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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
A finite element approach and experiments to assess the effectiveness of hip protectors
K-U Schmitt1, A B Spierings, S Derler
1Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and University of Zurich, Switzerland. schmitt@biomed.ee.ethz.ch
Abstract:
The potential of hip protectors to prevent femur fracture is addressed in this study. A mechanical model of the human hip was developed and used to perform impact tests with different types of hip protectors. In addition a finite element model of the test device was established which allows simulations of the impact tests. The different principles of energy-shunting systems and energy-absorbing systems were demonstrated. Furthermore misplacement of a hip protector can be simulated. Hence the FE model was shown to be a suitable tool for future hip protector design.
