Patent ID: 6010465
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A61B,G06K

Abstract:
An apparatus for characterizing the gait of a subject comprising:(a) a treadmill having a substantially planar tread area and movable support surface capable of moving in the plane of the tread area;(b) two forceplates, each forceplate producing an output signal and being associated with a portion of the tread area, and mounted in a fixed position beneath the movable support surface laterally oriented with respect to the direction of movement, in such a way as to permit motion of the support surface across such forceplate and to permit such forceplate to receive substantially all of the vertical force exerted by the subject's foot on the portion of the tread area, wherein each of the forceplates includes a flat, rigid surface that couple at least three force transducers, and wherein each of the forceplates measures the position and magnitude of the center of force exerted on that forceplate; and(c) computational means for accepting the output signals and providing quantities related to the forces exerted by each foot on the movable support surface.