Design and evaluation of a novel microphone-based mechanomyography sensor with cylindrical and conical acoustic chambers

Mechanomyography has recently been proposed as a control modality for alternative access technologies for individuals with disabilities. However, MMG recordings are highly susceptible to contamination from limb movements. Pressure-based transducers are touted to be the most robust to external movement although there is some debate about their optimal chamber geometry, in terms of low frequency gain and spectral flatness. To investigate the question of preferred geometry, transducers with cylindrical and conical chambers of varying dimensions were designed, manufactured and tested. Using a computer-controlled electrodynamic shaker, the frequency response of each chamber geometry was empirically derived. Of the cylindrical chambers, the highest gain and the flattest frequency response was exhibited by a chamber 10 mm in diameter and 5-7 mm in height. However, conical chambers offered an average rise in gain of 6.79 ± 1.06 dB/Hz over that achievable with cylindrical geometries. The highest gain and flattest response was achieved with a transducer consisting of a low-frequency MEMS microphone, a 4 μm aluminized mylar membrane and a rigid conical chamber 7 mm in diameter and 5mm in height. This design is recommended for MMG applications where limb movement is prevalent.