Augmented Visual Assessment for Animal Gait Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating animal movement and gait abnormalities are subjective, prone to inaccuracies due to limitations in visual acuity, memory, bias, and expertise, and are not cost-effective for primary care providers, leading to inadequate evaluation and missed opportunities for early intervention.
Innovation Solution
An Augmented Visual Assessment (AVA) system combining advanced mechanics, optics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to provide an objective, affordable, and mobile diagnostic tool for evaluating animal gait, capable of identifying subtle deficits and minimizing evaluation bias without requiring additional training or data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current objective gait evaluation technology is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase making it unaffordable for primary care providers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses video recording to create a digital copy of the animal's gait movement, which can then be analyzed multiple times without requiring complex real-time sensing equipment. The video serves as a replicable record that captures movement data for subsequent objective analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical gait analysis equipment with a simpler video-based system combined with digital image processing. Instead of using sophisticated motion capture hardware, the system uses standard video cameras and software-based marker tracking to achieve objective gait evaluation.
2Ease of operation
If visual acuity and memory are relied upon for evaluation, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to subjective bias and limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces video recording and digital image processing as an intermediary between the veterinarian's visual observation and the final evaluation judgment. This intermediary objective record eliminates the direct reliance on subjective memory and visual acuity while preserving the simplicity of visual assessment methodology.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a video copy of the gait examination, the system allows the evaluator to review the movement multiple times without fatigue or bias affecting subsequent judgments. The video copy serves as an objective reference that can be analyzed repeatedly to improve measurement precision.
3Productivity
If multiple gait assessments are performed daily, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to evaluator fatigue and bias
Solution Approach 1:
The video recording system creates permanent copies of each gait assessment, allowing unlimited reviews of the same data. This eliminates the degradation of measurement precision that occurs with repeated assessments by the same evaluator, as each video can be analyzed fresh without carrying forward fatigue or bias.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides objective feedback through video playback and digital analysis, allowing evaluators to verify their observations and maintain consistent measurement precision across multiple assessments. The visual feedback from video review helps calibrate and standardize evaluation criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an augmented visual assessment system and methods of using the system for identification of a disorder in animals. In particular, the present disclosure provides an AVA (Augmented Visual Assessment) with CCS (Computed Core Symmetry) that allows practitioners to objectively gather, measure, assess and share data on gait asymmetry (e.g., lameness) and impaired motor movement of animals.