Proceedings on Automation in Medical Engineering
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Proc AUTOMED
https://doi.org/10.18416/AUTOMED.2026.2500

18th Interdisciplinary AUTOMED Symposium in Collaboration with the TC Medical Robotics, 2500

Measuring respiratory surface EMG with ECG electrode leads

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Andra Oltmann (Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering), Jan Graßhoff (Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering), Nils Lange (Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering), Tobias Knopp (1) Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering; 2) Institute for Biomedical Imaging, Hamburg University of Technology; 3) Section for Biomedical Imaging, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf), Philipp Rostalski (1) Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering; 2) Institute for Electrical Engineering in Medicine, University of Lübeck)

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Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) offers potential for analyzing patient-ventilator interactions and respiratory effort. Despite promising in monitoring respiration, it is not clinically established, unlike electrocardiography (ECG), which shares the same physiological principle for cardiac monitoring. This study investigates ECG leads for respiratory monitoring in 20 subjects performing quiet and resistance breathing. Performance was quantified by signal-to-noise ratios between inspiratory activity and (1) baseline noise and (2) expiratory activity. ECG leads were suitable for monitoring respiration, with performance enhanced by combining ECG electrodes with sEMG electrodes. The findings support integrating respiratory sEMG into clinical practice using ECG electrodes without compromising cardiac monitoring.

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