AU2005203075A1 - A method and apparatus for detecting lameness in animals - Google Patents

Description

14/07 '05 THU 16:43 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A method and apparatus for detecting lameness in animals The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:i o005 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:43 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

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A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LAMENESS IN ANIMALS oRELATED APPICAIONS ci This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.

60/207,823, filed May 30, 2000, incorporated herein by retbreno.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to it new method and apparatus for detecting lameness in animals and promoting animal well-being. The preferred embodiment of ths invention is for detecting lameness in four legged animals, such as.but not limited to horses, dairy cows, non-dairy cows, pigs, and sheep.

Dairy production is an important industry in the U.S. and a major branch of agriculture in many countries around the world. Cow lameness caused by hoof and leg ailments is a costly problem for the dairy farmer. Lamleness necessitates medical tmatrent, reduces milk production, results in decreased body condition, impairs reproduction performance, and adversely impacts the social status of animals.

Economically, lameness is reported to be the third most costly problem for dairy herds following mastitis and sub-fertility. The average cost of lameness is reported to be 412 dollars per incident and the annual incidence rate in the U.S. is fifteen percent. Thus, the annual economic losses due to lameness is over 570 million dollars for the over nine million U.S. cows. These losses significantly impair dairy farms and harm the entire bovine industry.

In addition to the economic impact, lameness is also recognized as an important animal welfare issue. The 1993-94 Annual Report of the Animal Welfare Foundation of I006 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:43 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

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the British Veterxinary Association states that"... if it were possible to substantially reduce Jthe incidence of lameness, this single initiative, more than any other would benefit more animals than any other (initiative) Thus, researchers have focused on developing a means of detecting hoof and leg ailments at their early onset Lameness in dairy herds has been reported to be a critical economic factor and a 0 en vital animal-welfare issue for the dairy industry around the world. Various lameness Sevaluation schemes that assess the severity of the ailment, using non-clinical personal, o have been suggested. These schemes are based on visual observations of individual cattle., o In one scheme, lameness scoring is based on the shape of the cow's back both as the animal stands and as the animal walks. However, although this scheme lends itselfto field use, its results are highly subjective and are non-quantitative in nature.

There are reports of management programs to control lameness and studies of the housing factors that influence the locomotion of dairy cows. Some of the etiological factors contributing to lameness are nutrition, bacterial and fungal infections, bacterial endotoxin, environmental conditions, housing, flooring, feeding management,.and cow behaviors. The fact that many different factors lead to lameness makes it almost impossible to eliminate hoof and leg ailments and imposes difficulties for diagnostic procedures. Early detection of hoof and leg ailments is not a yet reality and most farmers record an incidence of lameness only at the stage when the cow is crippled. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and an apparatus able to provide early detection of hoof and leg problems, which will enable prompt veterinarian medical intervention to reduce economic losses, lessen the pain that the animal endures, and expedite the animal's recovery process. Furthermore, an early detection system will facilitate scientific testing of management programs designed to reduce the rate of incidence of lameness in dairy herds and will promote animal well-being.

A research effort that analyzes the gait of horses and detects lame limbs is reported in Schamhardt, H.C. and Merkens, "Objective determination of ground contact of -2- [oo007 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:44 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

Zequine limbs at the walk and trot: comparison between ground reaction forces, accelerometer data and kineratics,* Equine Vet. JSuppl No. 17, pp. 75-79, 1994. In this study, the animal is led over a single force plate and a Horse index is calculated.

However, this method and apparatus only detected the force of one of the animal's limbs.

To obtain forces from each of the animals limbs, four-separate tests would have to be performed. Therefore, even though a set of forces could be obtained for each limb, such 0data was merely a compilation of four or more separate tests wherein the speed of the ci animal, as well as other variables, varied in each run. To detect lameness, the H value is 0compared with a previously calculated sound horse model. This type of system and index are not available for detecting lameness in dairy cows and they are not as sensitive and versatile as the system described herein. In particular, the H index relies on leading a horse multiple times across a measuring device under the assumption that the speed of the horse remains constant during all measurements, SUMMARY OF INVENTIQN This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting lameness in animals and for promoting animal well-being, wherein one or more force places are configured to detect forces generated by an anixal and these forces are utilized to determine the soundness of an animal.

Additional advantages and other features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In one aspect, the invention comprises a computer-based diagaostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system, comprising a first plate and a second plate disposed adjacent the first plate. A first plurality of load cells is also provided, wherein each of the first plurality of -3oo8 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:44 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 009

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O ci Z load cells is configured to detect a force applied to the first plate along at least one axis and output at least one signal representative of the detected force. Similarly, a second plurality of load cells is provided, wherein each of the second plurality of load cells is configured to detect a force applied to the second plate along at least one axis and output at least one signal representative of the detected force. A processor adapted to execute at least one 0 force analysis instruction set is provided to, in combination with the force analysis o instruction set, receive signals output from the fist and second plurality of load cells and Scalculate a magnitude and location of a force applied to each of the first plate and the O second plate. In another aspect of this diagnostic system, 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 at least once. In other words, this aspect of the invention permits all measurements to be made during a single pass of the animal through the system thereby ensuring that all measurements are made at a single transversal speed.

Other aspects of the invention include incorporation of speed sensors to obtain the average or instantaneous speed(s) of an animal through the system.

In another preferred aspect, the invention comprises a computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal, comprising the steps of guiding an animal to move across an instrumented force-sensing floor comprising a left floor plate, a right floor plate, a plurality of left floor plate load cells configured to measure a force applied to the left floor plate and output a force proportioned signal, and a plurality ofright floor plate load cells configured to measure a force applied to the right floor plate and output a force proportioned signal; constraining at least one of the animal's lateral body movement and leg movement so that the animal's left limbs contact the left floor plate and the animal's ight limbs contact the right floor plate; calculating forces applied to the left floor plate and to the right floor plate by summing the signals output by the left floor plate load cells and right floor plate load cells, respectively; and comparing -4- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:44 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. S010 0 0 Sthe calculated forces to a range of forces indicative of at least one of a sound animal condition, an indterminate animal condition, or a lame animal condition.

Still another aspect of the invention includes a computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal to detensine a physical condition of the 0 animal, the instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to carry out 0 the steps of calculating ground reaction forces produced by the animal by summing the Sforce proportioned signals output by load cells separately measuring loads of each of a left Sfloor plate and a right floor plate and comparing the calculated forces to a range of forces indicative of at least one of a sound animal condition, an indeterminate animal condition, or a lame animal condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure l(a) is a schematic representation of Reaction Force Detection (RFD) system of the present invention showing a partial side view of the RFD system including a step up, force-detecting floor plates, and ramp down.

Figure i(b) is an isometric view of a force plate used in the present invention and an applied load.

Figure I(c) is a top down view of the RFD system including a step up, forcedetecting floor plates, and ramp down ofthe present invention.

Figures 2(i)-2(iv) are graphs depicting the load cell reactions of the left and right plates plotted as a function of time and the animal's walkthrough speed as measured by a photo cell array (iii), and the animal's body weight calculated by summing the load cell reactions (iv).

Figures 3(i)-3(iv) are charts showing the accuracy of body weight measurements, wherein Figures 3(i) and 3(ii) illustrate weight readings of the left and right plate when a weight of 203.8 Kg is placed at five points along the line X-18.4 cm and the percentage COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:45 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

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0 errors of these measurements for the left and right plates in Figures 3(ii) and 3(iv), respectively.

Figures 4C()-4(vi) are graphs illustrating a typical time history of X (Figures 4(i) and 4(ii)) and Y (Figures 4(iii) and 4(iv)) coordinates of the cows limb positions when passing through the RFD unit Corresponding ground reaction forces are depicted in SFigures 4(v) and 4(vi).

SFigures 5(i)-5(iv) are graphs showing the accuracy of the X and Y coordinates of Sthe limb positions.

Figures 6(i)-6(iv) are graphs showing the time history of the Y coordinate of a sound cow's limb positions on the left and right plates (Figures 6(i) and 6(ii), respectively) and the corresponding normalized ground reaction forces (GRF)(Figures 6(ili) and 6(iv),.

respectively) obtained by dividing the GRF by the animal's body weight.

Figures 7(i)-7(iv) are graphs showing the time history of the Y coordinate of a lame cow's limb positions on the left and right plates (Figures 7(i) and 7(ii), respectively) and the corresponding normalized ground reaction forces (Figures 70ii) and 7(iv), respectively).

Figures are graphs showing the Y-positions of the limbs on the left plate and right plate as well as the distributions of an equivalent GRF for two-limb conditions (c and d) and distributions of equivalent GRF to individual limbs (e and f).

Figures are bar charts showing normalized peak ground reaction force (PORF) for sound cows and for lame cows (Figures 9(a) and respectively) and Symmetry Factors of sound cows and lame cows Figure 10 depicts a computer-based system upon which the invention may be implemented.

Figure 11 illustrates limb movement variables of individual limbs of two sound cows calculated in accord with the apparatus and method of the invention.

-6- 01oi COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:45 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

Z012 0 0* ZFigure 12 illustrates limb movement variables of individial limbs of two lame cows calculated in accord with the apparatus and method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION IC) The Reacdon Force Device (RD) system 100 meamures, among many other o variables, the weight and forces related to walking gait of animals. The RFD system 100 cn o has a walk-through layout configured to guide the animals through the RFD one at a time.

As the animal passes through the RFD system, stepping on instrumented plates, the o animal's limb reaction forces, weight, bilateral symmetry of limb reaction forces, and other factors may be determined, as discussed below. Once one animal has pawed through the RFD system, another animal may then enter the RFD system. Thus, the RFD system is particularly suited to applications wherein a plurality of animals, such as a herd of cattle, am sequentially entmr the system to determine the presence of lameness in any particular individual in the group.

To facilitate sequential movement of a plurality of animals, impediments to animal movem=t may be provided. In a preferred aspect of the invention, impediments include an iWtial step-up 110, side railings 115 (shown only on one oftwo sides in Figure or side walls that constrain the animal's lateral movement to thereby force the animal to walk over the plate, and a divider 125 the prompts the animal to place its left leg on a left plate 130 and right foot on a right plate 120 or prevents the animal from placing its left log on a left plate 130 and right foot on a tight plate 120. In a preferred aspect, the step-up 1 dimensions are 127 cm x 122 cmx 18 cm (width, length and height), although these dimensions may be freely varied to accomplish the intended result. The step-up 110 is configured to compel the animals to space themselves and walk through the system one at a time.

Following the step-up I 10, animals moving through the RFD system next encounter a floor comprising parallel left and right portions or plates 130, 120 separated by a divider or partition 125 projecting upwardly from a position between the left and right .7.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:45 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO.

<ci Z plates, as shown in Figures I through I In a preferrtd aspect the left and right floor plates 130, 120 are each made of three layers comprising a 3/16" steel floor grating covered with 1/8" sheet steel and a top surface comprising an anti-slip, corrosion-resistant flooring. The gratings may be, for example, SOW gratings manufactured by McNichols Coiporation of Tampa, Florida and the anti-slip flooring may be 1/8" Chemplate made by en Chemgrate Corporation ofWoodinville, WA.

0 In a preferred aspect, such as for a bovine application, each plate 130, 120 is 63 cm Sin width and 198 cm in length, as shown in the central portion of Figure 1 As Sillustrated in Figure divider 125 is approximately 1 cm in width, yielding the total width of 127 cm. In an application of the RTD system to horses, for example, it is generally desirable to have a force plate length of between about 300 and 500 cm, although longer force plate lengths could certainly be utilized. It has been determined, however, that if the plate is too small, such as 36 cm x 52 cm, data collection of the ground reaction forces (ORFs) for bovines and animals of like gait becomes increasingly difficult, necessitating multiple passes through the system to obtain GRFs for all limbs. Therefore, although the size and number of the plates may be varied in accord with the invention, such variation must permit measurement of the ORFs for all four of the animals limbs in a single pass of the animal through the RFD. This may be accomplished, for example, by sampling the walking gait or other gait such as a trot or rnm, of a sample population of the animals and determining the distance traversed by the animals at that gait to a desired statistical significance. In one aspect of the invention, it is preferred to use a length inclusive of at least 3o of the distance traversed by the sample population at the desired gait In another aspect of the invention, the above length is multiplied by a factor such as two, three, or more to obtain multiples of individual limb contact data with the first and second plates 130,120. Additionally, more than two plates 130,120 may be used in accord with the invention. For example, another set of plates, a second left plate and a second right plate, could be provided after the first left plate 130 and first right plate 120, -8o013 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:46 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 014 0 0 ci SAlternatively, prior to or subsequent to the initial plates 130, 120, a fore force plate and a Shind force plate could be provided to detect differences in an animal's stance and force distribution between fore limbs and rear limbs.

Partition or divider 125 projects upwardly from an inner edge of one of the left and t (right plates 130, 120 or a position between the left and right plates. This divider 125, in a 0 Spreferred aspect of the invention, is a single continuous divider having a width of about 1 0 cm and a height of between about 0.5 to 1.5 cm. The width and the height may vary in accord with a size of the animal, but is preferred not to exceed a height of about 3-cm. The o inventors have determined that barrier 125 heights above 3 cm start to affect the animal's ci normal cadence, thus potentially reducing the amount of or vatue of the data obtained.

However, in accord with the invention, the height of barrier 125 may exceed 3 cm if the specific data desired to be obtained is not related to or dependent on the animal's cadence and limb cross-over is itself a concern. In a preferred embodiment of the divider 125 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a plastic or resilient rubber, and may preferably be rounded at the edges. A partition or divider 125 is not required, however, as limb-cross over is uncommon and may be corrected by an additional run of the animal through the RFD or by intervention by the RFD user in the data analysis to back out the values of the left limb and right limb, respectively, As shown by fthe embodiment of Figur lI(c), each plate 130, 120 is supported by an array of four load cells 150 distributed adjacent the four comers of the respective plate 130,120. However, this is merely apreferred aspect of the invention. The invention may comprise more or less load cells 150 distributed in various locations and arangements above, below, or adjacent the plates 130,120 in accord with the physical configuration and type number of axes) of load cell selected and the desired robustness of data.

These load cells 150 measure the ground reaction forces (GRFs) produced as the animal steps on each plate. The RFD system 100 measures these ground reaction forces and calculates the position of the weight placed on the respective floor plate 130, 120. As -9- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:46 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z015 ci

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o Z illustrated in Figure each of the plates 130, 120 comprises a separate coordinate system defined by (XL, YL) and YR), wherein (XR, YL.) (0 cm, 0 cm) is arbitrarily located at the innermost comer of each of the plates 130, 120. In a preferred orientation of the working axes, X is positive in a direction toward the outside of the plates, Y is positive in a direction of the rear or backside of the plates, and Z is positive in an upward direction.

0 (n The position of a force applied to the plates 130, 120 is thus defined through the left and 0 right coordinate systems (XL, YL and XR, YR) shown Figures I(a) and When a single limb hoof or foot) is on a plate 130, 120, the RFD system 100 calculates the position Sof that limb. When more than one limb is in contact with a floor plate 130, 120, the RFD system 100 calculates the position of an equivalent or resultant force, as discussed below.

A suitable load cell for this arrangement is Model RL35083 produced by Rice Lake Weighing Systems of Rice Lake, Wisconsim. If a greater or lesser number of load cells 150 is desired, correspondingly and respectively decreasing or increasing the Ground Reaction Force (OR.F) experienced by any individual load cell 150, alternative load cells may be selected to appropriately maintain the ORFs within the calibrated working ranges of each load cell. For applications involving cows, the inventors have determined that the GRFs are substantially vertical and GRF variations due to lameness, or the onset thereof, are determinable based on diffeRaxes in these vertical ORF.s, Therefore, bovine applications may employ a plurality of single-axis load cells measuring force in only the vertical direction, thus achieving a significant cost reduction over comparable multi-axis system.

However, the present invention also includes applications utilizing multi-axis load cells such as 2-axis, 3-axis, and n-axis load cells, where n is any integer, in any number and any combination. For example, a lesser number of multi-axis load cells 15 0 could be used in lieu of the four single-axis load cells of the embodiment described above for a bovine application. Alternatively, an equal number or greater number of such multi-axis load cells could be used, just as the number of single-axis load cells could be increased, as COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:46 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z]016 ci desired. Some embodiments of the present invention could, for example, advantageously utilize one or more load cells 150 per left or right plate 130, 120, wherein the load cell 150 is able to measure three orthogonal force components along the X, Y, and Z axes, as well" as the moments about the axes, producing up to six outputs. These multi-axis load oells are particularly useful for measuring GRF components of hoof or foot movement in a plurality of axis, but may be also used to reduce the number of load cells required for an CRFD, such as an RFD configurad for a bovine application, by replacing the 4 single-axis Oload cells with two 3-axis load cells for each of the left and right plates 130, 120. Thus, in 0 accord with the invention, the load cell 150 specifications and arrangements may be freely varied and optimized to identify ailments endemic to a particular animal type based on the physical manifestation of such ailnt on the GRFa produced by the animal's hoof or foot against a load sensitive surface 130, 120.

In the above described aspect of the invention, the load cells 150 and left and right plates 130, 120 are mounted on a single base, As shown in Figure 9, discussed in more detail below, the load cell 150 outputs are sampled by an A/D board 950, such as an Iotech DaqBook model 200, receiving signals from an external eight channel strain gage module 970, such as an lotech DBK43A. These eight channels are read sequentially through a single channel amplifier 960 and the sampled data is stored in ompu r memory 906, 910 in a convenient computer readable medium, such as an ASCII file. The sampling rate of the AID board is preferably set to 100 Hz, but may be increased in accord with frequency of the sampled events to provide an appropriate sampling rate, such as a sampling rate greater than the Nyquist rate, as known to those skilled in the art.

Following passage of the animal over the step-up 110 and over the left and right plates 730, 120, a ramp down 140 is disposed inunediately after the left and right plates to permit egress of the animal from the RFD system 100. A suitable ramp down possesses a 'width of 127 cm and a length of 122 cm, although these dimensions may vary significantly in accord with space constraints, if any. Goncrally, the downgrade is maintained between -11- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:47 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 017 0 0 i 1= about 5 to 15' to avoid injury to the animals. The ramp 140 preferably comprises the sa layered structure as the left and right floor plates 130, 120. Alternatively, some animals, such as horses do not respond well to such ramps, steps, or height differences. Therefore, another embodiment of the invention advantageously incorporates the left and right flooer rplates 130, 120 into the floor itself so that the upper surface of the floor plates 130, 120 are Ssubstantially flush with the remainder of the floor surface, C A plurality of photocells, and corresponding reflective elements, may be disposed o to measure each animals' speed through the RFD system 100. In one preferred aspect, 0. illustrated in Figure 1 three photocells 160 are sequentially arranged along the left or right plates 130, 120 so as to be triggered by the cow's brisket and rear flank as the cow passes though the line of sight of one of the three sequentially spaced photo-cells. Any number of photocells could be used in accord with the invention, however. Additionally, it is generally preferred that the photocells 160 be spaced along fthe entire length of the plates 130, 120, or may be grouped toward the center or toward one side in accord with the invention. Moreover, other devices commonly used to determine the speed of an object, such as but not limited to those using optics or light signals, such as laser pulse systems detetmining velocity using time-of-flight or phase shift techniques, or acoustically-based speed sensing devices may also be used.

The RFD system 100 is calibrated by placing a known or calibrated weight at predetermined Y) positions along each of the left and right plates 130, 120 and recording the voltage produced by the individual load cells 150. In a preferred calibration technique, a calibrated load of 203.8 Kg is placed at Y) (18.74 cm, 99cm).

Initial animal tests showed that a sound cow places her limbs at X values that range between 15 to 20 cm when passing through the RFD system 100. Accordingly, a longitudinal center line at X 18.74 cm was selected as a preferred calibration point, however, any point between 15 cm and 20 cm would suffice for this application.

Correspondingly, the weight of the calibration weight and the location of the center line -12- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:47 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. zois 0 0 i

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may be adjusted in accord with the size and weight of the group of animals to be observed.

J The system calibration points, shown as CL and CR in Figure are selected along the r==1 longitudinal center lines at XLR 18.74 cm. To calibrate the system, it is preferred that I. three calibrated weights be placed on each of the left and right plates 130, 120 at the Sdesignated calibration points to provide a known force in the negative Z direction'and 0 en readings of each of the load cells 150 ar measured and stored. In one aspect, the weights ci maybe 1132 kg, 158.6 kg, and 203.8 kg.

The reaction forces at cach of the eight load cells 150 is evaluated, in one preferred aspect of the invention, via one or more finite element models (FEM), known to those skilled in the art, when the unit loads are applied at the left and right calibration points CL and CR. Alternative calculation methods known to those skilled in the art may also be used to detemine the reaction forces. Lines that pass through the zero load conditions and best fit, using conventional best fit techniques, to the three applied known loads establish the loading factors of the eight individual load cells 150. In other words, the calibration factors of the load cells 150 are calculated as a ratio of the computed applied loads to the individual load cell 150 readings. These factors, listed in Table 1 below, are stored computer 900 for later use by the calibration program. It is preferred that the calibration procedure be performed prior to use of the RFD; however, trending analyses may 9 advantageously be performed to determine the degree ofmiscalibration over time for a particular application and environment to determine the efficacy of such per-use calibrations, Table 1. Load distribution of the right and left floor plates as calculated by the finite element model and corresponding calibration factors of the system eight load cells.

-13- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:47 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z019 Load Cell Load Distribution Calibration Factors ._______Obtained by FEM Kg/Volt LCI 0.08 0.0257 LC2 0.06 0.0111 LC3 0.44 0.0324 LC4 0.42 0.0273 0.44 0.0264 LC6 0.43 0.0260 LC7 0.07 0.0229 LC8 0.06 0.0286 To characterize the accuracy of the measurements of the ground reaction forces and total body weight measurements, a weight of 203.8 kg is placed at five points along the lines XLR 18.74 cm. Each measured load and its location is measured and calculated, respectively, in a manner discussed below. Errors of the load measurements on the right and left plates have been found to be less than 1.3% and respectively, as shown in Figure 3(iv) and 3(iii), respectively. The resulting error locations along the X and Y axes in the right plate 120 were found to be less than 1.3 and 3.1 cm, respectively, and the corresponding errors inthe left plate 130 are less than 1.5 and 2.4 cm, respectively.

Inthe RFD system 100, load cell 150 reactions to the cow's passage are recorded as a function of time (see Figures 2(i) and 2(ii)) while the aforementioned array of photocells 160 measures the walkthrough speed (Figure 2(iii)). Summation of load cell 150 reactions provides an accurate measurement of the cow's body weight As shown in Figure 2(iv), for example, the body weight of cow 18 is determined to be 672.7 Kg.

Turning to the calculations executed by the computer 900 in the analysis of the animal's walking gait and weight, the load cell 150 reactions are used to calculate the X and Y coordinates of the cow's limb positions and the associated left and right Ground Reaction Forces (GRF), previously mentioned. In these calculations, it is assumed that the right and left legs of the cow make contact with the corresponding right and left plates 130, 120 without crossover, and that a single limb is in contact with each of the right and 14- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:48 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. E020 0 0 left plates. However, when two legs are detected on a plate 130, 120, the position of an equivalent reaction force is calculated. This equivalent force is analogous to the center of gravity of the left and right sides of the animal. The Reaction Force of each of the four load cells 150 associated with the left plate 130, designated as or the Reaction Force of each of the four load cells 150 associated with the right plate 120, designated as 0 "RRu", are added together to calculated the GRP for that side. These individual reaction 0, forces and the GRF for each side are used to calculate the limb contact positions with Srespect to the X and Y-axes.

SThe X and Y limb contact positions are calculated by summing the moments in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. Specifically, the GRPR and Xa and YR contact limb positions of the right plate are calculated as: 4 GRF XRLCI (1) i-I X (2)

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whcre RLi is the reaction fore read by the i-th load cell, and XLi and YL are the X and Y coordinates of the load cells positions, as depicted in Figure 3. The corresponding GRF and limb positions of the left plate are calculated in a similar way: GRFL =ZRn (4) 1-3 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 05 THU 16:48 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. o@021 gXy -RL] XL

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t RLO The time history of the X and Y limb positions and the left and right GRF values for a sound cow that has passed through the device are depicted in Figure 3. The X and Y limb positions and the GRF values, shown in Figure 3, are used to calculate various limb movement variables, as discussed in greater detail below. These limb movement variables are analyzed to objectively detennine whether an animal, such as a cow, has hoot foot, or leg ailments. Analysis of these limb movement variables are the key to identifying lame animals and detecting which limb of an animal is afflicted with an ailment well before the ailment is manifested in a manner detectable by purely visual observation of the animal's movement. The limb movement variables are calculated by analyzing the X, Y and GRF values and the walking speed of each animal passing through the RFD system 100.

Various limb movement characteristics are calculated from the information depicted in Figure Table 2 below lists the values of non-limiting limb movement variables: (1) (ii) (iii) (iv) divided by the (v) (vi) (vii) unit lenguh normalized peak ground reaction force PROP, impulse which is the integral of the normalized GRF with respect to time, stance time, the time during which a limb is in contact with the floor plate, normalized average ground reaction force AGF which is the impulse stance teims, step size of individual limbs, speed of animal movement when a particular limb contacts the floor, the product of the impulse and cow speed which results in a characteristic COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:48 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z022 0 0 ci Z(viii) the "m-energy", defined hereia as the integral of the magnitude of the GRFs with respect to the frequency in the frequency response domain; (iX) the "p-energy", defined herein as the integral, over the frequency domain, of the product of the magnitude of the GRFs and frequeny; and understep of the animal, for a left side or right side of the animal, such as a 0 horse, defined as the Y position of the fore limb placement (YpOj minus the Y position of the hind limb placement (Yy-ro), wherein a positive value indicates that that the animal c',I puts the front limb ahead of heoar limb as it moves through the RFD and whereh a negative value indicates that the animal puts the rear limb ahead-of the front limb as it ci moves through the RFD.

Examples of the usefliness of these limb movement variables are illustrate in Figures 6 and 7. A ful set of leg positions, X and Y values, and ground reaction forces, GRF values are plotted in Figure 6 for a healthy cow and in Figure 7 for a lame cow. The identification of the.time, position, and intensity of individual front and rear limb contact with the left and right plates 130, 120 is premised, in part, on the fact that the left and right forelimbs strike the plate first and the hind limbs follow behind, Using this premise, the sequence by which the animal's limbs contacted the plates 130, 120 may be determined.

Photocell 160 data is used to confirm the position of the cow and to verify that only one cow is on the force plates 130, 120. Limb movement variables, provided below, may be calculated when a single leg is in contact with the left or right plate or even when two limbs are in contact with a single plate. The typical RFD output consists of both single and two limb positions, The stane time may be computer for a fore limb, a rear limb, or for both a fore and rear limb, or for all limbs, The total time that a limb is in contact with the left or right plate 130, 120 may be calculated by taking a difference between a first time at which an applied force from the selected limb first exceeds a predetemnined threshold force as the -17- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14

-J

14/07 '05 THU 16:48 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 023 in.

O

Slimb is applied to the plate and a second time at which the applied force from the limb falls below the predetermined threshold force. This defines a discrete force application event for the selected limb. In one aspect, the predetermined threshold is simply a force that is used as a trigger to start and stop the computation of the stance time. The preselected 7- force is generally between 0.00 to about 5.0 lbf, but could be 10.0 lbf, 20.0 lbf, or higher,

O

C so long as a consistent value is used.

0 When only one limb is in contact with the plate 130,120, the position of that leg is o calculated by the computer 900 utilizing equations through above, and output to an Sappropriate output device, such as display 912 or attached printer, or to a remote device through communication interface 918. For example, Figure 6 shows a sound cow that has placed her right forelimb first at Y 53 cm (Figure and then her left forelimb at Y 96 cm (Figure Next, the right hind limb is placed at Y 8 cm (Figure 6(iiXc)) and the right forelimb was moved to Y 155 cm (Figure Concurrent placement of both the right fore and hind limbs on the right plate 120 is represented in Figures 6(i) and 6(iv) as Similarly, the left hind and fore limbs are then placed at Y 46 cm and Y 193 cm, respectively, as shown in Figures 6(i) and 6(iii).

Concurrent placement of both the left fore and hind limbs on the left plate 130 is represented as At the end of the cow's walk-through, the right and left hind limbs were placed at Y 107 cm (Figure and Y 163 cm (Figure respectively.

Normalized GRF values of the sound cow's left and right limbs are depicted in Figures 6(iii) and 6(iv), which illustrate that the peak GRF values of the right and left fore limbs are 0.55 (see Figure and 0.54 (see Figure 6(iii)b)), respectively, whereas the peaks of the right and left hind limbs are 0,39 (see Figure and 0.41 (see Figure 6(iii)h)), respectively.

The numerical values selected limb movement variables of sound cow 18 are listed in Table 2, below, 18 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:49 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @]024 Table 2. Limb movement variables of sound cow 18.

Cow Limb Movement Individual Limbs Variables Left Front Right Front Left Rear Right Rear [R3 [LR] IRR] Sound Normalized 0.54 0.55 0.41 0.39 18 PORF Stance time 2.30 1.95 1.70 1.65 (sec) Impulse (dec) 0.88 0.71 0.52 0.45 Normalized 0.38 0.37 0.31 0.27

AGRF

Step size (cm) 99 101 115 101 Speed of animal 43 43 43 46 Impulse Speed 38 31 23 21 (cm) Similarly, Figure 7 depicts the Y coordinate and normalized GRF of a cow (lame cow 94) that is known to be lame as a result of sole bruising in her right rear limb. As shown by Figure 7, the lame cow first places her right front limb at Y 46 cm (Figure and left front limb at Y 97 cm (Figure Subsequently the right and left rear limbs are placed at Y 30 cm (Figure and Y 64 cm (Figure respectively. Then, the righ; front limb is placed at Y 114 cm (Figure and the right plate 120 experiences two limb contact, designated as "ce" in Figure 7(ii). Finally, the left and right rear limbs were placed at Y 198 cm (Figure and Y 127 cm (Figure respectively. The varying Y position reading (of 127 to 165 cm) when the right hind limb contacts the floor 120 illustrates a shift in the cow's weight placement toward the toe and off the heel.

Normalized GRF values of the lame cow's left and right limbs are depicted in Figures 7(iii) and 7(iv), which illustrate that the peak GRF values of the right and left fore limbs are 0.47 (see Figure and 0.53 (see Figure respectively, whereas the peaks of the right and left hind limbs are 0.12 (see Figure and 0.50 (see Figure -19- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 05 THU 16:49 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z025 respectively. Thus, the lame right hind limb produces a noticeably low peak GRF value, The numerical values selected limb movement variables of lame cow 94 are listed in Table 3, below.

Table 3. Limb movement variables of lame cow 94.

Limb Movement Individual Limbs Cow Variables Left Front Right Front Loft Rear Right Riar W] [RF] [LR] [RR} Lame Normalized 0.53 0.47 0.50 012 94 PURF Stance time 1.20 1.20 1.45 0.75 !Tpulse (sp) 0.39 0.39 0.51 0.05 Normalized 0.33 0.32 0.35 0.07 AGRF Step size (0m) NA 72 121 110 Speed of animal 97 89 56 56 Impulse Speed 38 35 29 3 (cm) Note the low values of normalized PGF, impulse, AGRF, and the product of impulse and speed associated with the right rear limb of cow 94. Similar results were obtained in additional tests conducted on groups of sound cows and lame cows, as evident in the tables of test datapresented in Figurms 11 and 12.

When both the fore and rear limbs contact the plate, the RFD captures the position of the equivalent (resultant) applied load. These two limb positions and the corresponding equivalent loads are shown, for example, in Figures 8 This equivalent toad can be decomposed into the loads of the individual limbs as explained below.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:49 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. [a026

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O

From the time history of the Y position before and after the two limb contact one skilled in the art can recognize the positions of the front (Y2) and rear limbs In Figure for example, the left rear limb is placed at YI 49 cm and the left front limb is placed at Y2 190 cm. At the point in time between approximately 7.5 seconds and seconds, both the front limb and the reac limb are in contact with the left plate 130.

Assuming no slip conditions in accord with the anti-slip component of the above-described ci aspects of the force plate 130, the value of Yl and Y2 do not change and are known.

o Following a determination that two limbs are in contact with a force plate, such as the 0 example shown in Figure the GRF of the individual limbs may be calculated by solving the following two limb model presenting two equations with two unknowns: Fl F2- [RLci] (7) Fl*Y1 F2*Y2 [YLc RLc]1 (8) Where, i 1 to 4 for left and right plate load cells, RLCI load cell outputs, YLCI load cell Y positions, Fl GRF of the rear limb and F2 ORF of the front limb- By solving these two limb model equations, the GRF of the individual limbs may be obtained as shown in Figure 8 and 8 Furthermore, the limb movement variables can be used to evaluate the symmetry characteristics of the animal movement walking, trotting, running, etc.) parameters.

A symmetry factor is expressed as: SF RMV

-LLMV

where RLMv and LLMv correspond to right and left limb movement variables. A zero SF value represents a symmetric condition whereas positive and negative values represent dominance of the right and left sides, respectively. In the extreme case where a limb movement variable approaches a zero value, SF converges to 1.0 when the left limb is lame, and -1.0 when the right limb is lame. Hence, SF is an intensity indicator of 21 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:50 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 027 lameness that utilizes the bilateral symmetry of the animal's body to examine the extent to which a selected left or right limb movement variable differs from the corresponding value of its counter side. Table 4 lists the SF values of the limb movement variables ofthe sound cow of Figure 6 and the lame cow of Fig. 7.

Table 4. The SF values of the limb movement variables of cows 18 and 94.

Limb Movement Cow 18 Sound Cow 94 Lame Variables Symmetry of Symmetry of Symmetry of Symmetry of Front limbs Rear limbs Front limbs Rear limbs Normalized 0.01 -0.03 -0.06 -0.61

PGRF____

Stace time -0.08 -0,02 0.00 -0.32 Impulse -0.11 -0,07 0.00 -0.82 Normalized -0.01 -0.07 -0.02 -0.60 Step size 0.01 -0.07 NA -0.05 Speed of animal 0.00 0.03 -0.04 0.00 Impulse Speed -0.10 -0.05 -0.04 -0.81 Note the low SF values (less than 0,11) of the sound cow 18, and the high values (as high as 0.82) of the lame cow 94. These measurements are indicative of still further diagnostic benefits afforded by the method and apparatus of the present invention by indentification and analysis of precursors to lameness, such as but not limited to various SF indicators, PGRF, Impulse, AGRF, and Impulse* Speed, Present test data does not seem to indicate that step size and speed are significantly affected by early stages of lameness. However, such correlation has not conclusively been ruled out and may be determinable upon a sufficient sample population in accord with the present invention.

The RFD system 100 was further tested on three sound cows and three, lame cows.

Figure 9 depicts the test results as normalized PGRF and symmetry factor bar charts.

Figure 9(i) depicts the normalized PGRF values of sound cows (cows 18, 130, and 136), -22- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:50 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @028 0 0 ci 3 wherein the typical values of 0.5 for the front limbs and 0.4 for the rear. The corresponding PGRF values for the three lame cows (cows 94, 113, and 982), shown in Figure 9(ii), are 0.12 (right rear limb), 0.24 (left rear limb), and 0.25 (right rear limb).

Figure 9(iii) and 9(iv) further depict the symmetry factors of the front and rear limbs. In accord with other test results, the SF values for the sound cows 18, 130, and 136, are better Sthan 0.07, whereas the SF values of cows 94, 113, and 982 are -0.61, 0.33, and -0.30.

o respectively.

I As noted previously, various conventional lameness detection schemes employ Svisual observations of the animal's posture or gait to obtain relatively assign avalue corresponding to the severity of the lameness. In an effort to objectively characterize the status or severity of hoof and leg ailments lameness), the present invention advantageously determines various limb movement characteristics through the RFD system. The RFD system can be used to measure multiple variables representative of limb movements, such as: peak value of ground reaction force (GRF) of individual limbs, integral of GRF with respect to time, stance time, average GRF, step size, (f) integral of the Fourier transformation of the GRF signature with respect to frequency, and the integral with respect to frequency of the Fourier transform of the GRF signature multiplied by the frequency, various symmetry variables, and numerous other combinations, derivatives, and integrals- To allow comparisons among different cows, the variables representative of limb movements may be normalized with respect to body weight and symmetry variables may be used to compare left to right limbs for the same speed of body movement.

Additionally, just as the limb movememn variables can be used to evaluate the symmetry characteristics of the animal walking parameters, for example, the limb movement variables may be advantageously used to actually relate clinical lameness diagnoses of individual limbs to the measured values of limb movement variables, As previously noted, the conventional techniques utilize subjective and non-quantitative -23- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:50 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. [a029 0 0 i Z visual observation, In accord with the inventive method, a statistically sufficient sample j- population of a selected animal, such as a dairy cow or horse, for example, is evaluated using the RFD to obtain limb movement variables for each animal. Subsequent to or preceding the RFD testing on the sample population, a detenninafion is made by a veteinarian or other person trained to diagnose lameness, or other ailment or condition manifesting in the animal's movement.

0 With this knowledge of the actual physical condition of each animal, correlations o may be drawn between individual limb variables or combinations of limb variables such as o but not limited to any data manipulation, such as but not limited to products, sums, differences, dividends, derivatives, integrals, log charts, etc., conventionally used to relate data to definable patterns used to then generate a fimunction to describe an observed phenomena such that a function of one or more variables may be established between the limb movement data, limb movement variables, and/or combinations thereof, and lameness, for example. Moreover, it is within the scope of the invention to perform one or more additional RED tests a "subsequent" test) immediately or soon after completion of a successful first test This subsequent test may be used to validate or confirm the results of the first test, particularly when the first test indicates the onset of a potential problem with the animal.

In this manner, the invention is not limited to simple determinations of "sound" or "lame", but is capable of measuring and defining many levels or degrees of lameness, which facilitates early detection of potential lameness precursors and thereby promotes animal well-being. In accord with the invention, inventors have performed logistic regression and discimiinaut analyses, such as by LOGISTIC T m

STEPDISC

T

and SAS T m computer program subroutines, known to those skilled in the statistical analysis art, to determine a strong correlation between the visual lameness scoring scale and the GRFs determined by the apparatus of the invention. Specifically, the correlation between the visual lameness scoring scale and the GRFs can be captured by the average GRF values -24- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:51 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 12030 0 0 ci Z or in other words, a 95% confidence level, of individual limbs. The model or j formnnulas generatable therefrom, such as but not limited to an estimated lameness index derived as the weighted sum of these probabilities, predict probabilities that a cow is sound, mildly lame, and lame. Further, it is to be appreciated that the models or formulas F" generated from the data obtained by the RF system may include many degrees of lameness, or other observed characteristic, in accord with a statistically significant sample o size. For example, 5 degrees of lameness, or even 10 or more degrees of lameness may be 4 gleaned from sufficient data samples. The inventors have determined, with respect to a O small sample size of 16 mildly lame and sound dairy cows, that the diagnostic results of the visual scoring scale and the new estimated lameness index matched perfectly for lame cows and the visual scores and lameness index of 2 out of 16 mildly lame and sound cases exhibited discrepancies. Thus, above example provides one instance wherein the limb movement data, limb movement variables, and mathematically manipulated combinations or variations thereof can be used to develop objective measures of dairy cow lameness in combination with existing clinical lameness diagnoses of individual limbs. However, it is to be understood that the limb movement data, limb movement variables, and mathematically manipulated combinations or variations thereof can be used to develop many other objective measures of dairy cow lameness or other characteristics of interest in combination with existing clinical lamneness diagnoses of individual limbs and these objective measures could include many levels of severity or interest In one aspect of the invention, therefore, models for an ailment, such as lameness, as varying degrees of severity thereof, may be developed for specific animal-types based on the data obtained by the RFD. Such models could thus determine the lameness score of individual limbs based on the values of a set of important limb movement variables and could account for many environmental variables such as geographic location, climate, living conditions, and even fannrm management styles.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01353306 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 05 THU 16:52 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. a 001 ci

S

ZIn still another aspect of the invention, following development of correlations J- between the raw data and/or derived data, as noted above, obtained from the RFD system, the RFD system can be largely or entirely automized. For example, an RFD system could be placed in a tract that the animals pass through with a frequency commensurate with at Cleast a desired diagnostic frequency and the system may be set up and calibrated in m advance. As previously noted, trending data of the RFD system calibration may be used to determine whether or not a particular application or environment of the RFD system would Vi o permit re-calibrations at a frequency less than the diagnostic test frequency. In such 0 automatic operation, if the computer determines, based on the raw and/or derived data, that a potential malady is present in the animal, the computer could output a signal to identify the animal in the RFD system as a suspect animal. Owing to automatic operation, one aspect of the invention includes a means for identification or labeling of the animal for subsequent follow-up by veterinarian. For example, one or more dye markers, ink jets, or other marking device, may provided at the exit of the RFD to place a temporary mark on an animal as it exits the RFD system. These dye markers, or other marking devices, may place a temporary colored mark on the animal's hide to designate the occrence of an ailment Various colors could also be used as an indicator of severity. Alternatively, an imaging system could be used to image the animal or a part thereof, such as a conventional location of a brand or marking or ear tag and store the information on the computer memory or transmit the information to a remote location.

Still further, the animals may be equipped with electronic memory devices or data tags, such as but not limited to those manufactured by SanDisk Corp. of Sunnyvale, Calif.

Such devices, typically encapsulated, utilize semiconductor memory devices or chips to store information and an antenna to send and receive data in the fonn of radio or highfrequency signals. The RFD system computer, or other device, could read the memory of an animals data tag using, for example, radio signals or high-frequenoy signals. Detailed testing information, as described above, may be output to and stored in such "local" -26- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:52 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 1002 0 0 i Smemory to facilitate trending of limb movement data, or other variables, such as but not ^-limited to weight In such a configuration, the system would perfonn a read operation on the animal's data tag upon entry of the animal into the RFD. The animal's previous test data could bo uploaded into the RIFD computer and, following thfe movement of the animal r through the RED, could be compared to the current test data in various manners such as, but not limited to, those described above. Upon exit of the animal from the RFD, curret test data could overwrite or supplement the previous test data in accord with data tag Smemory requirements. If memory is severely limited, the data tag may be advantageously O used to simply store the results of previous test results. For example, if lameness is being detected and there is a 10-levetl severity scale, the date of a test and the severity on the level scale could be saved in the data tag memory. In a subsequent test, that data could be retrieved to facilitate data analysis and trending in view of the new test results. Presently, the tags may be read from and written to several feet away within less than one second.

Naturally, if the animal receives treatment, the data tag memory could be reset or supplemented with such information.

Turning to the computer hardware executing the aforementioned data acquisition software and calibration program, Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional computer system 900 upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.

Computer system 900 includes a bus 902 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor or processors 904 coupled with bus 902 for processing information. Computer system 900 also includes a main memory 906, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus 902 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 904. Main memory 906 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 904. Computer system 900 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 908 or other static storage device coupled to bus 902 for storing static information and instructions for processor 904. A storage device 910, -27- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 05 THU 16:52 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z003 ci Ssuch as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 902 for storing informtation and instructions.

Computer system 900 may be coupled via bus 902 to a display 912, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying information to a computer user. An input device .914, inluding alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 902 for communicating Sinfonnrmation and commad selections to processor 904, Another type of user input deice 0 is cursor control 916, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 904 and for 0 controlling cursor movement on display 912. This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis x) and a second axis that allows the device to specify positions in a plane.

Computer system 900 is used to process all GRF data obtained by the various load cells by means of the calibration program and data acquisition software and converts the force data, using equations and principles discussed herein, into usable data. The pertinent programs and executable code is contained in main memory 906 and is selectively accessed and executed in response to processor 904, which executes one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 906. Such instructions may be read into main memory 906 from another computer-readable medium, such as storage device 910. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 906. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions and it is to be understood that no specific combination of hardware circuitry and software are required.

The instructions may be provided in any number of forms such as source code, assembly code, object code, machine language, compressed or encrypted versions of the foregoing, and any and all equivalents thereof, "Computer-readable medium" refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 904 for execution and -28- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:53 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 004 0 0 i S"program product" refers to such a computer-readable medium bearing a computerexecutable program. The computer usable medium may be referred to as "bearing" the instructions, which encompass all ways in which instructions are associated with a computer usable medium.

SComputer-readable mediums include, but are not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical 0 or magnetic disks, such as storage device 910. Volatile media include dynamic memory, Ssuch as main memory 906. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and Sfiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 902. Transmission media may comprise acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infiared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH- EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 904 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 900 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector coupled to bus 902 can receive the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on bus 902. Bus 902 carries the data to main memory 906, from which processor 904 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 906 may optionally be stored on storage device 910 either before or after execution by processor 104.

-29 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:53 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. [005 0 0 SComputer system 900 may also include a communication interface 918 coupled to bus 902 to provide a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 920 connected to a local network 922. For example, communication interface 918 may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data comrmunication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 918 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data 0 communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be Simplemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 918 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 920 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 920 may provide a connection through local network 922 to a host computer 924 or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 926. ISP 926 in turn provides data communication services through the worldwide packet data communication network, now commonly referred to as the "Interanet" 928. Local network 922 and Internet 928 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 920 and through communication interface 918, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 900, are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information. Thus the processing required by method of the invention described by way of example herein may be implemented on a local computer utilizing storage device 910 or may be implemented, for example, on a LAN or over the internet.

Computer system 900 can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 920, and communication interface 918. In the Internet example, a server 930 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 928, ISP 926, local network 922 and communication interface 918. The COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:53 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. o006

O

received code may be executed by processor 904 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 910, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer system 900 may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that C the invention is not limited to the disclosed aspects of theinvention, but on the contrary, is C. intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arangements included within the o spirit and scope of the appended claims and may include modifications to such as, but not 0 limited to, modification of the force plate geometry and adjustment of the number and placement of load cells to accommodate the monitored activity.

-31- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14

Claims (48)

1. A computer-based diagnostic system tq detect and analyze ground reaction fores Iproduced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system, comprising: oa first plate; 0 a second plate disposed adjacent the first plate; a first plurality of load cells, each of the first plurality of load cells configured to C' 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 pluality 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, whereby the force analysis instruction set receives the sigals output fom the first and second plurality of load cells and calculates, in combination with the processr, a magnitude and location of a force applied to either ofthe first plate and the second plate.

2. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 1, whereby 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. -32- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:54 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @008 O O 3 3. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces Sproduced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 2, 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 Seach limb of the animal contacts a respective one of the first plate and second plate at least once.

4. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces Ci produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 2, 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 walldng 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. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 2, wherein a length of each of the first plate and the second plate is between about 150 to 500 cm, and wherein a width of each of the first plate and the second plate is between about to 150 cm.

6. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 2, wherein a length of each of the first plate and the second plate is greater than 150 cm. -33 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:54 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. oo1009 O O 3 7. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the; diagnostic system in accord with claim 3, wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed within a floor, so that the surface of the first plate and the second plate are substantially level with a surface of the floor. 0

8. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces 0 produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 3, O further comprising: 0 C"l a step-up disposed at a proximal side of the first plate and the second plate; a ramp down disposed at a distal side of first plate and the second plate.

9. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 8, further comprising: a railing disposed on each side of the step-up, the first plate, the second plate, and the ramp down; a divider disposed between the first plate and the second plate. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 6, further comprising: a speed sensor to determine a speed of the animal passing through the diagnostic system, wherein the speed sensor is at least one of an optically-based and acoustic-based sensor. -34- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:54 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @010 0 0 ci 3 11. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim wherein the speed sensor comprises a photo cell and a corresponding reflective element n 12. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces

13. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces r-- produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 3, wherein said force analysis instruction comprises instructions whicih, when executed by the processor, compute a magnitude of the forco-applied to the first plate by wherein said force analysis instruction set comprises instructioas which, when executed by the processor, compute a magnitude of the force applied to the second plate by produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 13, wherein the f ore analysis instruct comprises a plurality of photo cells disposed along a enxecuted by the first platsor, compute condapplied to at least one of the first plate and secondplate. 13, A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 3, wherein said force analysis instruction comprises instructions which, when execute by suing the proagnssor, t a itudes of forces applied to a respective one of the first plate by summing the signals output by the first plurality of load cells, and wherein said force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by te processor, compute a magnitude of the force applied to the second plate by summing the signals output by the second plurality of load cells.

14. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 13, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a total force applied to at least one of the first plate and second plate by summing the magnitudes of forces applied to a respective one of the first and second plates. COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 I 14/07 '05 THU 16:55 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z011 0 0 A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing Through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 14, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a weight of the mimal passing through the system by summing the magnitudes of forces applied to the first plate and the second plate.

16. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces oproduced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 0wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instnctions which, when executed by the processor, compute a position of the force applied to at least one of the first plate and the second plate.

17. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 16, wherein the fore, aualysis instructionx set comprises instructions for determining a position of the force along at least one of an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis by summing moments and forces along respective axes to solve n equations in n unknowns, where n is an integer.

18. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 17, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which when executed by the processor, compute an understep value for at least one side of the animal by calculating a difference between a position at which a fore limb applies a force to one of the first and second plates and a position at which a hind limb on the same side of the animal applies a force to the same plate.

36- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THIU 16:55 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 012 ci 19. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces -produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 17, wherein position of the force applied to at least one of the first plate and the second plate is computed as a fimtion of time, A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction fhroes 0'Q produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 19, owherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by ci the processor, compute a peak normalized ground reaction force variable for at least one of the fist plate and second plate by dividing the force applied to a respective one of the first plate and second plate by the weight of the animal 21. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a first peak normaHzed ground reaction foreo variable for the animal's fore limbs and a second peak normalized ground reaction force variable for the animal's hind limbs by dividing the force applied to a respective one of the animal's fore limbs and hind limbs by the weight of the animal. 22. A computer-based diagnostic syst m to detect and analyze ground reaction forc:s produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute an impulse variable for each force applied to the first plate or the -37- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THUi 16:55 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z013 0 second plate by integrating the normalized ground reaction force value with respect to the Sduration of application of each force to a respective plate. 23. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 21, o wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by o the processor, compute a first impulse variable for a force applied tthe first plate or the o second plate by the animal's fore limbs and a second impulse variable for a force applied eC the first plate or the second plate by the animal's hind limbs, wherein each ofthe first and second impulse variable is calculated by integrating the normalized ground reaction force value with respect to the duration of application of each force to a respective plate and a second impulse variable for a force applied 24. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 22, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a stance time variable by calculating a total time that a limb is in contact with the first plate or second plate. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 22, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a first stance time variable for a fore limb and a second stance time. variable for a rear limb by calculating a total time that a limb is in contact with the first plate or second plate. -38- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:56 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. [2014 0 0 i 26. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animalpassing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 24, Swherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute the total time that a limb is in contact with the first in plate or second plate by calculating a difference between a first time at which an applied 0 force exceeds a predetermined threshold force and a second time at which an applied fore Sfalls below the predetermined threshold.force for a discrete force application event, and vwherein the predetermined threshold force is between 0.0 and 5.0 lbf. Cl 27. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a first total time that a fore limb is in contact with the first plate or second plate by calculating a difference between a first time at which an applied force from the fore limb exceeds a predetermined threshold force and a second time at which the applied force from the fore limb falls below the predetermined threshold force thus defining a first discrete force application event; and compute a second total time that a rear limb is in contact with the first plate or secofid plate by calculating a difference between a first time at which an applied force from the rear limb exceeds a predetermined threshold force and a second time at which the applied force from the rear limb falls below the predetermined threshold force thus defining a second discrete force application event -39- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:56 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z015 0 0 ci S28. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 27, Swherein the predetminied threshoid force is between 0.0 and 5.0 lbf. t 29. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces 0 produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 24, o wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by tt the processor, compute a normalized average ground reaction force variable by dividing Sthe impulse variable by the stance time variable. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a first normalized average ground reaction force variable by dividing the impulse variable for a first applied force by the first stance time variable and compute a second normalized average ground reaction foree variable by dividing the impulse variable for a second applied force by the second stance time variable. 31. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 29, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a speed of the animal using a signal output by the speed sensing device. COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 05 THUL 16:56 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @016 ci S32. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces t produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim Swherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a speed of the animal using a signal output by the speed sensing device. 0 S33. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces S produced by an animal passing fthrough' the diagnostic system in accord with claim 31, Swherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a step size of the animal by calculating a difference between a first position at which a limb applies a force to one of the first and second plates and a second position at which the same limb applies a force to the respective first or second plate along an axis of motion of the animal. 34. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 32, wherein the force analysis insiruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute the product of the impulse variable and the animal speed to obtain a characteristic unit length. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 33, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instttions which, when executed by the processor, compute the product of the first impulse variable and the animal speed to -41- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:56 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z017 O O ci obtain a first characteristic unit length and to compute the product of the second impulse variable and the animal speed to obtain a second characteristic unit length. 36, A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces Sproduced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 18, Swherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by O the processor, compute the m-energy applied to the first plate or second plate by a limb of Sthe animal by integrating a magnitude of the applied force to the first plate or second plate 0 with respect to a frequency in a frequency domain.

37. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 18, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a first m-energy applied to one of the first and second plate by a fore limb of the animal by integrating a magnitude of the applied force to the plate with respect to a frequency in a frequency domain, and compute a second m-energy applied to one of the first and second plate by a bind limb of the animal by integrating a magnitude of the applied force to the plate with respect to a frequency in a frequency domain.

38. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 18, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute the p-energy by taling the product of a magnitude of a force -42- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:57 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 018 tr O O Sapplied to the first plate or second plate by a limb of the animal and frequency integrated over a frequency domain.

39. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 18, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by t the processor, 0 Scompute a first p-energy by taking the product of a magnitude of a force applied to the first plate or second plate by a fore limb of the animal and frequency integrated over a frequency domain; and compute a second p-energy by taking the product of a magnitude of a force applied to the first plate or second plate by a hind limb of the animal and frequency integrated over a frequency domain. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 17, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a symmetry factor indicative of a difference in a force applied to the first plate and a force applied to the second plate.

41. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 17, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute a symmetry factor indicative of a difference in a force applied to -43- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:57 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 12019 ci Sone of the first plate and the second plate by a fore limb and a force applied'to one of the first plate and the second plate by a hind limb.

42. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces o- produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim en Swherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by c1 V" the processor, compute the symmetry factor by talking,the dividend of a right limb o movement variable minus a left limb movement variable on the numerator and a right limb movement variable plus a left limb movement variable on the denominator

43. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 41, wherein the force analysis instruction set comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, compute the symmetry factor by talcidag the dividend of a fore limb movement variable minus a hind limb movement variable on the numerator and a fore limb movement variable plus a hind-limb movement variable on the denominator.

44. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, wherein the right limb movemernt variable and the left limb movenent variable comprise a normalized peak ground reaction force. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, -44- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:57 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z020 i wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable comprise a .normalized peak ground reaction force.

46. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, r wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise an impulse variable. C\| t comprise an impulse variable. 0 0

47. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, wherein the fore limb movement variable and.the hind limb movement variable each comprise an impulse variable. 48, A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a stance variable.

49. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a stance variable. COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 -i 14/07 '05 THU 16:57 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 021 O O A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaotion forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a normalized average ground reaction force variable. O f

51. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces cir produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, o wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a normalized average ground reaction force variable.

52. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a step size variable.

53. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a step size variable.

54. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise an m-energy variable. -46- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:58 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. @022 0 0 i S A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb moveccit variable each r' comprise an m-eaergy variable. 0

56. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze ground reaction forces 0 o produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 42, t~q wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a p-energy variable.

57. A computer-based diagnostic system to detect and analyze &round reaction forces produced by an animal passing through the diagnostic system in accord with claim 43, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the bind limb movement variable each comprise a p-energy variable.

58. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal, comprising the steps of guiding an animal to move across an instrumented force-sensing floor comprising a left floor plate, a right floor plate, a plurality of left floor plate load cells configured to measure a force applied to the left floor plate and output a force proportioned signal, and a plurality of right floor plate load cells configured to measure a force applied to the right floor plate and output a force proportioned signal; -47- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:58 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 023 0 0 ci Sconstraining at least one of the animal's lateral body movement and leg movement so that the animal's left limbs contact the left floor plate and the animal's right limbs Scontact the right floor plate; calculating forces applied to the left floor plate and to the right floor plate by r summing the signals output by the left floor plate load cells and right floor plate load cells, r respectively; and 0 t comparing the calculated forces to a range of foTces indicative of at least oneof a o sound animal condition, an indetermoinate animal condition, or a lame animal condition. (N

59. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 58, further comprising the step of: computing a weight of the animal passing through the system by summing the magnitudes of forces applied to the first floor plate and the second floor plate. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 58, further comprising the step of, computing a position of the force applied to at least one of the first floor plate and the second floor plate,

61. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 58, further comprising the step of: computing a position of the force along at least one of an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z- axis by summing moments and forces along respective axes to solve n equations in n unknowns, where n is an integer. -48- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:58 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z024 ci

62. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 61, further comprising the step of: -computing a position of the force applied to at least one of the first floor plate and the second floor plate as a function of time. r- S63. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces en Sproduced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of: c-i V) computing a peak normalized ground reaction force variable for at least one of the O first floor plate and second floor plate by dividing the force applied to a respective one of the first plate and second plate by the weight of the animal.

64. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of: computing an impulse variable for each force applied to the first floor plate or the second floor plate by integrating the normalized ground reaction force value with respect to the duration of application of each force to a respective floor plate. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 64, further comprising the step of: computing a stance time variable by calculating a total time that a limb is in contact with the first floor plate or second floor plate.

66. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of- computing the total time that a limb is in contact with the first floor plate or second floor plate by calculating a difference between a first time at which an applied force -49- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:59 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. Z@025 O O exceeds a predetermined threshold force and a second time at which an applied force falls h i below the predetemined threshold force for a discrete force application event

67. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces l^ produced by an animal in accord with claim 66, wherein the predetermined threshold force lr- Ois between 0.0 and 5.0 Ibf. Ci 68. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces Sproduced by an animal in accord with claim 65, further comprising the step of tC' computing a normalized average ground reaction force variable by dividing the impulse variable by the stance time variable.

69. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 64, further comprising the step of: computing a speed of the animal using a signal output by a speed sensor. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 64, further comprising the step of: computing the step size of the animal by calculating a difference between a first position at which a limb applies a force to one of the first and second floor plates and a second position at which the same limb applies a force to the respective first or second floor plate.along an axis ofmotion of the animal.

71. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 69, further comprising the step of: COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:59 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 026 O O computing a product of the impulse variable and the animal speed to obtain a characteristic unit length.

72. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of: 0 computing an m-energy applied to the first plate or second plate by a limb of the O animal by integrating a magnitude of the applied force to the first floor plate or second floor plate with respect to a frequency in a frequency domain.

73. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of: computing a p-anergy by taldng the product of a magnitude of a force applied to the first floor plate or second floor plate by a limb of the animal and frequency integrated over a frequency domain.

74. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 62, further comprising the step of: computing a symmetry factor indicative of a difference in a force applied to the first plate and a force applied to the second plate. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 74, further comprising the step of: computing a symmetry factor by taking the dividend of a right limb movement variable minus a left limb movement variable on the numerator and a right limb movement variable plus a left limb movement variable on the denominator. -51- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:59 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 027 0 0

76. A computet-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an. animal in accord with claim 74, fmther Comprising the step o computing a symmetry factor by takdng the dividend of a fore limb movement variable minus a hind limb movement variable on the numerator and a fore limb movement variable plus a hind limb movement variable on the denominator. 0 0

77. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produccd by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the'right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable comprise a nomamalized peak ground reaction force.

78. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction foroes produced by an animal in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable comprise a normalized peak ground reaction force.

79. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movemat variable each comprise an impulse variable. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise an impulse variable.

81. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a stance variable. 52- COMS ID No: SBM1-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 16:59 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 028 0 0

82. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an antgl in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a stance variable.

83. A oomputer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable en oand the left limb mbvement variable each comprise a normalized average ground reaction force variable.

194. A computer-based method for detecting end analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a normalized average ground reaction force variable. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise a step size variable. 86. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction fbrces produced by an animal in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a step size variable. 87- A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable each comprise an m-energy variable. 53 COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 17:00 FAX 81282311099 F B RICE CO. S029 O O 3 88. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord With claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise an m-energy variable, S89, A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces 0 produced by an animal in accord with claim 75, wherein the right limb movement variable 0 and the left limb movement variable each comprise a p-nergy variable. A computer-based method for detecting and analyzing ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 76, wherein the fore limb movement variable and the hind limb movement variable each comprise a p-energy variable. 91. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal to detenmine a physical condition of the animal, the instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to cary out the steps of. calculating ground reaction forces produced by the animal by summing the force proportioned signals output by load cells separately measuring loads of each of a left floor plate and a right floor plate; and comparing the calculated forces to a range of forces indicative of at least one of a sound animal condition, an indeterminate animal condition, or a lame animal condition. 92. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 91 to determine a physical condition of the animal, the instructions, -54- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 05 THU 17:00 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 030 0 0 ci Swhen executed by a computer, causing the computer to carry out at least one of the steps of: computing a weight of the animal passing through the system by sunmning the magnitudes of forces applied to the first floor plate and the second floor plate; Scomputing a position of the force applied to at least one of the first floor plate and cn o the second floor plate; ci t computing a position of the force along at least one of an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z- o axis by stnuming moments and forces along respective axes to solve n equations inn unknowns, where n is an integer; computing an uderstep value for at least one side of the animal by calculating a difference between a position at which a fore limb applies a force to one of the first and second plates and a position at which a hind. limb on the same side of the animal applies a force to the same plate; computing a position of the force applied to at least one of the first floor plate and the second floor plate as a function of time; computing a peak normalized ground reaction force variable for at least one of the first floor plate and second floor plate by dividing the force applied to a respective one of the first plate and second plate by the weight of the animal; computing an impulse variable for each force applied to the first floor plate or the second floor plate by integrating the normalized ground reaction force value with espect to the duration of application of each force to a respective floor plate; computing a stance time variable by calculating a total time that a limb is in contact with the first floor plate or second floor plate; COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 17:00 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 031 Scomputing the total time that a limb is in contact with the first floor plate or second floor plate by calculating a diference between a first time at which an applied force exceeds a predetermined threshold force and a second time at which an applied force falls below the a predetermined threshold force between about 0.0 and 5.0 lbf for a discrete force application event; M computing a normalized average ground reaction force variable by dividing the impulse variable by the stance time variable; 0 o computing a speed of the animal using a signal output by a speed sensor; computing the step size of the animal by calculating a difference between a first position at which a limb applies a force to one of the first and second floor plates and a second position at which the same limb applies a force to the respective first or second floor plate along an axis of motion of the animal. computing a product of the impulse variable and the animal speed to obtain a characteristic unit length; computing an m-energy applied to the first plate or second plate by a limb of the animal by integrating a magnitude of the applied force to the first floor plate or second floor plate with respect to a frequency in a frequency domain; and computing a p-energy by taking the product of a magnitude of a force applied to the first floor plate or second floor plate by a limb of the animal and frequency integrated over a frequency domain. 93. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal in -56- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 17:01 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 032 0 0 i accord with claim 92 to determine a physical condition of the animal, the insfructons, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to carry out the step of: -Icomputing a symmetry factor indicative of a difference in a force applied to the first plate and a force applied to the second plate. S94. A computer-readable mediumn bearing instructions enabling a computer having at en o least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal in 1n accord with claim 92 to determine a physical condition of the animal, the instructions, Swhen executed by a computer, causing the computer to carry out the step of: computing a symmetry factor indicative of a difference in a force applied to one of the first plate and the second plate by a fore limb and a force applied to the same one of the first plate and the second plate by a hind limb, A computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 93 to determine a physical condition of the animal, the instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to carry out the step of: computing a symmetry factor by taking the dividend of a right limb movement variable minus a left limb movement variable on the numerator and a right limb mbvement variable plus a left limb movement variable on the denominator. 96. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions enabling a computer having at least one processor to detect and analyze ground reaction forces produced by an animal in accord with claim 95, wherein the right limb movement variable and the left limb movement variable comprise one of a normalized peak ground reaction force, an impulse -57- COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14 14/07 '05 THU 17:01 FAX 61282311099 F B RICE CO. 033 variable, a stance variable, a normalized average ground reaction force variable, a step size. variable, an m-energy variable, and a p-energy variable, Dated this fourteenth day of July 2005 University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, College Park Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: FB RICE& CO -58. COMS ID No: SBMI-01353355 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:01 Date 2005-07-14