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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
A new biofidelic sagittal plane surrogate neck for head-first impacts
Tim S Nelson1, Peter A Cripton
1Orthopaedic and Injury Biomechanics Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and The International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Traffic Injury Prevention
|June 15, 2010
Summary
This study evaluated a prototype neck model for head-first impacts. The model shows promise for aligned impacts but requires further refinement for complex sagittal plane rotations.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Injury Biomechanics
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Head-first impacts pose significant injury risks.
- Existing surrogate models require further development for accurate biofidelity.
- Understanding neck kinematics during impacts is crucial for safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess a prototype sagittal plane surrogate neck model's biofidelity.
- To evaluate its response to head-first impacts with a straightened cervical posture.
Main Methods:
- Model design based on published cadaveric biomechanical data (ROM, stiffness).
- Drop tower testing for head-first impact kinetic response.
- Spinal motion simulator used for flexion-extension tests.
Main Results:
- Surrogate neck showed bimodal force response in impacts with axial preload, matching cadaveric data.
- Neck exhibited cadaveric-representative ROM and stiffness in bending without preload.
- Axial preload incrementally reduced ROM and bending stiffness.
Conclusions:
- The model is suitable for aligned column impacts in the sagittal plane.
- Refinements are needed for biofidelity in sagittal bending and head-first impacts with consistent axial preload.
- Further development is necessary for simulating impacts with significant sagittal neck rotation.
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