Eagle Digital Real-Time Camera

The VA Chicago Motion Analysis Research Laboratory (VACMARL) is a state-of-the-art human movement research laboratory designed especially for making measurements necessary for quantifying human movements.  VACMARL has a motion measurement system consisting of eight Eagle Digital Real-Time cameras from Motion Analysis Corporation (MAC) that is used to measure walking kinematics.  The locations of the markers that are placed on the body help to define the particular biomechanical model that is used to analyze the data.  As the subject walks across the walkway, the positions of the markers are recorded by the motion analysis cameras that are placed on the periphery of the room.  Using OrthoTrak software (MAC), VACMARL researchers can rapidly process the data and generate graphs for further analysis.  KinTrak software (MAC) is used for creating more advanced biomechanical models of walking and for conducting analyses of upper-extremity movements. 

 

Subject with markers attached		Wireframe model of recorded marker positions

VACMARL has six AMTI force platforms embedded in the walkway for measuring ground reaction forces as subjects walk across them.  A Noraxon Telemyo 2400R 16-channel telemetered EMG system enables muscle activity to be recorded during human movement activities.  VACMARL has a pedobarograph system (Novel Pedar, Munich, Germany) that uses insoles for measuring pressures between the foot (anatomical or prosthetic) and the shoe, or the foot and orthosis, during walking.  A Cosmed K4 gas collection system is used for measuring oxygen consumption during physical activities as an approximation to energy expenditure.  VACMARL has a digital video subsystem consisting of two digital camcorders, a VCR, a monitor, and a video-editing board that is be used for recording split-screen displays of two simultaneous views of research subjects during experiments.