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

运动员戴头盔大大降低了头部撞击造成的严重脑损伤的发生率。尽管头盔被广泛使用，但脑震荡的发生率仍然很高。与大多数创伤性损伤不同，脑震荡可能不会对大脑造成明显的结构性损害，但会导致迅速出现神经功能障碍。反复创伤与一种神经退行性疾病有关，会导致毁灭性的精神健康后果，包括抑郁、攻击性和自杀率的增加。为减少脑创伤而实施的头盔测试标准包括监控跌落测试的刚性头盔的加速度曲线，以确保不超过临界阈值。硬加速阈值可能不足以定义创伤的临界条件，特别是当撞击引起头部旋转加速时，或者当我们考虑到反复亚震荡撞击也导致显著的神经变性的证据时。人脑的反应肯定比我们目前的测试所能解决的要复杂得多，需要一个新的评估基础。拟议的研究项目将把身体测试与有限元建模结合起来，为下一代可变形头盔的设计和验证提供信息。这种新的头盔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经历显著的变形，预计这一测量将对对大脑有害的旋转力更加敏感。完成后，开发的头模板将为标准委员会提供一个替代标准，以取代目前的标准。推进头盔评估的进展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.