Modular incorporation of deformable spine and 3D neck musculature into a simplified human body finite element model.

Spinal injuries are a concern for automotive applications, requiring large parametric studies to understand spinal injury mechanisms under complex loading conditions. Finite element computational human body models (e.g.

A simulation-based study for optimizing proportional-integral-derivative controller gains for different control strategies of an active upper extremity model using experimental data.

This study investigates the effect of PID controller gains, reaction time, and initial muscle activation values on active human model behavior while comparing three different control strategies. The controller gains and reaction delays were optimized using published experimental data focused on the upper extremity. The data describes the reaction of five male subjects in four tests based on two muscle states (relaxed and tensed) and two states of awareness (open and closed eye).

Validated thoracic vertebrae and costovertebral joints increase biofidelity of a human body model in hub impacts.

A recent emphasis on nontraditional seating and omnidirectional impact directions has motivated the need for deformable representation of the thoracic spine (T-spine) in human body models. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a deformable T-spine for the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) M50-O (average male occupant) human model and to demonstrate improved biofidelity. Eleven functional spinal units (FSUs) were developed with deformable vertebrae (cortical and trabecular), spinal and costovertebral ligaments, and intervertebral discs.

Validation of a Finite Element 50th Percentile THOR Anthropomorphic Test Device in Multiple Sled Test Configurations.

Computational models of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) can be used in crash simulations to quantify the injury risks to occupants in both a cost-effective and time-sensitive manner. The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of a 50 percentile THOR finite element (FE) model against a physical THOR ATD in 11 unique loading scenarios. Physical tests used for validation were performed on a Horizontal Impact Accelerator (HIA) where the peak sled acceleration ranged from 8-20 G and the time to peak acceleration ranged from 40-110 ms.

Objective Evaluation of Whole Body Kinematics in a Simulated, Restrained Frontal Impact.

The use of human body models as an additional data point in the evaluation of human-machine interaction requires quantitative validation. In this study a validation of the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) average male occupant model (M50-O v. 4.

Pelvic and Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomical Characterization of the Average Male.

Objective: Colorectal surgeons report difficulty in positioning surgical devices in males, particularly those with a narrower pelvis. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize the anatomy of the pelvis and surrounding soft tissue from magnetic resonance and computed tomography scans from 10 average males (175 cm, 78 kg) and (2) develop a model representing the mean configuration to assess variability.

Methods: The anatomy was characterized from existing scans using segmentation and registration techniques.

Computational modeling and analysis of thoracolumbar spine fractures in frontal crash reconstruction.

Objective: This study aimed to reconstruct 11 motor vehicle crashes (6 with thoracolumbar fractures and 5 without thoracolumbar fractures) and analyze the fracture mechanism, fracture predictors, and associated parameters affecting thoracolumbar spine response.

Methods: Eleven frontal crashes were reconstructed with a finite element simplified vehicle model (SVM). The SVM was tuned to each case vehicle and the Total HUman Model for Safety (THUMS) Ver.

Numerical investigation of driver lower extremity injuries in finite element frontal crash reconstruction.

Objective: Lower extremity injuries are the most frequent Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2 injury for drivers in frontal crashes. The objective was to reconstruct 11 real-world motor vehicle crashes (2 with AIS 2+ distal lower extremity injury and 9 without lower extremity injury) and to analyze the vehicle parameters and driver attributes that affect injury risk.

Methods: Eleven frontal crashes were reconstructed with a finite element simplified vehicle model (SVM) using a semi-automated optimization method.

Functional outcomes of thoracic injuries in pediatric and adult occupants.

Objective: To develop a disability metric for motor vehicle crash (MVC) thoracic injuries and compare functional outcomes between pediatric and adult populations.

Methods: Disability risk (DR) was quantified using Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores within the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) for the top 95% most frequently occurring AIS 2, 3, 4, and 5 thoracic injuries in NASS-CDS 2000-2011. The NTDB contains a truncated form of the FIM score, including three items (self-feed, locomotion, and verbal expression), each graded from full functional dependence to full functional independence.

Failed rib region prediction in a human body model during crash events with precrash braking.

Objective: The objective of this study is 2-fold. We used a validated human body finite element model to study the predicted chest injury (focusing on rib fracture as a function of element strain) based on varying levels of simulated precrash braking. Furthermore, we compare deterministic and probabilistic methods of rib injury prediction in the computational model.

Characterization of the occult nature of frequently occurring pediatric motor vehicle crash injuries.

Background: Occult injuries are those likely to be missed on initial assessment by first responders and, though initially asymptomatic, they may present suddenly and lead to rapid patient decompensation. No scoring systems to quantify the occultness of pediatric injuries have been established. Such a scoring system will be useful in the creation of an Advanced Automotive Crash Notification (AACN) system that assists first responders in making triage decisions following a motor vehicle crash (MVC).

Functional outcomes of motor vehicle crash thoracic injuries in pediatric and adult occupants.

Objective: Characterization of the severity of injury should account for both mortality and disability. The objective of this study was to develop a disability metric for thoracic injuries in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and compare the functional outcomes between the pediatric and adult populations.

Methods: Disability risk (DR) was quantified using Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores within the National Trauma Data Bank for the most frequently occurring Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2-5 thoracic injuries.

Predicting Pediatric Patients Who Require Care at a Trauma Center: Analysis of Injuries and Other Factors.

Background: Triage decision correctness for children in motor vehicle crashes can be affected by occult injuries. There is a need to develop a transfer score (TS) metric for children that can help quantify the likelihood that an injury is present that would require transfer to a trauma center (TC) from a non-TC, and improve triage decision making. Ultimately, the TS metric might be useful in an advanced automatic crash notification algorithm, which uses vehicle telemetry data to predict the risk of serious injury after a motor vehicle crash using an approach that includes metrics to describe injury severity, time sensitivity, and predictability.

Modular use of human body models of varying levels of complexity: Validation of head kinematics.

Objective: The significant computational resources required to execute detailed human body finite-element models has motivated the development of faster running, simplified models (e.g., GHBMC M50-OS).

Expert Perspectives on Time Sensitivity and a Related Metric for Children Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes.

Objective: Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) uses vehicle telemetry data to predict risk of serious injury among motor vehicle crash occupants and can thus improve the accuracy with which injured children are triaged by first responders. To better define serious injury for AACN systems (which typically use Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] metrics), an age-specific approach evaluating severity, time sensitivity (TS), and predictability of injury has been developed. This study outlines the development of the TS score.

The effect of precrash velocity reduction on occupant response using a human body finite element model.

Objective: The objective of this study is to use a validated finite element model of the human body and a certified model of an anthropomorphic test dummy (ATD) to evaluate the effect of simulated precrash braking on driver kinematics, restraint loads, body loads, and computed injury criteria in 4 commonly injured body regions.

Methods: The Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) 50th percentile male occupant (M50-O) and the Humanetics Hybrid III 50th percentile models were gravity settled in the driver position of a generic interior equipped with an advanced 3-point belt and driver airbag. Fifteen simulations per model (30 total) were conducted, including 4 scenarios at 3 severity levels: median, severe, and the U.

Development and Full Body Validation of a 5th Percentile Female Finite Element Model.

To mitigate the societal impact of vehicle crash, researchers are using a variety of tools, including finite element models (FEMs). As part of the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) project, comprehensive medical image and anthropometrical data of the 5th percentile female (F05) were acquired for the explicit purpose of FEM development. The F05-O (occupant) FEM model consists of 981 parts, 2.

Early dose-dependent cortical thinning of the femoral neck in anal cancer patients treated with pelvic radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Anal cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) have an increased risk of hip fractures after treatment. The mechanism of these fractures is unknown; however, femoral fractures have been correlated with cortical bone thinning. The objective of this study was to assess early changes in cortical bone thickness at common sites of femoral fracture in anal cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Characterization of the occult nature of injury for frequently occurring motor vehicle crash injuries.

Background: Occult injuries are not easily detected and can be potentially life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to quantify the perceived occultness of the most frequent motor vehicle crash injuries according to emergency medical services (EMS) professionals.

Study Design: An electronic survey was distributed to 1,125 EMS professionals who were asked to quantify the likelihood that first responders would miss symptoms related to a particular injury on a 5-point Likert scale.

Injury risk prediction from computational simulations of ocular blast loading.

A predictive Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element eye model was used to analyze 2.27 and 0.45 kg trinitrotoluene equivalent blasts detonated from 24 different locations.

Lumbar vertebrae fracture injury risk in finite element reconstruction of CIREN and NASS frontal motor vehicle crashes.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to reconstruct 4 real-world motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), 2 with lumbar vertebral fractures and 2 without vertebral fractures in order to elucidate the MVC and/or restraint variables that increase this injury risk.

Methods: A finite element (FE) simplified vehicle model (SVM) was used in conjunction with a previously developed semi-automated tuning method to arrive at 4 SVMs that were tuned to mimic frontal crash responses of a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2012 Ford Escape, 2007 Hummer H3, and 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. Real-world crashes in the first 2 vehicles resulted in lumbar vertebrae fractures, whereas the latter 2 did not.

Multicenter analysis of CIREN occupant lumbar bone mineral density and correlation with age and fracture incidence.

Objective: This study aimed to quantify lumbar volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) for 873 seriously injured Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) motor vehicle crash occupants (372 male, 501 female) from 8 centers using phantomless computed tomography scans and to associate vBMD with age, fracture incidence, and osteopenia/osteoporosis diagnoses. The novelty of this work is that it associates vBMD with region of injury by applying an established method for vBMD measurement using phantomless computed tomography (CT).

Methods: A validated phantomless CT calibration method that uses patient-specific fat and muscle measurements to calibrate vBMD measured from the L1-L5 trabeculae was applied on 873 occupants from various CIREN centers.

Functional outcomes of motor vehicle crash head injuries in pediatric and adult occupants.

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a disability-based metric for motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries, with a focus on head injuries, and compare the functional outcomes between the pediatric and adult populations.

Methods: Disability risk (DR) was quantified using Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores within the National Trauma Data Bank-Research Data System (NTDB-RDS) for the top 95% most frequently occurring Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3, 4, and 5 head injuries in NASS-CDS 2000-2011. Pediatric (ages 7-18), adult (19-45), middle-aged (46-65), and older adult (66+) patients with an FIM score available who were alive at discharge and had an AIS 3, 4, or 5 injury were included in the study.

An Injury Severity-, Time Sensitivity-, and Predictability-Based Advanced Automatic Crash Notification Algorithm Improves Motor Vehicle Crash Occupant Triage.

Background: Advanced Automatic Crash Notification algorithms use vehicle telemetry measurements to predict risk of serious motor vehicle crash injury. The objective of the study was to develop an Advanced Automatic Crash Notification algorithm to reduce response time, increase triage efficiency, and improve patient outcomes by minimizing undertriage (<5%) and overtriage (<50%), as recommended by the American College of Surgeons.

Study Design: A list of injuries associated with a patient's need for Level I/II trauma center treatment known as the Target Injury List was determined using an approach based on 3 facets of injury: severity, time sensitivity, and predictability.

A cortical thickness and radiation dose mapping approach identifies early thinning of ribs after stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: High rates of spontaneous rib fractures are associated with thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). These fractures likely originate within the cortical bone and relate to the cortical thickness (Ct.Th).