Identifying the Operating Envelope of A Motion Capture System for the Future of Telemedicine

Study: Active movement is vital for human function and health. There is a need to better assess movement and motion in clinical medicine in an objective way. A smartphone-based motion capture (MO2CA) system presents a solution to not only better assess human motion in clinical setting, but also virtually via telemedicine. The MO2CA system has recently demonstrated its capability to accurately capture human walking on a treadmill without defining the full range of efficacy and parameters of use. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to define and delineate the operating envelope of the MO2CA system in order to determine the parameters of the system that can be used in the healthcare setting. Methods: By using single marker and multiple targets spaced at varying distances apart, implementing and tracking a moving target, and varying lighting conditions we were able to identify the operating envelope of the MO2CA system. Results: Our results show that MO2CA system is able to track a single target within the boundary from 1 ft to 18 ft, multiple targets from 1 ft to 11 ft, a moving target with minimal errors from 2 ft to 8 ft and can accurately identify a target from 1 ft to 18 ft under specific lighting conditions (100, 200, and 300 lumens). Thereby, we defined the practical operating envelope of the system. These results suggest that the MO2CA system has the efficacy at a range of distances, light intensities, speeds, and target sizes. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, the MO2CA may be utilized in facilitating the expansion of telemedicine for a variety of remote clinical assessments including functional and range of motion examinations, hospital discharge evaluations and response to therapy and rehabilitation at home.