EMG Monitoring

Evolution of data analysis methods in neuroscience in the recent past has increased our collective understanding of how a nervous system controls complex behaviors. This research focuses largely on the central nervous system, exploiting new technologies that can record large numbers of individual neurons (brain cells) for extended periods of time in order to quantify their relation to behavior. Despite recent evidence pointing to the importance of precise timing in the activity of motor units (collection of muscle fibers innervated by a single motor neuron) for controlling behavior, techniques for recording electromyographic (EMG) signals from muscles lag far behind those developed for neural recordings in the central nervous system. Specifically, most EMG data sets are collected by inserting fine-wire electrodes into the muscles. This method has several drawbacks. First, the penetrating wire electrodes damage the muscles into which they are inserted and cannot be used to record the very small muscles that control skilled behavior. Second, wire electrodes typically cannot isolate electrical signals from individual motor units, instead yield signals that represent the combined activity of many units, preventing analysis of single-unit activity (a standard approach for studying the function of neurons in the brain). Revolutionary approaches are therefore needed to record stable, single-unit, EMG activity. Here, we utilize flexible electronics, 2.5D/3D heterogeneous, photonics, and work with a team of neuroscientist to develop new micro-technologies for the neuroscience communities.

Relevant Publications

  1. B. Chung, M. Zia, et al., “Myomatrix arrays for high-definition muscle recording.” bioRxiv, p. 2023.02.21.529200, Feb. 22, 2023. doi: 10.1101/2023.02.21.529200.

  2. J. Lu, M. Zia, M. J. Williams, A. L. Jacob, B. Chung, S. J. Sober and M. S. Bakir, "High-performance Flexible Microelectrode Array with PEDOT:PSS Coated 3D Micro-cones for Electromyographic Recording", in 44th International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Jul. 2022.

  3. P. Yeon, S. Kochupurackal Rajan, et al., "Microfabrication, Coil Characterization, and Hermetic Packaging of Millimeter-Sized Free-Floating Neural Probes," in IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 21, no. 12, pp. 13837-13848, 15 June, 2021.

  4. M. Zia, B. Chung, S. Sober, M. S. Bakir, "Flexible Multielectrode Arrays With 2-D and 3-D Contacts for In Vivo Electromyography Recording," IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 197-202, Feb. 2020.

  5. M. Zia, B. Chung, S. J. Sober and M.S. Bakir, "Fabrication and Characterization of 3D Multi-Electrode Array on Flexible Substrate for In Vivo EMG Recording from Expiratory Muscle of Songbird," in Proc. IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), San Francisco, CA, Dec. 2018.

  6. J. L. Gonzalez, P. K. Jo, R. Abbaspour, and M. S. Bakir, "A Disposable and Self-Aligned 3-D Integrated Bio-Sensing Interface Module for CMOS Cell-Based Biosensor Applications," IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol. 39, no. 8, pp. 1215-1218, 2018.

  7. M. Zia, H. Oh, and M. S. Bakir, "Post-CMOS Fabrication Technology Enabling Simultaneous Fabrication of 3-D Solenoidal Micro-Inductors and Flexible I/Os," IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, vol. 8, no. 11, pp. 2039-2044, 2018.

  8. J. C. Ciciliano, R. Abbaspour, J. Woodall, C. Wu, M. S. Bakir, and W. A. Lam, "Probing blood cell mechanics of hematologic processes at the single micron level," Lab on a Chip, vol. 17, no. 22, pp. 3804-3816, Nov. 2017.

  9. M. Zia, T. Chi, J. Park, A. Su, J. L. Gonzalez, P. K. Jo, M. P. Styczynski, H. Wang, and M. S. Bakir, "A 3D integrated electronic microplate platform for lowcost repeatable biosensing applications," IEEE Transaction on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 1827-1833, Dec. 2016.

  10. J. Ciciliano, R. Abbaspour, C. Wu, M. S. Bakir, and W. A. Lam, "A microengineered matrix to decouple the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of blood cell interactions with thrombi and vascular wall matrices," Blood Journal by American Society of Hematology, vol. 128, no. 22, p. 555, Dec. 2016.

  11.  M. Zia, T. Chi, C. Zhang, P. Thadesar, T. Hookway, J. Gonzalez, T. McDevitt, H. Wang, and M. S. Bakir, "A microfabricated electronic microplate platform for low-cost repeatable bio-sensing applications," in Proc. IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), Washington, DC, Dec. 2015.

  12. . M. Zia, C. Zhang, P. Thadesar, T. Hookway, T. Chi, J. Gonzalez, T. McDevitt, H. Wang,  and M. S. Bakir, "Fabrication of and cell growth on silicon membranes with high density TSVs for bio-sensing applications," in Proc. IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), Atlanta, GA, Oct. 2015.

  13. H. S. Yang, R. Ravindran, C. Zhang, P. Modarres, and M. Bakir, "Enabling technologies for 3D stacking of disposable electronic biosensor and CMOS Chips," Future Fab International, pp. 80-85, Oct. 2011. (invited)

  14. R. Ravindran, J. A. Sadie, K. E. Scarberry, H. S. Yang, M. S. Bakir, J. F. McDonald, and J. D. Meindl, "Biochemical sensing with an arrayed silicon nanowire platform," in Proc. IEEE Electronic Components and Technol. Conf., pp. 1015-1020, 2010.