Authors:
António Jordão
1
;
Pedro Duque
2
;
Claudia Quaresma
2
and
Pedro Vieira
1
Affiliations:
1
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Instituto de Biofísica e Eng. Biomédica and Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
;
2
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia and Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Non-invasive instrument, Spine, Biomechanical, Image processing, Evaluation, Standing position.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomechanical Devices
;
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Equipment
;
Biomedical Instrumentation
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Computer-Aided Detection and Diagnosis
;
Devices
;
Health Monitoring Devices
;
Human-Computer Interaction
;
Physiological Computing Systems
Abstract:
The purpose of this article is to present a new instrument to study the vertebral column. This device is an evolution from Vertebral Metrics (Quaresma, 2010). In this new device, the detection of the spinous process is semi-automatic, non-invasive and it is prepared to analyse the entire population. The data acquired from the instrument will allow three dimensional analysis of the vertebral column in standing position. With this instrument, hospital staff will be able to study biomechanical changes in the vertebral column due to incorrect exercise, injury, congenital malformations, obesity, pregnancies, etc. The device uses a system of movement in two axes that is controlled by software. The software uses a video camera and image processing algorithm to detect points that were previously marked in the spinous process of the individual under study. The software gives orders to the mechanic part to move the equipment to position the mark made by laser upon the spinous process. In these
conditions, the spatial coordinates of the spinous process are stored and the process is repeated for the others spinous processes. A complete examination takes approximately 2 minutes and 25 seconds after manual tracing of the spine and improving is being made to the software to reach the 30 seconds mark. This instrument has the possibility of performing consecutive sweeps, for dynamic accommodation studies.
(More)