Interface[s] Montréal

Motion Capture

Rachid Aissaoui

École de technologie supérieure, Lio, Chum, Crir

Use of motion sensors in the three-dimensional functional evaluation of orthopaedic and surgical treatments

Knowledge of basic principles in the design and assessment of medical products, in materials science, digital imaging and movement analysis is no longer an option for physicians, but a necessity which allows them to complete their diagnosis and warrant the quality of their procedures. For many years, the Laboratoire de recherche en imagerie et orthopédie has developed new technologies aimed at exploring human movement dynamics in utmost detail. Thanks to 3D movement sensors (video, optoelectronic and electromagnetic) and to our new exoskeleton, we can now measure kinematics data essential to understanding the progression of pathologies such as gonarthrosis. Contrary to invasive and static techniques like X-rays and CT scans, the dynamic analysis permitted by sensor-based technologies brings a new dimension that clinicians must now learn how to use.

Rachid Aissaoui received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Science and Technology of Oran, Algeria, in 1985 and the Ph.D. degree in biomechanics from the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France, in 1990. He joined the Clinical Research Institute of Montréal (Canada) as head of the Engineering Rehabilitation team in 1991. From 1992-1995, he was responsible for the gait laboratory at the Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montréal. Between 1996 and 2001, he worked as a researcher at the NSERC Industrial Research Chair on Wheelchair Seating Aids. He is currently professor at the department of Génie de la Production Automatisée at École polytechnique, Montréal. His research interests are related to the 3D modeling of human locomotion, the development of tools for seating posture evaluation, and the dynamics of wheelchair propulsion. Dr. Aissaoui is a member of the IEEE-EMB Society and ANSI/RESNA subcommittee on Wheelchair Seating Standards WG/TD.