Engineering Approaches to Preventing or Mitigating Whiplash Injuries

预防或减轻颈椎扭伤的工程方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04660
• 负责人: Siegmund, Gunter
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=712124
• 关键词: Engineering; Approaches; Preventing; Mitigating; Whiplash

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.

颈部扭伤是最常见的车祸伤害，在某些司法管辖区，颈部扭伤的保险索赔超过了所有其他与车祸有关的伤害的总和。此外，女性在车祸中遭受颈部扭伤的可能性是男性的2至3倍，但汽车座椅（包括目前的防颈部扭伤座椅）是使用男性碰撞测试假人设计和评估的。因此，本研究提案的目的是更好地了解i）女性和男性如何在追尾碰撞期间与汽车座椅相互作用，以及ii）能够适应其乘员和碰撞严重程度的座椅是否可以更好地控制乘员在追尾碰撞期间的反应。 为了实现这些目标，我们将使用一种计算机控制的座椅，它可以在碰撞过程中改变其几何形状和刚度，以找到在追尾碰撞过程中最大限度地减少乘员头部和颈部运动的最佳方法。我们将首先优化座椅使用女性和男性碰撞试验假人设计研究挥鞭样损伤。然后，我们将使用女性和男性志愿者验证这种优化的座椅，如果需要，进一步调整座椅，以考虑乘员身高和肌肉反应等因素的性别差异。由于更严重的挥鞭样损伤发生在乘员在撞击时头部转动时，我们还将评估座椅应如何适应这种更脆弱的姿势。另一种改变乘客与座椅互动方式的潜在方法是在撞车前利用乘客的反射肌肉反应。先前的研究表明，在追尾碰撞前立即惊吓乘员会减少他们的反射支撑，并减少与挥鞭样损伤相关的运动。因此，我们还将研究是否结合了预碰撞惊吓与适应性座椅可以进一步减少乘员运动和肌肉反应有关的挥鞭样损伤。 这项研究的结果对三个群体很重要：i）研究人类与安全系统相互作用的科学家，ii）设计和制造汽车座椅的工程师，iii）所有作为乘客驾驶或乘坐可能发生追尾碰撞的汽车的加拿大人。这项研究的预期成果是一个详细的力学理解如何乘员和主动座椅可以相互作用，以保护车辆乘员。在未来，这些基本的科学和工程知识可以转化为智能汽车座椅（和其他安全系统）的开发，在碰撞过程中智能地与乘客互动，以防止或减少伤害。发展这方面的知识也将培养研究生谁将在该领域的领导者，并有可能在加拿大汽车行业创造新的就业机会。在加拿大发展这方面的知识最终有助于加拿大科学家、工程师和制造商成为预防伤害和使运输系统更安全的世界领导者。