Motion analysis system employing various operating modes
First Claim
1. A motion analysis system of the type operative to analyze the movements of designated body portions of a subject to be monitored as the subject walks along a predetermined path and to particularly analyze the pressure applied to the feet of said subject when traversing said path, comprising:
- pressure responsive means secured to the feet of said subject and operative to provide output pressure signals indicative of the force applied to eh subject'"'"'s feet while traversing said path, first computer means coupled to said pressure responsive means and operative to analyze said pressure signals to provide a display of the pressure applied to said subject'"'"'s feet during given selected time intervals as said subject traverses said path and pressure operative means associated with said path and operative to provide an output signal when walked on by said subject with said signal coupled to said first computer means to determine a start of processing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motion analysis system and apparatus incorporates markers which are secured at various joints of the subject'"'"'s body as well as pressure sensitive shoes or insoles which are worn by the subject. The subject is caused to perform motion such as walking or running. While performing this motion, the subject is televised by means of two video cameras. The video signal from the cameras is stored by means of video recorders and then processed on a frame-to-frame basis to provide digitized data. The pressure sensitive insoles provide signals which are processed according to analog to digital conversion techniques whereby a display is also provided which indicates the pressure applied to the subject'"'"'s foot while performing. The remaining data as supplied by the first and second video cameras and which is digitized is then further processed to present various displays showing the gait, the angular position of the various joints of the patient and various other information indicative of the particular walking characteristics of the subject. The data thus produced and processed by the system enables a practitioner to judge the persons'"'"'s walking gait as compared to a normal user.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A motion analysis system of the type operative to analyze the movements of designated body portions of a subject to be monitored as the subject walks along a predetermined path and to particularly analyze the pressure applied to the feet of said subject when traversing said path, comprising:
pressure responsive means secured to the feet of said subject and operative to provide output pressure signals indicative of the force applied to eh subject'"'"'s feet while traversing said path, first computer means coupled to said pressure responsive means and operative to analyze said pressure signals to provide a display of the pressure applied to said subject'"'"'s feet during given selected time intervals as said subject traverses said path and pressure operative means associated with said path and operative to provide an output signal when walked on by said subject with said signal coupled to said first computer means to determine a start of processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. The system according to claim 6, further including,
at least one television camera monitoring said path and responsive to said burst to provide a first brightness level indicative of said burst for determining a start analysis frame, storage means coupled to said camera for storing televisions signals as said subject traverses said path, digitizer means coupled to said storage means for digitizing said stored signals on a frame to frame basis, with a first frame defined by the frame after said burst containing frame, second computer means responsive to said digitized signals for processing the same to provide a display indicative of the motion of the subject while traversing said path to enable a user to use said second computer display with said first computer display for motion analysis.
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10. A motion analysis system of the type operative to analyze the motion of designated body portions of a subject to be monitored as the subject walks along a predetermined path and particularly adapted to analyze the gait, joint angles and force between said body portions and the forces exerted on said body portions as said subject traverses said path with said body portions of said subject marked by light indicating markers, said system of the type employing first and second television cameras and associated storage means as video tape recorders associated with each camera for storing the video signal from each camera and including digital means coupled to said storage means for digitizing said video signals by forming a pixel array and computer means coupled to said digital means for processing said digitized signals to provide displays indicative of the motion qualities of said subject as traversing said path with said displays as provided being processed according to said markers, the improvement therewith of apparatus for controlling the processing of said motion analysis system comprising:
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pressure operative means associated with said path and operative to provide a burst of light when said subject contacts said means, with said burst of light responded to by said cameras to provide a first reference video signal which when stored provides a reference video frame for said digital means, video image enhancing means coupled to said storage means and operative to provide an output video signal from said stored video signal, with said output video signal including stabilized sync components for application to said digital means to enable said digital means to provide stabilized digitized output signals, and processing means associated with said computer means and operative to determine the location of said markers by comparing adjacent pixels in said array with a given pixel for selecting those pixels of a greater intensity and indicative of a marker'"'"'s location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification