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The Orthoscanner System is much more than simply another foot scanner. It is the worlds first dynamic end-to-end  gait analysis system aimed at the diagnosis and treatment of lower limb and foot complaints. The system is comprised of three parts - a scanner unit, advanced and detailed bio-mechanical reporting, and computer designed functional foot orthotics.

The “Orthoscanner system” has been specifically designed to enable medical disciplines wishing to provide a Lower Limb Biomechanical service to patients to do so, without necessarily having knowledge of the science. It is a clinical tool that allows practitioners to reach an informed decision on biomechanical disturbance and, if required, prescribe state of the art corrective foot devices without the need for casting.

The Scanner Unit

 

The scanner unit is a computer-controlled multi-camera video capture machine designed to accurately provide quantitative biomechanical information of the lower extremity suitable for the prescription of bio-mechanical functional foot orthoses. It is also suitable for several upper body functional and anatomical relationship assessments. This is achieved in two stages, namely

  • Information gathering - the scan taken in the Practitioners premises.
  • Information analysis and conclusion - performed in the Orthomed Laboratory.

The patient to be assessed undertakes a set routine involving various standardised movements. The objective is to move the patient through all the positions likely to be required for assessment in open and closed kinetic positions and also under calibrated stress. The machine also allows for dynamic gait evaluation.  The operator is trained to ensure that the patient is following instructions.A set of high-speed synchronised cameras capture pictures every fiftieth of a second at shutter speeds up to 1 / 1,000th of a second.  The foot can be captured simultaneously from the frontal, rear, medial, lateral and plantar aspect.  The computer attached to the machine controls the image capturing during the different prescribed tests and stores the images in digitised format.


Patient Data Capture

The system comes with an accompanying suite of software that enables the practitioner to accurately, and comprehensively capture the patient information. The software provides for the input ofpic1b.jpg

  • Patients personal details
  • Pain Charts
  • History of presenting complaints
  • Sports and Leisure activities
  • Neurological and allergy information

Softwar is also supplied that enables the practitioner to send the resulting scan data to the laboratory electronically via a high-speed internet connection. This saves both time and cost to the practitioner and makes enhances the overall turn-around time for the reports and devices.

So What Makes It Different?

Many imaging products are already available in this rapidly expanding field of medicine. Generally they are used to provide a computerised 3D image for the production of artificial limbs. Laser stripers can also be used to image the foot but, although they have many advantages, these devices tend to be relatively slow, non- dynamic and require the foot and knee to be maintained in a specific predetermined  position during the imaging process. Likewise, force plates are also readily obtainable, and while many of these systems are of great academic potential, they require the user to very knowledgeable in the science. Unfortunately, this is not always the case!  To summarise -
  • Eliminates the need for biomechanical knowledge
  • Provides accurate linear and angular information dynamically
  • Provides exact and reproducible data
  • Provides and stores biomechanical and medical patient histories.
  • Eliminates the need for casting.
  • Eliminates fabrication error
  • Eliminates operator error
  • Provides aftercare and statistical information.
  • Provides an understandable reporting service to practitioners
  • Provides state of the art foot orthoses
  • Eliminates unwanted retrograde compensatory forces during gait.