Development of extension kinematic corridors to validate a head/neck finite element model

The objective of the current study was the development of experimental response corridors for the purpose of validating a finite element head-neck model in simulated vehicular rear impact. Six intact human head-neck cadaver complexes were used to understand and quantify the kinematics of the cervical spine secondary to low-speed rear impact. The first and second thoracic vertebrae were mounted in a fixative and attached to a minisled/pendulum apparatus. The specimens experienced live different input velocities applied to the first thoracic vertebral, created t),y the pendulum. The response of the specimen was digitally imaged at 1000 Hz from the right lateral side. Relative angles between vertebrae were analyzed in the sagittal plane at 100 ms after impact of the pendulum. Results correlated well with published physiologic range of motion data and dynamic full-body cadaver real impact experiments. Data obtained from this study will be used to validate the macroscopic motions of a finite element model, which will be used to understand the injury mechanisms involved in low-speed vehicular rear impacts.