseases (MNDs). The target population includes individuals with paralysis (across all severities), children and pre-teenagers (to reduce dependency on potentially unreliable feedback), athletes (for performance and recovery optimization), those with muscle injuries (e.g., gym accidents or tendon ruptures), and patients undergoing rehabilitation for motor disorders. The proposed smart textile system leverages a multifunctional fabric engineered for high-performance muscle monitoring. At its core, the fabric comprises an electrospun piezoelectric nanofiber membrane fabricated from materials such as PVDF, TrFE, PLLA etc, offering intrinsic sensitivity to mechanical deformation caused by muscle contraction and relaxation. This nanofibrous sensing layer is seamlessly integrated with peripheral conductive traces composed of thin-film metal electrodes. These conductive paths serve as reliable electrical interconnects between the active sensing area and signal acquisition electronics. As this is a biocompatible fabric, one can wear it for extended periods of time for a much more continuous monitoring that will provide deeper insights about the person’s routine to take better steps towards their health and recovery.