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DanteBertelli (Team Leader)
BradHansen
ChadTaylor
JosephAlston

Problem Statement

Accuracy and precision in marker placement are crucial in providing robust computer models for gait analysis. The gait analysis lab at Shriners Hospital has asked our team to make a lower limb model that will take advantage of technological advances in motion capture systems. The model will be used to calibrate and verify the accuracy, precision and resolution of gait analysis markers to better assist them in determining orthopedic conditions in children.

Project Summary

In order to prescribe proper treatment for locomotive physical impairments, physicians need to properly analyze their patients’ gait kinematics—the way that person walks. Physicians commonly use the Vicon system to analyze the gait kinematics which consists of a number of markers on the patient’s body that are tracked by a series of video cameras. The placements of the markers require accurately locating the joint centers of a patient. Finding these joint centers requires a skilled technician and a notable amount of time. A significant amount of error is also present due to different geometries caused by deformities, skin movements, and the ability of the technician.

To improve upon this system a new mathematical model to analyze a patient’s gait kinematics is needed. This would best be accomplished by not focusing on the joint centers, since this can cause variability as mentioned previously. Instead the focus should be on creating a new model that is not dependent on placing the markers at the joint centers. A physical control model that can be used to validate the new mathematical model is proposed. This physical model will be able to mimic the movement of lower limbs of a patient and simultaneously provide exact limb positioning data. This positioning data will then be used to validate the mathematical model.

Overall this will provide physicians a more accurate analysis that will enable them to prescribe a faster and more accurate treatment for their patients.

Group Picture