Abstract: Fasteners are configured to anchor a horseshoe to a hoof. The fasteners are used in conjunction with wrapping, banding and/or casting material to secure a horseshoe to a hoof. Methods of anchoring a horseshoe to a hoof employ fasteners and wrapping, banding and/or casting material.

Abstract: A method to determine the relative concavity of the palmar aspect of the distal phalange of the equid from a standard lateral-medial radiograph. Horses are born with a relatively large concavity, and with age, through a demineralization process, the concavity reduces. The method gives a way to monitor and assess this concavity and can be used in various ways, e.g. as an indicator of future soundness likelihood.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biomechanical conformation of the lower leg and hoof of animals, for example a horse, from images (photographs, radiographs, etc) is described. In particular, there is provided a method to analyze images that may include certain scale markers. A user may be guided to pick certain key points in the images, from which a special set of biomechanical parameters may be computed. Using these parameters, the conformation of the hoof and leg can be analyzed in various ways, including comparison to a database of other animals, tracking changes over time, or by means of quantitative scoring rules.

Abstract: A method for simulating, analyzing and/or designing an automated assembly system including a plurality of resources comprises: defining at least one cell from an automated assembly line; associating an action table with each cell; calculating a duration, a success rate and a repair time for each process step using fundamental data of the resources; and associating the duration, the success rate and the repair time with each process step in each action table. The action table of a respective cell specifies all process steps that are executed in the respective cell. A system for simulating, analyzing and/or designing an automated assembly system comprises a discrete event simulator and a three-dimensional kinematic and dynamic simulator coupled with the discrete event simulator. The kinematic and dynamic simulator generates timing data for the automated assembly system that is used by the discrete event simulator. A system for determining a costed-throughput is also provided.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biomechanical conformation of the lower leg and hoof of animals, for example a horse, from images (photographs, radiographs, etc) is described. In particular, there is provided a method to analyze images that may include certain scale markers. A user may be guided to pick certain key points in the images, from which a special set of biomechanical parameters may be computed. Using these parameters, the conformation of the hoof and leg can be analyzed in various ways, including comparison to a database of other animals, tracking changes over time, or by means of quantitative scoring rules.