Checkpoint facilitates shape anaysis for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The following explains how to create a population of TMJ condyles and perform a shape analysis on that population.
- Define a procedure for placing landmarks on the condyle. Use single points, curves, and/or patches. Add primitives in the same order and orientation.
- Create a population for TMJ condyles. In the “Shape Analysis” tab, click the “+” button under “Population” to create a new population. Enter a name for the population and click “Ok”.
- Add the specimen to the population for TMJ condyles. Click the “+” button under the “Specimens” list to add the currently selected scan’s primitives to the population. The red “X” next to the scan’s name marks the currently selected scan.
Selected scan marked with red “X”
- Set the specimen’s stratification. Select the specimen then select a stratification from the list under “Population Stratifications” and click the “>” arrow to add the stratification to the specimen. If the desired stratification is unavailable, add it by clicking the “+” button under “Population Stratifications”.
- Apply a shape analysis to the population like generalized procrustes analysis. Click on “Analyze” to perform the selected analysis.
- Export the results to a CSV file. Select an option under “Result” and click the “Export” button. The exported specimens’ in the CSV file are separated by row. The first column holds the specimen’s name. The first row holds the population’s units and names for each point as well as indicating x,y, and z for each column.
