ALTERNATIVE TOPOLOGIES OF INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIERS USED IN EMG

MEASUREMENT

Eduardo C. Perez Jr., Elvin I. Santiago and Engr. Ann E. Dulay

Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering

De La Salle University, Manila
2401 Taft Ave., Malate, Manila 1004, Philippines

Eduardo C. Perez Jr., 09923144@dlsu.edu.ph

Elvin I. Santiago, rayelvin@yahoo.com
Engr. Ann E. Dulay, dulaya@dlsu.edu.ph

ABSTRACT different sources. The raw EMG signal is actually a

This paper presents an alternative approach in designing
an instrumentation amplifier used in recording of EMG
signals. The conventional instrumentation amplifier in
EMG systems uses the three op-amp design topology. The
performance of this topology of instrumentation amplifier
relies on precise resistor matching. Expensive modern
techniques like laser trimming are used to overcome this
problem.
Alternative topologies of instrumentation amplifier that
do not rely on resistor matching are investigated and
tested. The parameters of the alternative instrumentation
amplifiers are compared with the conventional three op-
amp instrumentation amplifier.
To check the performance of the alternative topologies as
a substitute to the conventional three op-amp
instrumentation amplifier, they were implemented in an
actual EMG system.
I. INTRODUCTION
voltage difference between the recording electrodes. To
obtain the EMG signal and remove the noise common to
the electrodes, a differential amplifier is used as a
subtractor. Several parameters are required for the
differential amplifier in EMG system. The amplifier
should have high input impedance and a recommended
Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) of 80 dB. The
instrumentation amplifier perfectly suites the job due to
its high input impedance and high CMRR. The commonly
used instrumentation amplifier in existing recordings
systems employs the classic three op-amp design
topology.
The last stage is the filter. Since the usable frequencies of
EMG signal ranges from 20-450 Hz with the dominant
frequency at 150 Hz, signals above 450 Hz should be
removed. Filter is used to remove or minimize the
unwanted signals present in the amplified complex EMG
signal.
II. THEORY

Low-Pass Filter

Fig. 1. EMG Test Setup

The system for acquiring EMG (electromyogram) signals

consists of three main stages. The first stage is the
electrodes. Electrodes are used to pick up the Fig. 2. Low-Pass Filter
biopotentials present in our body. The picked up signals
are then fed to a differential amplifier stage. The signal
picked up by the electrodes is contaminated by noise from
Since the needed signal is only between 0 to 500 Hertz,
low-pass filters were needed to cut-off the extraneous
signal and noise. The Sallen-Key topology is used
because it requires only a single op amp, thus making it
relatively inexpensive. The Sallen-Key filter is a popular
filter due to its versatility and ease of design. It is
commonly considered that the Sallen-Key topology is
better if gain accuracy is important, a unity-gain filter is
used, and pole-pair Q is low (e.g., Q < 3). At unity-gain,
the Sallen-Key topology inherently has excellent gain
accuracy. This is because the op amp is used as a unity-
gain buffer. The unity-gain Sallen-Key topology also
requires fewer components.
The design of this circuit is similar to the design of the
low-pass filter. The position of the capacitors and
resistors were interchanged. Following the same design
process as the low pass filter, the chosen value of C2 is
10pF. The value of C1 would then be 20pF. Computing
for the value of the resistances with R1 = R2 = R:
R = 1/(2 · π · fo · C2)
= 1/(2 · π · 1.59 · 10pF)
= 10MΩ

The chosen cut-off frequency is 500 Hz, since typical

EMG signals are limited to frequencies below 500 Hz. Classic Three Op-Amp Design Instrumentation
The arbitrarily chosen value of C2 is 250 pF. The Amplifier Topology
capacitance of C1 should twice the value of C2. In this
case, the value of C1 is 500 pF. In getting the value of the
resistances, R1 and R2, the following computations were
made whereby R1 is made equal to R2 and is made equal
to R:

R = 0.707/(2 · π · fo · C2)

= 0.707/(2 · π · 500 · 250pF)

= 900Ω

Fig. 4. Classical 3 Op-amp Design Instrumentation Amplifier

High-Pass Filter
The previous figure shows the most commonly used
instrumentation amplifier design utilizing 3 op amps and
several precision resistors. These are capable of excellent
performance; however, for high performance they require
very precisely matched resistors. The common mode
rejection of these designs depends on resistor matching
and overall gain.

Fig. 3. High-Pass Filter

The figure above shows the schematic of a high-pass

Sallen-key filter. The high-pass filter was designed to
eliminate the DC offset produced by the high gain of the
difference amplifier. The values of the resistor and the
capacitors were chosen to provide a very low cut
frequency that is about 1.59 Hz, which is just enough to
eliminate the high DC offset present due to the gain
provided for the differential amplifiers.
First Alternative Topology
Fig. 5. First Alternative Topology of Instrumentation Amplifier
An instrumentation amplifier is shown above that
compares favorably with multiple op amp designs, yet
does not require precisely matched resistors. Further, the
design allows a single resistor to adjust the gain. In
comparing this instrumentation amplifier to multiple op
amp types there are of course some drawbacks. The gain
linearity and accuracy are not as good as the multiple op
amp circuits.
In operation, Q3 and Q4 serves as current sources and sets
the operating current of the input stage. Q1 and Q2
convert a differential input voltage to a differential output
current at their collectors. This is fed into a standard
differential amplifier to obtain a single ended output
voltage. Since the diff amp does not see the common
mode input voltage, 1% resistors are adequate. The gain
of the amplifier is defined by the equation:
Second Alternative Topology
Fig. 6. Second Alternative Topology of Instrumentation Amplifier
The figure above shows a general-purpose
instrumentation amplifier optimized for a large input
impedance and stable DC-offset value. This amplifier
utilizes a darlington input stage for a large input
impedance. It also makes use of a common-mode
negative feedback to decrease the common-mode gain,
thus increasing the CMRR of the instrumentation
amplifier.
The operation of this amplifier is similar to that of the
first alternative topology, except for the additional effect
of applied common mode negative feedback stage. The
gain of this amplifier is defined by the following
equation:
III. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Signal Conditioner
A two-stage signal conditioner was implemented in the
EMG system. A high-pass and a low-pass filter were used
to remove the unwanted signals present in the acquired
complex EMG signal. The first stage is the high-pass
filter which is used to block the DC offsets amplified by
the instrumentation amplifier present in the body or
electrodes. The low-pass filter then follows to remove the
unnecessary signals ranging from 500 Hz and above.
 Instrumentation CM DIFFERENTIA DC
1 Amplifier RR L OFFSE
0.95 (dB) GAIN T
Voltage (V)

0.9 INA129 75 495 2.54 V

0.85
First Alternative 94 500 -13.69 V
0.8
Topology
0.75
0.7
Second
Alternative 70.4 339 -197 mV
Topology
0

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70
Frequency (Hertz)
Table 1. Maximum CMRR obtained by the three topologies of
instrumentation amplifier.
Fig, 7. Graphical Representation of the data obtained in testing the high-
pass filter.
Comparing the CMRR of the three topologies, the first
alternative topology has the best performance when it
comes to common-mode rejection. The drawback of the
first alternative topology is its dc offset with the signal
1.2 experiencing full negative swing. The best topology
1 having the most stable dc offset is the second alternative
Voltage (V)

0.8 topology but having the least performance in common-

0.6 mode rejection. The performance of INA129 employing
0.4 the three op-amp topology lies in between the first and
0.2
second alternative topology.
0

EMG System
0

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Frequency (Hertz)
Fig. 8. Graphical Representation of the data obtained in testing the low-
pass filter.
The test was done using an audio generator. The
frequency response of our designed high-pass filter shows
that it is capable to block the signals DC signals. The
cutoff frequency of our designed low-pass filter is found
at 420 Hz which is near the calculated cutoff frequency of
500 Hz. The small discrepancy of the experimental and
calculated values is expected.
Actual experiment was done testing the three topologies
of instrumentation amplifier in an actual EMG system.
The three topologies basically showed the same response
to the muscle contraction. When the muscle is relaxed, the
signal is stable, as shown in Fig. 9. When the muscle
experience contraction, the output signal became spiky
and unstable, as shown in Fig. 10. The spiky waveform is
the raw EMG signal of the muscle.

Instrumentation Amplifiers

Three topologies of instrumentation amplifier were tested.

The three topologies were the instrumentation amplifier
topology from the Linear Brief 21 published by the
National Semiconductors, the classic three op-amp design
topology, and an alternative topology of our own design.

Test experiments were done to measure the necessary

parameters in computing for the CMRR of the
instrumentation amplifiers. The parameters needed are the
gains of the instrumentation amplifier at differential and
Fig. 9. Output waveform when muscle is in relaxed state.
common-mode operation (Ad and Ac). An Integrated
Circuit, INA129, was tested for the three op-amp design
topology.

Fig. 10. Output waveform when the muscle is flexed
IV. CONCLUSION
In the acquisition of EMG signals, signal conditioners and
instrumentation amplifier should be used to be able to
acquire the signals produced by the body, since these
signals are in the micro-volt range and noise is present.
The first alternative topology of instrumentation amplifier
is sufficient in the process of obtaining EMG signals.
EMG signals were acquired using this instrumentation
amplifier. The acquired signals were comparable to the
ones obtained using an IC fabricated instrumentation
amplifier, namely the INA129. The values obtained were
not that accurate as they should be. This is caused by the
unavailability of a micro-voltmeter that is supposed to be
used in measuring the common-mode voltage and other
external factors like noise that cannot be completely
eliminated. Since the obtained value of the CMRR is high
at 90 dB for the first alternative topology, it is sufficient
for use in EMG systems, 1% matched resistors are
adequate in constructing the first alternative topology.
Expensive resistor matching techniques are not essential
in the fabrication of this circuit.
As for the second alternative topology, EMG signals were
also obtained using this circuit. In addition, since a
darlington pair was utilized, the input impedance was
increased and the offset voltage was more stable. The
common mode negative feedback was used to decrease
the common mode gain of the amplifier. However, the
CMRR of the circuit did not exceed 80dB. The operation
of the circuit is not stable when the gain is set to a high
value, producing an amount of noise at the output stage.
Despite of this, the CMRR was still held to a value of
70dB.
Comparing the first alternative topology against the
classic three op-amp design instrumentation amplifier, the
first alternative is better when it comes to common-mode
rejection. While the second alternative topology has a
more stable DC offset compared to the conventional three
op-amp design amplifier. So we conclude that alternative
topologies of instrumentation amplifier can be used as a
substitute for the classic three op-amp design depending
on the type of application and it requires.
V. REFERENCES
[1] Beltt, Eric; Surface Electromyography and Muscle
Fatigue, Available:
http://mxp.physics.umn.edu/s02/Projects/Muscle/Proj
ect_Report.htm
[2] De Luca, Carlo J., The Use of Surface
Electromyography in Biomechanics. Available:
http://www.delsys.com/library/papers/biomechanics.pdf
[3] DelSys Incorporated, Electromyography: Detection
and Recording, Available:
http://www.delsys.com/library/papers/SEMGintro.pdf
[4] Dobrev, Dobromir, “Amplifier and Current Source
Emulate Instrumentation Amplifier,” Design Ideas.
2003
[5] Honeycutt, Richard A., Op Amps and Linear
Integrated Circuits, 1988.
[6] Jones, Larry D., A Foster Chin, Electronic Instruments
and Measurements.
[7] Karki, James; Fully-Differential Amplifier Design in
High Speed Data Acquisition Systems
[8] Millman,Jacob & Grabel, Arvin; Microelectronics
[9] National Semiconductors, “Instrumentation
Amplifiers,” Linear Brief 21, 1973.
[10] O’Meara, Damien; “Electromyographic (EMG)
Recording Principles,” Human Mechanics. Week 2.
Available:
http://casino.cchs.usyd.edu.au/ess/smith/22530%20Hu
man%20Mechanics/w2(emg)+notes.pdf
[11] Sellers, Bill; Introduction to EMG, Available:
http://machuwis.lut.ac.uk/~wis/lectures/musculoskelet
al/IntroductionToEMG.pdf