A new PMHS model for lumbar spine injuries during vertical acceleration.

Ejection from military aircraft exerts substantial loads on the lumbar spine. Fractures remain common, although the overall survivability of the event has considerably increased over recent decades. The present study was performed to develop and validate a biomechanically accurate experimental model for the high vertical acceleration loading to the lumbar spine that occurs during the catapult phase of aircraft ejection. The model consisted of a vertical drop tower with two horizontal platforms attached to a monorail using low friction linear bearings. A total of four human cadaveric spine specimens (T12-L5) were tested. Each lumbar column was attached to the lower platform through a load cell. Weights were added to the upper platform to match the thorax, head-neck, and upper extremity mass of a 50th percentile male. Both platforms were raised to the drop height and released in unison. Deceleration characteristics of the lower platform were modulated by foam at the bottom of the drop tower. The upper platform applied compressive inertial loads to the top of the specimen during deceleration. All specimens demonstrated complex bending during ejection simulations, with the pattern dependent upon the anterior-posterior location of load application. The model demonstrated adequate inter-specimen kinematic repeatability on a spinal level-by-level basis under different subfailure loading scenarios. One specimen was then exposed to additional tests of increasing acceleration to induce identifiable injury and validate the model as an injury-producing system. Multiple noncontiguous vertebral fractures were obtained at an acceleration of 21 g with 488 g/s rate of onset. This clinically relevant trauma consisted of burst fracture at L1 and wedge fracture at L4. Compression of the vertebral body approached 60% during the failure test, with -6,106 N axial force and 168 Nm flexion moment. Future applications of this model include developing a better understanding of the vertebral injury mechanism during pilot ejection and developing tolerance limits for injuries sustained under a variety of different vertical acceleration scenarios.

Determination of low-pass filter cutoff frequencies for high-rate biomechanical signals obtained using videographic analysis.

Diffuse brain injury (DBI) commonly results from blunt impact followed by sudden head rotation, wherein severity is a function of rotational kinematics. A noninvasive in vivo rat model was designed to further investigate this relationship. Due to brain mass differences between rats and humans, rotational acceleration magnitude indicative of rat DBI ( approximately 350 krad/s(2)) has been estimated as approximately 60 times greater than that of human DBI ( approximately 6 krad/s(2)). Prior experimental testing attempted to use standard transducers such as linear accelerometers to measure loading kinematics. However, such measurement techniques were intrusive to experimental model operation. Therefore, initial studies using this experimental model obtained rotational displacement data from videographic images and implemented a finite difference differentiation (FDD) method to obtain rotational velocity and acceleration. Unfortunately, this method amplified high-frequency, low-amplitude noise, which interfered with signal magnitude representation. Therefore, a coherent average technique was implemented to improve the measurement of rotational kinematics from videographic images, and its results were compared with those of the previous FDD method. Results demonstrated that the coherent method accurately determined a low-pass filter cutoff frequency specific to pulse characteristics. Furthermore, noise interference and signal attenuation were minimized compared with the FDD technique.

A finite element model of region-specific response for mild diffuse brain injury.

It is well known that rotational loading is responsible for a spectrum of diffuse brain injuries spanning from concussion to diffuse axonal trauma. Many experimental studies have been performed to understand the pathological and biomechanical factors associated with diffuse brain injuries. Finite element models have also been developed to correlate experimental findings with intrinsic variables such as strain. However, a paucity of studies exist examining the combined role of the strain-time parameter. Consequently, using the principles of finite element analysis, the present study introduced the concept of sustained maximum principal strain (SMPS) criterion and explored its potential applicability to diffuse brain injury. An algorithm was developed to determine if the principal strain in a finite element of the brain exceeded a specified magnitude over a specific time interval. The anatomical and geometrical details of the rat for the two-dimensional model were obtained from published data. Using material properties from literature and iterative techniques, the model was validated under three distinct rotational loading conditions indicative of non-injury, concussion, and diffuse axonal trauma. Validation results produced a set of material properties to define the model and were deemed appropriate to examine the role of sustained strain as an indicator of the mechanics of mild diffuse brain injury at the local level. Using a separate set of histological data obtained from graded mild diffuse brain injury experimental studies in rats, different formulations of SMPS criterion were evaluated. For the hippocampus and parietal cortex regions, 4-4 SMPS criterion was found to most closely match with the pattern of histological results. This was further verified by correlating the fractional areas to the time of unconsciousness for each animal group. Although not fully conclusive, these results are valuable in the understanding of diffuse brain injury pathologies following rotational loading.

New rat model for diffuse brain injury using coronal plane angular acceleration.

A new experimental model was developed to induce diffuse brain injury (DBI) in rats through pure coronal plane angular acceleration. An impactor was propelled down a guide tube toward the lateral extension of the helmet fixture. Upon impactor-helmet contact, helmet and head were constrained to rotate in the coronal plane. In the present experimental series, the model was optimized to generate rotational kinematics necessary for concussion. Twenty-six rats were subjected to peak angular accelerations of 368 +/- 30 krad/sec2 (mean +/- standard deviation) with 2.1 +/- 0.5-msec durations. Following rotational loading, unconsciousness was defined as time between reversal agent administration and return of corneal reflex. All experimental rats demonstrated transient unconsciousness lasting 8.8 +/- 3.7 min that was significantly longer than control rats. Macroscopic damage was noted in 51% of experimental animals: 38% subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 15% intraparenchymal lesion. Microscopic analysis indicated no evidence of axonal swellings at sacrifice times of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. All rats survived rotational loading without skull fracture. Injuries were classified as concussion based on transient unconsciousness, scaled biomechanics, limited macroscopic damage, and minimal histological abnormalities. The experimental methodology remains adjustable, permitting investigation of increasing DBI severities through modulation of model parameters, and inclusion of further functional and histological outcome measures.

Biomechanical correlates of mild diffuse brain injury in the rat.

The relationship between diffuse brain injury (DBI) occurrence and impact biomechanics is well documented. Previous studies attempted to develop injury thresholds based on various biomechanical parameters and have demonstrated inconsistent results. The spectral nature of DBI requires robust metrics capable of predicting injury occurrence and severity. In the present study impact biomechanics reported previously were correlated to rat unconsciousness time. Significant correlation was identified in three parameters including square angular velocity, change in rotational velocity, and Head Impact Power. Results suggest rotational loading of the rat head has similar correlates to the human condition. In addition, certain biomechanical parameters demonstrate capacity for predicting DBI severity.

Interface parameters of impact-induced mild traumatic brain injury.

Commonly considered a continuum of injuries, diffuse brain injury (DBI) ranges from mild concussion to severe diffuse axonal injury. The lower end of the spectrum is generally referred to as mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). More severe forms of DBI have garnered extensive experimentation while these milder cases are considerably less explored. Recently, a new device was designed to generate DBI in the rodent using impact-induced angular acceleration. This device is modifiable so the entire spectrum of DBI can be investigated. Severity of DBI is critically dependent on magnitude of angular acceleration. A small animal surrogate like a rodent has a relatively small brain mass. This constraint poses a unique problem because the angular acceleration necessary for DBI is inversely related to brain mass. Prior experimentation estimated an angular acceleration of approximately 350 krad/s2 is necessary for the induction of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in the rodent. To induce these magnitudes of angular acceleration in a repeatable manner, the impacting interface must be critically analyzed. This investigation uses a mathematical model based on parameters of a previously developed experimental model to assess the impacting interface such that angular accelerations are sufficient to produce MTBI in the rodent.

New mechanism for inducing closed head injury in the rat.

Due to the frequency of closed head injuries and cost of treatment, there is great interest in the mechanical parameters involved in provoking the injury. A new device has been developed to produce closed head injury due to impact-induced angular acceleration in the rat. A 488-gram mass was propelled down a 2-meter drop tube by springs at a velocity of 21 mph (9.5 m/s), depending on strength and displacement of the springs. The projectile then impacts a lever arm protruding laterally from an aluminum helmet fixed at the anterior face with a ball-bearing pivot allowing only lateral rotation, which has been shown to cause severe brain injury. A sodium silicate elastomeric material with a thickness of 1 cm was placed at the impact interface to increase the contact time between the projectile and the lever arm. Biomechanical results from a lumped parameter mathematical model and testing indicated an angular acceleration of 300,000 +/- 20,000 rad/s2, angular velocity of 300 +/- 50 rad/s, and impact duration of 2.0 +/- 0.3 ms. When scaled to the human, the results indicated an angular acceleration of 4,100 rad/s2, angular velocity of 32 rad/s, and impact duration of 20 ms, consistent with values associated with classical concussion. Magnitudes and durations at these levels have not been produced in the rat by rotational loading caused by impact, and due to the flexibility of the design, these parameters can be further increased.