A measurement system was designed to investigate longitudinal wave propagation through the lower extremity generated from foot strikes. The principal goal of the design was to eliminate measurement time lag and amplitude reduction, such that the acceleration measured by Skin Mounted Accelerometer—SMA is equal to the actual acceleration of the bone measured by Bone Mounted Accelerometer—BMA. For accurate dynamic measurement, it is important that the gain and phase of the measurement system are as close as possible to a constant and zero, respectively, for the frequency range being covered. An in vitro experiment was carried out to simultaneously measure skin and bone accelerations. The obtained information was used for identification of a linear spring/damper model representing the interface between the BMA and the SMA. The present work showed that the SMA overestimated the BMA by 12 percent in the signals between 15–30 Hz.

Three-dimensional landmarks of the face are important for orthodontic examination, harmony assessment and treatment planning. Currently, facial landmarks are often measured by orthodontists via direct observation and manual soft tissue image analysis. This study wants to evaluate and present an objective method for measuring selected facial landmarks based on an analysis of curvature maps and of sagittal profile obtained by a laser-scanning method. The faces of 15 people were scanned in 3D by means of the laser scanner FastSCAN™. It allowed the recording of a curvature map of the face in under a minute, which depicted the distribution of Gaussian and mean curvatures. The median-sagittal profile line of the face was localized in this map, and a mathematical analysis comprising its first and second derivatives was performed. Anatomical landmarks were identified and facial measurements performed. To assess validity the obtained data were compared with manual measurements by orthodontists by means of Lin’s concordance correlation CCC coefficient and reliability was determined by consecutive measurements. Facial landmarks, such as the soft tissue glabella and nasal tip, could be easily and accurately identified and located. Lin’s CCC showed substantial agreement between digital and manual measurements for 4 of the 7 distances evaluated. Larger discrepancies were due to inadequate image quality and scanning errors. Reliability of consecutive measurements by the same operator was excellent. In our pilot study the three-dimensional laser-scanning method FastSCAN™ allowed a reliable and accurate identification of anatomical landmarks of the face. The obtained distances between certain landmarks, such as the intercanthal distance, were largely consistent with those from manual measurements. Due to its easy and rapid implementation, the method facilitates facial analysis and could be a clinically valid alternative to manual measurements, when remaining problems in scanning accuracy can be resolved.

A biomechanical model was used to calculate the loadbearing characteristics of the plantar fascia and to determine the effect of cutting the plantar fascia on the stiffness of the foot. With a load of 683 N applied to the foot, the model predicted a 17% increase in vertical displacement and a 15% increase in horizontal elongation when the plantar fascia was cut, compared with the corresponding value when the plantar fascia was intact. Plantar fasciotomy, although clinically satisfactory in cases of recalcitrant heel pain, decreases the stiffness of the foot and creates a less rigid and more deformable arch. The biomechanical model described can help to evaluate the possible outcome of such a procedure.