Lead Inventors:
Richard S. Mann, Ph.D.;
Szabolcs Marka, Ph.D.
Analysis of small animal locomotion using reflective light method:
Total Internal Reflection describes a condition present in certain materials when light enters one material from another material with a higher refractive index, at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. Frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) occurs when a third medium with a higher refractive index than the second medium is placed within less than several wavelengths distance from the interface between the first medium and the second medium. Small bursts of light transmit across the boundary. High-resolution multi-touch screens, optical mice, gait analysis instruments, and fingerprint monitors have been developed based on FTIR. However, quantitative analysis of small animal’s locomotion remains a challenge.
FTIR to monitor how animals and robots use their appendages for locomotion:
The technology employs FTIR to monitor how animals and robots use their appendages for locomotion. By using light as readout, it provides extremely high sensitivity. The invention has been successfully applied to study walking behaviors of flies and robots. It is readily adaptable to arthropods, mammals, humans, and robots. Other potential applications include automatic insect counting, dust or other particle counting/detection, impact detector, etc.
Applications:
• Analyze the locomotive mechanisms of animals
• Study symptoms, causes, and cures of walking abnormalities
• Quantitative gait analysis in physical therapies, footwear manufacturing, etc.
• Robot research
• In vivo imaging of fingerprint, skin tissue, etc.
• Platform for interactive gaming, touch screens, optical mice
Advantages:
• Low cost, real-time monitoring
• Extremely high time and spatial resolution, high signal to noise ratio
• Force sensitivity
• Adaptable for various uses
Patent Status: Copyright/Software
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing and Sponsored Research Support
