Biomaterial Database

Cervical spine curvature during simulated rear crashes with energy-absorbing seat. 2011

Paul C Ivancic, and Ming Xiao

Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208071, New Haven, CT 06520-8071, USA. paul.ivancic@yale.edu

BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies indicate potential benefits of the Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) for reducing neck injury risk. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to evaluate cervical spine curvature during simulated rear crashes of a Human Model of the Neck (HUMON) within a WHIPS seat with fixed head restraint (HR). METHODS In vitro biomechanical study. METHODS The HUMON consisted of a human neck specimen mounted to the torso of BioRID II (Denton ATD, Inc., Milan, OH, USA) and carrying a surrogate head stabilized with muscle force replication. The HUMON was subjected to simulated rear crashes in a WHIPS seat (n=6) at 9.9, 12.0, and 13.3 g and in a seat with no WHIPS or HR (n=6) at 11.5 g. Statistical tests (p<.05) determined significant increases in spinal motion peaks during the crashes with WHIPS relative to physiologic and significant differences in spinal curvature peaks between WHIPS (12.0 g) and no WHIPS or HR (11.5 g). RESULTS The WHIPS absorbed crash energy during the initial 75 milliseconds, while peak lower cervical spine (LCS) extension occurred as late as 179 milliseconds. The average C7/T1 rotation peaks during the 13.3-g rear crashes with WHIPS significantly exceeded physiologic by 95% in flexion (4.3° vs. 2.2°) and more than 225% in extension (9.8° vs. 3.0°). The WHIPS caused a significant reduction in average peak normalized LCS extension as compared with no WHIPS or HR (1.2 vs. 3.7). CONCLUSIONS Although the peak LCS extension was significantly reduced due to WHIPS as compared with no WHIPS or HR, it exceeded physiologic as the cervical spine maintained a prolonged S-shaped curvature. Nonphysiologic LCS motion may occur even if head/HR contact occurs early, and injury is possible before head/HR contact even with a modern energy-absorbing seat. Future whiplash-reduction systems will most likely integrate active injury prevention systems with advanced features such as accident avoidance technology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008348	Manikins	Inanimate physical models which bear likeness to human beings and are used for various purposes in place of humans.	Mannequins,Manikin,Mannequin
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D002574	Cervical Vertebrae	The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK.	Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D003198	Computer Simulation	Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes.	Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D004735	Energy Transfer	The transfer of energy of a given form among different scales of motion. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed). It includes the transfer of kinetic energy and the transfer of chemical energy. The transfer of chemical energy from one molecule to another depends on proximity of molecules so it is often used as in techniques to measure distance such as the use of FORSTER RESONANCE ENERGY TRANSFER.	Transfer, Energy
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D005260	Female		Females
D006260	Head Protective Devices	Personal devices for protection of heads from impact, penetration from falling and flying objects, and from limited electric shock and burn.	Helmets,Device, Head Protective,Devices, Head Protective,Head Protective Device,Helmet,Protective Device, Head,Protective Devices, Head
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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