1 / 10

FTIR Walkway

$2,300.00 - $2,400.00

Automated FTIR-based gait analysis system for quantitative locomotor assessment in mice and rats, measuring step patterns, coordination, and kinematic parameters without pretraining requirements.

Key Specifications

recorded_parameters

step patterns, footprint positioning, inter-leg coordination, footprint contact parameters

speed_measurement

instantaneous and average (cm/s)

frequency_measurement

cycles/s

period_measurement

swing_speed

average and individual steps (m/s)

step_length

average and individual steps (mm)

SKU:ME-4152

Category:Behavioral Mazes

Need Help? Visit our Support CenterKnowledge base, order lookup, and ticket support

Scientist guidance

Louise Corscadden, PhD

Neuroscience · ConductScience

Ask Louise about FTIR Walkway fit, setup, configuration, or quote prep.

Already working with us? Sign in to connect this with My Scientist.

The FTIR Walkway provides automated gait analysis for rodents using frustrated total internal reflection technology. The system captures detailed locomotor parameters including step patterns, footprint positioning, inter-leg coordination, and temporal gait characteristics without requiring animal pretraining. Available in mouse (80cm length) and rat (104cm length) configurations, the walkway features acrylic glass construction with integrated mirror bases for comprehensive paw print visualization.

The system quantifies multiple kinematic parameters including instantaneous and average speed, swing time, stance time, step length, footprint area, and body linearity indices. This approach offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional gait analysis methods while providing both qualitative and quantitative motor performance assessments for neuroscience and motor function research applications.

How It Works

The FTIR Walkway operates on the principle of frustrated total internal reflection, where light propagating through the acrylic glass walkway surface undergoes total internal reflection except at contact points where the animal's paws create optical disruption. When a paw contacts the walkway surface, the refractive index change at the glass-tissue interface allows light to escape, creating bright illumination of the contact area against a dark background.

The integrated mirror system positioned beneath the walkway enables simultaneous capture of paw prints and lateral body movement, providing comprehensive visualization of gait patterns. Video recording captures the temporal sequence of paw contacts, allowing extraction of kinematic parameters including swing and stance phases, step frequency, and coordination patterns between limbs.

Post-acquisition analysis quantifies multiple gait parameters from the recorded footprint sequences, including instantaneous and average walking speeds, individual and average step lengths, swing and stance times for each limb, footprint contact areas, and body linearity indices that reflect postural stability during locomotion.

Features & Benefits

FTIR optical detection

Provides clear visualization of paw contacts without requiring floor sensors or markers, enabling natural walking behavior assessment.

Dual-species configuration

Accommodates both mouse (80cm) and rat (104cm) studies with species-appropriate walkway dimensions and wall heights.

No pretraining requirement

Animals can be tested immediately without habituation periods, reducing study timelines and minimizing stress-related confounding factors.

Integrated mirror system

Simultaneous capture of footprint and lateral views enables comprehensive gait analysis including body posture and limb coordination assessment.

Multi-parameter quantification

Measures speed, frequency, swing time, stance time, step length, footprint area, and linearity indices from single recording sessions.

Acrylic glass construction

Provides durable, easy-to-clean surface that maintains optical clarity for consistent FTIR performance across multiple studies.

Automated analysis capability

Reduces manual scoring time and inter-observer variability while providing objective, quantitative gait metrics for statistical analysis.

Feature	This Product	Typical Alternative	Advantage
Walkway Length Options	80cm mouse and 104cm rat configurations with species-optimized dimensions	Fixed-length systems often require single size for multiple species	Species-appropriate dimensions ensure natural gait patterns and reduce wall contact artifacts during assessment.
Detection Method	FTIR-based optical detection providing clear paw contact visualization	Pressure sensors or camera systems may require threshold adjustments	Optical detection captures actual contact area without pressure sensitivity settings or calibration drift issues.
Pretraining Requirements	No pretraining required for immediate testing capability	Many systems require multiple habituation sessions	Eliminates training variables and reduces study duration while minimizing animal stress from repeated handling.
Mirror Integration	Integrated mirror system for simultaneous top and lateral view capture	Separate camera systems or single-view analysis	Comprehensive gait analysis including body posture and limb coordination from single recording session.
Parameter Scope	Multi-parameter analysis including speed, timing, coordination, and spatial metrics	Limited parameter sets in basic walkway systems	Comprehensive motor assessment reduces need for multiple testing apparatus and enables detailed phenotyping studies.

The FTIR Walkway provides species-optimized automated gait analysis with optical detection technology, integrated mirror visualization, and comprehensive parameter quantification. The no-pretraining design and dual-species compatibility offer practical advantages for research applications requiring detailed motor function assessment.