The development of a next-generation polymeric headform surrogate for concussion and helmet evaluation

运动员使用头盔大大减少了头部撞击造成的严重脑损伤的发生率。尽管广泛使用头盔，但脑震荡的发生率仍然令人担忧。与大多数创伤性损伤相反，震荡可能不会对大脑造成明显的结构损伤，但会导致神经功能障碍的快速发作。反复的创伤与神经退行性疾病有关，这种疾病会带来毁灭性的精神健康后果，包括抑郁症、攻击性和自杀倾向的增加。为减少脑外伤而实施的头盔测试标准包括监测戴着头盔的刚性头罩的跌落测试的加速度曲线，以确保不超过临界阈值。硬加速度阈值可能不足以确定创伤的临界条件，特别是当撞击引起头部旋转加速度时，或者当我们考虑到反复的次震荡撞击也导致显著的神经退行性变时。人类大脑的反应肯定比我们目前的测试所能解决的要复杂得多，需要一种新的评估基础。拟议的研究项目将结合尸体测试和有限元建模，为下一代可变形头部的设计和验证提供信息，用于冲击测试。这种新的头套将返回在撞击过程中发生的大脑变形的测量结果。由于大脑在撞击过程中会发生明显的变形，因此预计这种测量方法将对对大脑有害的旋转力更加敏感。完成后，开发的头表将为标准委员会提供可能取代当前标准的替代方案。推进头盔评估有可能提高许多有脑震荡风险的加拿大人的长期生活质量。

The use of helmets by athletes has drastically reduced the incidence of severe brain injuriesresulting from head impacts. Despite widespread use of helmets, there continues to be aconcerning level of incidence of concussion. In contrast to the majority of traumatic injuries, aconcussion may not cause visible structural damage to the brain, but results in the rapidonsetof neurological dysfunction. Repeated trauma has been linked to a neurodegenerativedisease with devastating mental health outcomes, including increased levels of depression,aggression, and suicidality.Helmet testing standards implemented to reduce brain trauma involve monitoring theacceleration profiles of a drop-tested helmeted rigid headforms to ensure that criticalthresholds are not exceeded. Hard acceleration thresholds may not be adequate to definecritical conditions for trauma, particularly when an impact induces a rotational acceleration ofthe head or when we consider evidence that repeated subconcussive impacts have also ledto significant neurodegeneration. The response of a human brain is certainly more complexthan our current testing may be able to resolve, requiring a new basis of evaluation.The proposed research project will combine cadaver testing with finite element modelling toinform the design and validation of a next-generation deformable headform for impact testing.This new headform will return measurements of brain deformation that occur during theimpact. Since the brain undergoes significant deformation during an impact, it is expected thatthis measurement would be more sensitive to the rotational forces that are detrimental to thebrain. Upon completion, the developed headform will provide standards committees with analternative that may replace the current standards. Advancing the state of helmet evaluationhas the potential to increase the long-term quality of life for numerous Canadians at risk forconcussion.