Biomedical subjects

A B Carman

Publications and source records attributed to A B Carman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Determining rigid body transformation parameters from ill-conditioned spatial marker co-ordinates.

The three-dimensional location of a body-fixed axis system is described by position and orientation parameters that can be calculated knowing local and global coordinates of three or more body-fixed markers. However, marker distribution can become ill-conditioned when marker placement is symmetrical with respect to the mean of the markers. As symmetry and ill-conditioning increases, random errors in marker locations can affect the stability of orientation parameters as a result of the mathematical approach adopted. The present study investigates the methods of Veldpaus et al. [1988; Journal of Biomechanics 21, 45], Challis [1995; Biomechanics 28, 733] and Andriacchi et al. [1998; Journal of Biomedical Engineering 120, 743] for obtaining segment orientation parameters when segment markers ranged from well-defined to highly ill-conditioned depending on the symmetry of segment markers. A novel fourth approach is also presented that enabled comparisons of the root mean square error of reconstructed marker coordinates to verify that an optimal solution was obtained. No single method produced optimal results for all axis orientation parameters when reconstructing movement trials. The best performed was the method of Veldpaus et al. [1988; Journal of Biomechanics 21, 45] based on consistent results and ease of implementation. The fourth approach presented provided a reliable method in all but the highly ill-conditioned markers, however implementation was computationally difficult. The method of Challis [1995; Biomechanics 28, 733] was only suited to well-conditioned marker sets which avoided markers lying in a single plane with symmetries in marker distribution relative to the mean. The method of Andriacchi et al. [1998; Journal of Biomedical Engineering 120, 743] produced, at best, orientation parameters that approximated the results obtained by least squares methods.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Dynamic coordinate data for describing muscle-tendon paths: a mathematical approach.

When modelling the musculoskeletal system over a range of joint angles the use of fixed points to describe muscle-tendon paths has inherent limitations. These result in fewer deflection points and the use of effective insertions to accommodate both relative marker movement and avoid muscle paths contacting bony structures. Model performance is dependent on the joint angle relative to the anatomical position where the muscle-tendon paths were defined. The present study proposes a scheme for the implementation of dynamic coordinates for describing muscle-tendon paths. For each muscle-tendon element a plane is defined in which the muscle-tendon complex acts when crossing a given joint. The muscle-tendon plane is dependent on 3D segment orientations and describes one degree of freedom, while the remaining two degrees of freedom are described by polar coordinates and locate the dynamic point in the muscle-tendon plane. The dynamic approach is implemented on four muscles of the lower limb in modelled and simulated joint movements and offers a significant improvement on previous approaches based on fixed deflection points. The scheme accommodates compound 3D rotations about joint axes, is not computationally difficult or require large data sets, and does not impose limitations on the number of points that may be defined along a muscle-tendon path.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1997

Conjugate imagery in the automated reproduction of three dimensional coordinates from two dimensional coordinate data.

The three-dimensional video analysis of human motion commonly utilises automated image processing and digitisation processes to produce real-time unidentified two-dimensional coordinate data of segmental markers. In what can be a time-consuming process the two-dimensional data are then identified and tracked to produce three-dimensional coordinates. This paper presents an approach to the automated reproduction of three-dimensional coordinates from two-dimensional coordinates data. Conjugate imaging techniques were utilised in the development of four criterion measures for determining the validity of conjugate (corresponding) image points. An algorithm based on the criterion measures was then developed for the automated reproduction of three dimensional coordinates from camera image coordinate data. The algorithm was tested with a 55 point marker system viewed in four video cameras (digitisation error approx. 0.2%, lab point separation > or = 6 cm). The success of the algorithm was dependent on the closeness of markers, the accuracy of the photogrammetric system, and the number of markers visible in two camera images. The present research has developed techniques based on conjugate imagery for the automated reproduction of three-dimensional coordinates from two-dimensional data, and provided a bases for further development of automated three-dimensional tracking.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1981

Effects of fetal treatment with methylazoxymethanol acetate at various gestational dates on the neurochemistry of the adult neocortex of the rat.

The effects of gestational date (13, 14, 15, and 17 days) or administration of methylazoxymethanol acetate (20 mg/kg) on the cortical synaptic chemistry and morphology of the rat has been examined in adult offspring. Treatment at 13 days of gestation (DG) resulted in cortical hypoplasia that affected primarily the deep layers whereas treatment at 14 and 15 days gestation caused a severe hypoplasia of cortical neurons above layer V and a 66 to 77% reduction in cortical mass. The 17-DG treatment caused only a 20% reduction in cortical weight with effects apparent only in the superficial layers. At no treatment date did the specific activity of glutamate decarboxylase differ significantly from control. In contrast, presynaptic markers for noradrenergic (tyrosine hydroxylase and norepinephrine) and for serotonergic (serotonin) terminals were increased in concentration in direct proportion to the degree of cortical hypoplasia. The specific activity of choline acetyltransferase was significantly increased at all treatment dates but total activity per cortical slab was significantly reduced on treatment days 13-15.

Age Factors↗