當骨盆底肌肉發生功能異常時可能導致婦女產生尿失禁或排尿困難等問題。然而，目前多數的研究只測量單一生理訊號(力量)，其結果多只局限於比較靜態姿勢下力量大小與骨盆底功能障礙或失調嚴重度之間的關係。本研究的目的是發展一套新型無線傳輸資料擷取系統，主要紀錄骨盆底肌肉收縮控制之左右側表面肌電訊號以及陰道探頭經由骨盆底肌肉自主性收縮所造成的位移及角度變化量。陰道探頭分別有左右側的雙極式電極以分別記錄左右骨盆底肌電訊號，同時在探頭內的中段位置置入慣性感測器(加速規以及陀螺儀)以同步記錄探頭位移及角度變化量。表面肌電訊號及位置偵側訊號是透過低功率傳輸的無線藍芽模組來進行記錄分析。在此初步研究中，以所設計之新型無線陰道探頭評估記錄三位自願受測者在平躺姿勢下執行最大自主性骨盆底肌肉收縮的相關訊號。初步的結果顯示：受測者其骨盆底肌肉左右側的收縮並非完全對稱；正確肌肉收縮造成陰道結構偏移的方向為：會陰部往陰道內方向提升，向前方恥骨處移動以及往左或往右側偏移。此新型無線陰道探頭的設計將有助於骨盆底肌肉的相關研究，特別是在功能與結構變化上的深度了解。

Women with incontinence and urinating difficulties might be caused by dysfunction of pelvic floor muscles (PFM). However, most of current studies have been focused on force measurement and the relationship between muscle force of pelvic floor and severity of functional impairments in static posture evaluation. The aim of this study was to present the design of vaginal probe with wireless sensing capability for recording electromyography (EMG) of PFM and the position changes of vagina during voluntary PFM contraction. The EMG signals were recorded using bilateral electrodes of a custom modified FemiscanTM probe. The inertial sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) were designed and placed inside the vaginal probe for detecting the displacement and the angular changes of probe with respect to pubic bone during the voluntary contraction of PFM. All recorded signals, both EMG and position, were transmitted wirelessly via low-power Bluetooth module which provided extra information about probe movement in the vagina. In addition, this wireless data acquisition design avoided the inconvenience of wire connection, especially under dynamic movements. Data were analyzed with respect to maximal voluntary pelvic floor contraction of three volunteer subjects. Our initial results show that even though both sides of PFMs work as a group but the contraction of the PFMs may be asymmetry. The trend of correct PFM contraction can be observed from the detected probe movement, such as inward lift, forward movement or right-left shift. Our wireless sensing device provides a novel tool to broaden our understanding of the coordination of bilateral PFMs and spatial characteristics of PFM contraction.

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