A dual-function dry electrode for electromyography recording and transcutaneous electrical stimulation

Electromyography and transcutaneous electrical stimulation are widely used for neuromuscular assessment and therapy, respectively. However, when the target muscle group is small, such as in post-stroke rehabilitation, there is limited space to place separate electrodes for sensing and stimulation. Developing an integrated electrode capable of both functions would address this limitation by enabling precise monitoring and targeted stimulation within the same localized region, while also simplifying system design and improving functional outcomes. Additionally, most current electrodes are wet and require gel, which can be inconvenient for users. This study explored the feasibility of using a dual-function dry electrode to both record electromyography signals and deliver transcutaneous electrical stimulation. To evaluate the practical effectiveness of the electrode for functional applications, a hand gesture recognition algorithm was developed to assess the quality and reliability of the electromyography signals recorded by the electrode. Forty participants wore an armband equipped with these electrodes and performed six different hand gestures. The algorithm achieved a recognition accuracy of 80.5%, which was comparable to the accuracy of the commercial Myo armband-based hand gesture recognition algorithm. The performance of the dual-function electrode in delivering electrical stimulation was assessed by measuring stimulation intensity at three threshold levels across all 40 participants and by analyzing the induced torque data due to stimulation. Results indicated no significant difference in stimulation intensity and the induced torque measurements when compared to those obtained with a commercial electrode ([Formula: see text]). These findings show potential in integrating transcutaneous electrical stimulation and electromyography functionalities into a single dry electrode, offering a path toward enhanced user comfort, reduced costs, and improved therapeutic interventions.