Discover CatWalk XT
Turn-key system
CatWalk XT is a complete tool for advanced gait analysis in rodents. The system consists of:
- a corridor that directs and limits the freedom of movement of your subjects to a straight line across the walkway;
- a special glass walking surface that enables CatWalk XT's Illuminated Footprints technology;
- a high speed color camera for extremely accurate spatial and temporal resolution;
- and the CatWalk XT software for the recording and analysis of the locomotor ability of your rodents.
In contrast to other systems on the market CatWalk XT does not force your animals to walk at a certain speed or manner - you measure natural differences in gait and locomotor functioning.
Advanced gait analysis
Due to the high temporal and spatial resolution of the color camera in combination with the Illuminated Footprints technology, the CatWalk XT software can identify the subtle dynamics that are associated with the dimensions, position and pressure of each footprint. Numerous parameters are calculated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of individual footfalls and gait.
Examples include:
- Individual footprints: print area, brake and propulsion phase duration, stand index, Duty cycle, intensity.
- Distances between footprints: base of support, stride length, distance between ipsilateral prints.
- Time relationships between footprints: cadence, support formulas, step sequence, phase lags, walking speed.
Research applications
CatWalk XT can be used to evaluate any kind of experimental model or procedure that has an effect on the locomotor ability of rodents. It does not matter if gait is affected due to genetic, chemical or physical injury to the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, or skeletal or muscle functioning. As long as your animal is able to traverse the CatWalk runway, you can evaluate its gait. Some of the experimental procedure and disease models for which CatWalk XT is used and has been validated for are: spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s, Cerebellar ataxia, traumatic brain injury, and peripheral nerve damage.
Automatic Footprint Classification
The Automatic Footprint Classification Module takes the manual labor of classifying each footprint out of your hands, cutting your experiment time in half, while keeping you in control.
Interactive Footprint Measurements
The Interactive Footprints Measurements module allows you to look in more detail at each footprint itself. You can measure toe spread, intermediate toe spread,and print lenght in order to calculate the Sciatic Functional Index. Furthermore, you can use it to measure the angle of the pawprint in relation to the body axis of the rodent.
CatWalk XT vs. other methods
The table below provides a brief comparison with alternative methods:
| Footprint analysis | Coding (e.g. BBB) | Treadmills | Pain instruments |
| CatWalk XT allows analysis of all four paws and provides temporal information about footfalls and gait. | CatWalk XT allows objective assessment of interlimb coordination and is more generic in its application. | CatWalk XT allows animals to walk in a non-enforced manner. Moreover, no toe nail clipping and no application of bright lights is required. Similar to treadmills, walking speed can be taken into account. | CatWalk XT allows analysis of pain to take place in a clinically more relevant manner. No artificial stimuli are applied to a confined animal |
CatWalk timeline
The main developments of CatWalk over time:
- 2011: CatWalk XT 9.1
User profiles - 2010: CatWalk XT 9.0
Interactive Footprint Measurements - 2009: CatWalk XT 8.1
Automatic Footprint Classification - 2009: CatWalk XT 8.0
High speed recording, visible body contour, speed tagging, enhanced data export - 2007: CatWalk 7.1
Improved software usability - 2006: CatWalk 7.0
First CatWalk release from Noldus - 1998 - 2005: CatWalk 1.x - 6.x
CatWalk invented and under ongoing development by Dr. Frank Hamers
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