Abstract
PURPOSE: The Calibrated Anatomical Systems Technique is an integral part of modern motion analysis systems. However, the calibration of anatomical landmarks is shown to have large variations in intra- and inter-examiner accuracy, which can result in both offset type errors or changes in the characteristics of joint angles and other parameters. This paper is the first instalment in a series of articles aiming to characterize and minimize all of the different factors contributing to these inconsistent calibrations by examining and optimizing the performance of the instrumented pointers used for landmark calibration. A complete characterisation of all aspects of instrumented pointer precision has not been done before. METHODS: This paper focuses on examining four different pointers used with an optical OptiTrack motion capture system to establish the expected variability when measuring pointer tip location. Four different pointers were measured at three different locations within the motion capture system's measurement volume, in a distinct orientation at each of these location. RESULTS: A single stationary marker can be measured with less than 0.06 mm variation with 95% confidence, whilst the variation of the tip of a stationary pointer is 0.2 mm. If the pointer markers are located closer than what the motion capture system is able to resolve, these variations can more than double, but pointer geometry has limited effect on precision apart from this. CONCLUSION: Thanks to improvement of motion capture technology in the last 20 years, static precision is already excellent. Robustness of tracking can likely be improved, but it's effect on overall pointer precision would be minimal and likely inconsequential.