Shielding of an EMG machine utilizing a conductive tent: Testers seek to remedy the long-standing problem of 'noisy' responses from an EMG machine

摘要

This paper presents a shielding methodology and test in which an Electromyography (EMG) instrument is shielded from spurious electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) emissions. These emissions are especially common in hospital settings such as operating rooms. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is also a frequent nuisance in clinics and medical office locations. Where EMI/RFI is present, it represents a very real hindrance to the accurate administration of both nerve conduction and EMG studies by any operator. Typical operators might include, but would not be limited to, electro-physiologists, physiatrists, neurologists, neurology technicians, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic spine specialists. EMI/RFI "noise" is an impediment to accurate testing because of the artifacts that interfere with the critical nerve responses within muscle tissue that is being evaluated for a variety of neurological conditions.