Engineering Approaches to Preventing or Mitigating Whiplash Injuries

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Whiplash injury is the most common car-crash injury, and insurance claims for whiplash injury exceed all other crash-related injuries combined in some jurisdictions. Moreover, females are 2 to 3 times more likely than males to suffer whiplash injury from a car crash, and yet car seats (including current anti-whiplash seats) are designed and evaluated using male crash test dummies. Thus the objectives of this research proposal are to better understand i) how females and males interact with car seats during rear-end crashes, and ii) whether a seat that can adapt to its occupant and the severity of a crash can better control how an occupant responds during a rear-end crash.****** To achieve these goals, we will use a computer-controlled seat that can change its geometry and stiffness during a crash to find optimum ways of minimizing an occupant's head and neck motion during a rear-end crash. We will first optimize the seat using female and male crash test dummies designed for studying whiplash injury. We will then validate this optimized seat using female and male volunteers and, if needed, further adapt the seat to account for sex differences in factors such as occupant height and muscle responses. Since more severe whiplash injuries occur when an occupant has their head turned at the time of impact, we will also evaluate how the seat should adapt its response for this more vulnerable posture. Another potential method of altering how occupants interact with their seats is to engage an occupant's reflex muscle responses before a crash. Prior research indicates that startling an occupant immediately before a rear-end impact reduces their reflexive bracing and reduces the motions related to whiplash injury. Thus we will also examine whether combining a pre-crash startle with an adaptable seat can further reduce the occupant motions and muscle response related to whiplash injury.****** The results of this research are important to three groups: i) scientists studying the interaction of humans and safety systems, ii) engineers who design and manufacture car seats, iii) all Canadians who drive or ride as passengers in cars that can experience a rear-end impact. The anticipated outcome of this research is a detailed mechanical understanding of how occupants and active seats can interact to protect vehicle occupants. In the future, this basic science and engineering knowledge can be translated to the development of smart car seats (and other safety systems) that intelligently interact with their occupants during a crash to prevent or reduce injuries. Developing this knowledge will also train graduate students who will be leaders in the field and potentially create new jobs in the Canadian auto industry. Developing this knowledge in Canada ultimately helps Canadian scientist, engineers and manufacturers become world leaders in preventing injuries and making transportation systems safer.