News
Motion-capture technology aids physiotherapy diagnosis
6 May 2008
Doctors and physiotherapists can now make a more accurate diagnosis
of patients with injuries or posture problems following the development
of an easy-to-use motion-capture system.
The new system,called IGS-90, is the result of a link-up between
motion capture company, Animazoo, and software company
aXtion. It will enable medical professionals to make faster, more in-depth diagnoses based on scientific data and analysis recorded using
motion capture technology.
aXtion worked with TNO, a knowledge and
research organisation, to independently test motion-capture systems
before embarking on the project.
“This strategic link gives a whole new industry sector access to
motion capture technology which, due to the complexity of optical
systems, was only available to University research teams” explained Ali
Kord, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Animazoo.
“The technology will be able to analyse angular velocity and
magnitude of the patient's motion, translating it into data and visual
imagery that is simple to understand for the physiotherapist. It brings
to life the analysis of injuries for medical teams, comparing the data
with that of a healthy human body, indicating precisely the problem of
the patient.”
To analyse a patient's movement, the physiotherapist straps the patient
into a special suit containing high speed gyroscopic sensors. The
patient then performs a series of simple exercises. The system measures
angles and tracks movements, which show up on a computer screen as
graphics.
Axtion created the biomechanical software for this specialised
product. Yolanda Marani, Founder of aXtion explained: “Working with
Animazoo has enabled us to import very accurate data direct from the
patient into our database software system. We can now produce more
scientific, diagnostic information never available before. The
technology will also offer medical professionals the added benefit of
comparing their patient’s problems with that of other patients around
the country.”
TNO independently tested a number of motioin-capture systems before selecting
Animazoo’s IGS-190. Wiltfried Pathuis, Scientist at TNO ICT said: “Other solutions on the market add some interpretation or
correction of the motion data onto internal (biomechanical) models and
also need some calibration methods which simply cannot be performed by
the patients. For this purpose it needed non-interpreted motion data. We
looked at other manufacturers of inertial gyroscopic systems and optical
systems but found the solutions insufficiently matching our criteria.”
Prior to the availability of motion capture, medical professionals
would have to diagnose by sight what the problem was with a patient and
make a recommendation for treatment. Where the benefit of a second
opinion was required, a two-dimensional video would have to be
despatched to the third party. This is now available online in an
instant.
Online access to data also offers the additional benefit of the
ability to compare other factors affecting the patient. Each recording
will go into a national database to build a picture for comparison by
medical professionals. The impact of factors such as the environment can
be compared with other cases online.
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