Real-Time Muscle Force Visualization via Precomputed Dynamics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the capability to visualize muscle forces and joint torques in real time, which is essential for rehabilitation and medical research, as existing methods require extensive calculations and provide non-intuitive numerical or graphical results.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines motion capture technology with a 3D computational musculoskeletal model, using specially written algorithms to derive joint orientations, accelerations, and velocities, and perform forward and inverse dynamics to visualize muscle forces and joint torques in real time through color space animation of a 3D human body model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional computational methods are used to calculate muscle forces and joint torques, then measurement precision is improved, but calculation time increases significantly making real-time visualization impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores muscle path geometries, moment arm calculations, and inverse dynamics equations before runtime. This preliminary preparation allows the real-time system to directly apply pre-computed models to motion capture data without performing complex calculations during visualization, achieving both precision and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational copy of the musculoskeletal system with simplified mathematical models that replicate the behavior of complex muscle-force dynamics. This computational model serves as a lightweight representation that can be evaluated in real-time while maintaining measurement precision through careful model design.
2Productivity
If complex computational algorithms are implemented for real-time muscle force calculation, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computational pipeline is divided into distinct modular segments: motion capture data acquisition, inverse kinematics calculation, inverse dynamics computation, muscle force distribution algorithms, and 3D visualization rendering. Each module handles a specific computational task independently, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving real-time performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate computational structures including pre-computed muscle path geometries, stored moment arm tables, and cached segment mass properties. These intermediaries serve as buffers between raw motion capture data and final muscle force calculations, reducing computational complexity at critical decision points in the pipeline.
3Measurement precision
If detailed 3D muscle models are used for accurate force visualization, then measurement precision is improved, but rendering performance and real-time display capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system maps calculated muscle force magnitudes to color intensity and hue variations in the 3D visualization. This color-coded representation allows detailed anatomical muscle models to be rendered efficiently while conveying precise force information through visual intensity rather than requiring complex geometric deformations or high-polygon count animations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simplified graphical representations and icon-based visualizations as computational proxies for detailed anatomical structures. These graphical copies maintain the essential spatial relationships and anatomical accuracy needed for medical applications while requiring significantly fewer computational resources for real-time rendering compared to full-physics muscle simulations.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A method and system are provided for the visual display of anatomical forces, that system having : a motion capture system; a computer, receiving data from said motion capture system; and a computational pipeline disposed on said computer; that computational pipeline being configured to calculate muscle forces and joint torques in real time and visually display those forces and torques.