Current conveyor based EMG amplifier with shutdown control

A current conveyor implementation of an EMG amplifier with shutdown control is described. The shutdown control allows for measurements on electrically stimulated muscles because the amplifier can be turned off during the stimulation. The implementation using current conveyor makes it possible to perform the shutdown switching at a low impedance node, reducing switching transients to a level which does not cause saturation of the EMG amplifier. Experimental results indicate that the recovery period, required in a traditional EMG amplifier after the stimulation pulse, has been eliminated. The conveyor based amplifier is able to measure the EMG signals accurately immediately after the stimulation pulse.