DESIGN OF A GAIT ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING THE RECOVERY OF MICE POST-SPINAL CORD INJURY

Current methods of determining spinal cord recovery in mice, post-directed injury, are qualitative measures. This is due to the small size and quickness of mice. This thesis presents a design for a gait acquisition and analysis system able to capture the footfalls of a mouse, extract position and timing data, and report quantitative gait metrics to the operator. These metrics can then be used to evaluate the recovery of the mouse. This work presents the design evolution of the system, from initial sensor design concepts through prototyping and testing to the final implementation. The system utilizes a machine vision camera, a well-designed walkway enclosure, and image processing techniques to capture and analyze paw strikes. Quantitative results gained from live animal experiments are presented, and it is shown how the measurements can be used to determine healthy, injured, and recovered gait