Chalmers University of Technology

Whiplash Injury Research –History and Current Research in

Biomechanics

Professor Per LövsundChalmers University of Technology

Göteborg, SwedenPer.Lovsund@chalmers.se

www.chalmers.se

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EpidemiologyAccident analysis

Theoretical andPhysical Models

Biological modelsImpact biomechanics

Injury mechanismsThreshold levels

Countermeasures

Injury criteria

Test procedures

Research strategy – Crash Safety

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MathematicalMechanicalBiological

Models

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Motion patternLab seat∆v = 7.6 km/hPeak acceleration 3.2 g

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Motion pattern

• Rigid seat• ∆v = 9.3 km/h• Peak acceleration 3.4 g

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Conclusions - Motion Pattern•Torso ramps up the seatback and the thoracic spine is straightened

– T1 upward displacement– T1 rearward rotation

•Neck exhibits complex motions– Initial flexion– S-shape motion; excessive stretch of anterior and posterior tissues – Extension

•Torso and head forward rebound

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BioRID and Human Hybrid III and Human

Dummy development

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BioRID II

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Flexible seat Standard seatRigid seat

• Tested:BioRID II Hybrid IIIVolunteers

• Thor• RID II and III

Comparison of dynamic performance

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-8-4048

1216

0 50 100 150 200 250 300Time (ms)

Volunteer corridorBioRID IIHybrid III

Flexion

Extension

-505

10152025

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

-505

1015202530

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Flexible seat Standard seat

Rigid seat

Ang

le (d

eg)

T1 angular displacements

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Symptoms

CNS ArteryDisc MuscleZygapophysialjoint

Dorsal nerve-root ganglionLigament

Pressure pulsesspinal canal

Local hyper-extension/flexionAbnormal vertebra

motions

Excessive neckloads

1 Bogduk and April (1993) 2 Bogduk et al. 1998b3 Brault et al. 20004 Clemens and Burow 19725 Davis et al. 19916 Dvorak et al. 19877 Harriton 19898 Kischka et al. 19919 Kaneoka et al. 199710 Kaneoka et al. 1999

3, 7,14, 18

12

14, 19

13

1, 5, 16

9, 10,14,18

15, 20

8, 11

4, 6, 17

11 Knibestöl et al. 1990 12 Macnab 198213 Ono et al. 199714 Panjabi et al. 1998a15 Svensson et al. 1993c16 Watkinson et al. 199117 Wickström et al. 196718 Yoganandan et al. 199819 Yuan et al. 199820 Örtengren et al. 1996

2 6

4, 7,14, 17, 18

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-100

-50

0

50

100

Pres

sure

(mm

Hg)

0 50 100 150 200 250 Time (ms)

Skull pressureSpine pressure T1Spine pressure C4

Retraction Extension

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

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Symptoms

Reconstruction of cases

Brain, stem and cord

Vertebral arteryDisc MuscleZygapophysial

jointDorsal nerve-root ganglionLigament

Pressure pulsesspinal canal

Local hyper-extension/flexion

Abnormal vertebramotions

Excessive neckloads NIC

Nkm

IV-NICNDC

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Reconstruction

•Few car models with rear and frontal crash pulse data•Un-instrumented occupants•Uncertain pre-collision posture•Currently only model of the average male available

Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology

Conclusions

• Long tradition to work in various industrial and multidisciplinary consortia

• Combining basic and applied research aiming at advanced products– The whiplash research started -85 and has

generated 600M€ (VINNOVA evaluation) for the society and the Swedish automotive industry

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Thank You for your attention!