Patent ID: 6699207
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A01K,A61B

Abstract:
A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system, comprising:a first plate arranged on one side of the diagnostic system, said one side corresponding to one of a left and a right side of an animal and extending in a direction of travel of the animal; a second plate arranged on another side of the diagnostic system, said another side corresponding to another one of a left and a right side of an animal and extending in a direction of travel of the animal, said second plate being disposed adjacent the first plate; a first plurality of load cells, each of the first plurality of load cells configured to detect a force applied to the first plate along at least one axis and output a signal representative of the detected force; a second plurality of load cells, each of the second plurality of load cells configured to detect a force applied to the second plate along at least one axis and output a signal representative of the detected force; and a processor adapted to execute at least one force analysis instruction set, wherein the force analysis instruction set receives the signals output from the first and second plurality of load cells and calculates, in combination with the processor, a magnitude and location of a force applied to both the first plate and the second plate, and wherein a length each of the first plate and the second plate is selected to be greater than a distance traversed by the animal at a standard walking gait of the animal so that each limb of the animal contacts a respective one of the first plate and second plate a plurality of times.