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Evaluating child helmet protection and testing standards: A study using PIPER child head models aged 1.5, 3, 6, and
Xiaogai Li1, Anna von Schantz2, Madelen Fahlstedt2
1Division of Neuronic Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, Sweden.
Insights
Child head anatomy differs from adults, necessitating age-specific helmet safety standards. This study reveals younger children need lower linear acceleration thresholds for better protection, though rotational thresholds may remain similar.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Pediatric Safety
- Helmet Technology
Background:
- Children's head anatomy (smaller, softer skulls, unfused fontanels/sutures) differs significantly from adults.
- Current helmet testing standards often use adult thresholds for children, raising safety concerns.
- Lack of age-specific head response data hinders development of appropriate child helmet standards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-dependent head responses in children under impact.
- To evaluate the suitability of current adult-based helmet testing standards for pediatric use.
- To propose revised safety thresholds for child helmets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized continuously scalable PIPER child head models (1.5, 3, 6 years old) and an adult model (18 years old).
- Simulated extensive linear and oblique impacts to assess helmet-protected head responses.
- Analyzed global kinematics, tissue response, linear and rotational kinematics.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a clear age-dependence in head kinematics and tissue response.
- Younger children exhibited higher acceleration, velocity, skull stress, and brain strain.
- Rotational kinematics thresholds for 1.5-year-olds were found to be similar to adults.
Conclusions:
- Current helmet testing standards require revision for pediatric populations, particularly for younger children.
- A lower linear kinematic threshold (e.g., 150g for 1.5-year-olds) is suggested for youth helmets.
- Existing small adult headforms may be adequate for testing child helmets until child-specific headforms are developed.
Abstract:
The anatomy of children's heads is unique and distinct from adults, with smaller and softer skulls and unfused fontanels and sutures. Despite this, most current helmet testing standards for children use the same peak linear acceleration threshold as for adults. It is unclear whether this is reasonable and otherwise what thresholds should be. To answer these questions, helmet-protected head responses for different ages are needed which is however lacking today. In this study, we apply continuously scalable PIPER child head models of 1.5, 3, and 6 years old (YO), and an upgraded 18YO to study child helmet protection under extensive linear and oblique impacts. The results of this study reveal an age-dependence trend in both global kinematics and tissue response, with younger children experiencing higher levels of acceleration and velocity, as well as increased skull stress and brain strain. These findings indicate the need for better protection for younger children, suggesting that youth helmets should have a lower linear kinematic threshold, with a preliminary value of 150g for 1.5-year-old helmets. However, the results also show a different trend in rotational kinematics, indicating that the threshold of rotational velocity for a 1.5YO is similar to that for adults. The results also support the current use of small-sized adult headforms for testing child helmets before new child headforms are available.
