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Summary of responses to: gait lab design advice needed

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  • Summary of responses to: gait lab design advice needed

    Hi,

    Firstly, many thanks to everyone who responed to my original e mail. It is
    good to know there is back up around when you need it. I have summarised the
    responses in terms of the design of the room and design features which are
    peculiar to gait labs from the responses sent along with a couple of websites
    and meetings we have had.Many thanks also go to Richard Jones at Salford
    University who advised us recently on refinements to our plans.

    The only factors I have not listed are those for force plates which are set
    into the floor as ours will be set into a walkway.The consesnsus appeared to
    say to design in a sufficiently large pit to accept force plates of various
    specs now and in the future. Additionally you should ensure that the pit
    allows the plates to be powered from beneath. Ducting should be available
    allowing cabling to pass from the force plates to the control desk under the
    floor. An alternative to this is a raised floor.


    Below is a copy of our requirements sent to our architiects recently.

    Recommendations for Gait Clinic Build (5.12.06)

    The following is a collation of findings from:

    a) meeting with R. Jones Lecturer at Salford University at the School of
    Prosthetics and Orthotics on 8.11.06 with J. Schooling and J. Bickerstaffe.

    b) the results of a question placed on the international biomechanics
    mailbase Biomechl which is subscribed to by all leading gait analysis labs
    worldwide. I have summarised the answers provided.

    c) Vicon website

    d) Qualysis website

    e) GCMAS

    f) CMAS – clinical gait analysis standards (2004), revised 2006.


    Access

    Should be unobstructed for the disabled.

    Ceiling


    The ceiling should be a tiled suspended ceiling, and will need to support a
    metal frame or butterfly hooks to suspend a calibration object if we plan to
    use a static calibration object (there should be a number of these).

    The ceiling should be as high as possible.


    We would like to have attachment points which we could attach a safety beam
    from the ceiling should we decide to install a beam in future for work with
    spinal injury cases. This would be placed directly over the force plates
    capable of holding half a tonne.


    If a safety harness is to be used then crossbeams should be installed in the
    ceiling perpendicular to the length of the lab. The optimum arrangement is one
    beam above the centre of the calibration volume and two beams positioned five
    feet on either side of the centre beam. This is to be used for spinal cord
    injured walking, people with very poor balance.

    Camera mountings

    Ideally we would want to have various ways of fixing cameras

    Scaffolding track around the room for cameras on which cameras are fixed but
    moveable. Has approximately 40cm of space at the posterior aspect of each
    camera to allow for access and panning of camera.


    >From fixed mountings on the walls

    >From ceiling (or have points of attachment which would take a camera for
    future use)

    Windows
    No skylights should be placed in the gait lab area. If windows are placed in
    the lab, you must provide a method for covering the windows to totally block
    out light (i.e., black drapes).
    Lighting (none reflective)

    Being able to reduce the lighting in the room would be beneficial to reduce
    glare on screens and avoid further reflections. Recessed fluorescent lights
    with diffusers are recommended. No lights should be directly over the force
    plates. Light switches should be duplicated at the entrance door and at the
    control desk. Lighting should be even with no shadows high up on the walls.
    This makes for better video quality.


    Flooring

    This should be none slip / none reflective, hospital blue vinyl, flooring (and
    not buffed).


    Force plates situated in centre of room

    Small conduit to run force plate cables through to the control desk.


    Power points

    As many as possible all double sockets – 20 around the room to allow for
    various camera positions.


    Power supply

    Constant power supply, away from large power units and free from areas of
    vibration e.g. dental compressors.


    If conduits are to be placed in the wall, you can position the video cable
    conduits and electrical outlets in the following manner to provide
    comprehensive coverage. You will need at least one electrical outlet (110-
    120V) every six to eight feet. Double electrical outlets are preferable.
    Treadmills should be powered by a separate AC power service.

    Separate supply for force plates on floor and or on wall if surface mounted.




    Power required for


    EMG apparatus
    Video camera system
    Motion capture system
    Force plates
    Plinth
    Treadmill


    Ducting

    Ducting around room for wiring at two heights with power outlets (double
    sockets) every 3 feet.


    Conduits for cabling


    For leads from force plates to desk (solid rubber if to be surface mounted)
    For mains supply to cameras at two levels
    Ceiling for potential expansion into ceiling mounted cameras.
    For camera cables
    For video cables

    You should provide camera cable conduits (minimum 1.5-2.0 inch diameters)
    beginning at two feet above the floor surface. About eight of these will
    provide the maximum flexibility in positioning the cameras - place one close
    to each corner of the room and one in the centre of each wall. Remember that
    the conduit down to the data collection system must accommodate all the
    cables - this will need to be at least four to five inches in diameter.


    Storage for spare cabling

    Examination area
    Patient examination area with an examination table and storage for supplies
    such as tape, markers, electrodes, etc. This area is often used as patient
    changing area.
    This should be attached to the subject analysis area so that people can walk
    from the examination area to the data collection area. This area should have
    some storage for electrodes, markers and tape. This should be wheelchair
    accessible with a sink available.


    Doorways
    The doors should be wide enough for wheelchair access.
    The examination area should be patient friendly and offer privacy with a
    screened area.
    Heating
    Many gait related tests are performed with a minimum of clothing on the
    subject so it is important that the laboratory area is maintained at a
    comfortable temperature for the subject during the testing.
    Computer Network (LAN)
    It is important to plan for the computer network when the lab is built. While
    it is possible to use a number of different LAN types we recommend
    100MHz "Twisted Pair" with a local hub or switch for the best reliability and
    speed. Since virtually all the computers and printers in the lab may be
    connected to the LAN network it is important to provide plenty of LAN
    connections within the gait lab and any connecting offices or work areas. Make
    sure that LAN cables can be run between the various lab areas. We strongly
    recommend that the gait lab maintain its own network switch or hub within the
    lab for reliability.
    Desk space

    For trust PC / Qualysis work / wide screen
    Force plate readout
    Video screen
    EMG equipment

    Number of power sockets and whereabouts every two metres

    Video cameras X 3
    Treadmill supply X1
    Motion analysis cameras X 6
    Force plates X2 (in floor and wall mounted)
    PC supply X1
    Printer supply X1
    Up to four monitors X4


    All cabling from PCs, video, force plates, QMT cameras, EMG to meet at control
    desk. Have facility to incorporate other cameras / + power requirements.

    All conduits to be 50% larger than original estimate to allow for expansion.

    Cover for force plates.

    Hope this is helpful to everyone on the mailbase and thankyou again for your
    support.


    John Bickerstaffe
    Orthopaedic Triage Dept
    Tameside and Glossop PCT
    UK




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