2009-2010

Transforming Traffic Safety Through Autonomic Computing: A Feasibility Study

Principal Investigator: Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE

Principal Investigator: Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Below is an executive summary of this project. Please note that this summary describes results and interpretation that may not be final. Final interpretation of results will be in the  peer-reviewed literature.

A Novel Approach to Develop Age-equivalent Models for Pediatric Long Bones

Principal Investigator: Sriram Balasuramanian, PhD

The objective of this study is to develop and characterize an age-equivalent animal model based on regional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) parameters leveraged from ongoing research at CHOP measuring these parameters on a large sample of real children.

2007-2008

State-of-the-Art Science: An Update on Child and Adolescent Injury Research and Prevention

This study provides the CChIPS members with a biannual, state-of-the-art summary of the current research, outreach, legislature and media coverage on child and adolescent injury prevention.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Side-impact Protection of Children in Child Restraint Systems

The objective of this research study was to analyze, using mathematical models, the side impact methods currently being used and the effectiveness of protection offered to children in child restraint systems in a side impact.

Using MADYMO to Evaluate and Quantify the Effect of the Misuse of Vehicle LATCH Anchor Points in a Vehicle Environment

This study utilized mathematical models to analyze the effects of misuse, namely the effect of variation in the LATCH attachment configurations that are either narrower or wider than the standard 280 mm.

Abdominal Injuries in Children in Belt Positioning Booster Seats

Principal Investigator: Jessica Jermakian, DSc

The objective of this project was to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of abdominal injuries in booster-seated children and the crash and restraint factors influencing the injuries by examining field data experience.

Child Occupant Surveillance: A Feasibility Study

Principal Investigator: Jessica Jermakian, DSc

This study evaluated the potential transition of CHOP's current child-focused motor vehicle crash surveillance system, Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS), to a national system that leverages the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash research infrastructure. The feasibility study determined the viability of new methods, the quality of the potential data, the likelihood of and method for securing appropriate funding, and…

Passive Range of Motion of Adult and Child Cervical Spines

Principal Investigator: Matthew R. Maltese, PhD

The primary objective of this study is to compare the static passive cervical spine flexion of children of specific age groups (6-8, 9-12, 13-15) with adults. As a secondary objective, these data will be applied to guide the development of child-based anthropometric test device (ATD) neck biofidelity requirements through a validated computational model of the pediatric cervical spine.

Backup Crashes

This study examined drivers' backup behavior in a naturalistic setting using vehicles equipped with combined rearview camera and sensor-based systems and an eye tracker to monitor the locations where drivers looked as they backed up. Its objective was to determine whether the combined systems reduce backup crashes.

2006-2007

State-of-the-Art Science: An Update on Child and Adolescent Injury Research and Prevention

This study provides the CChIPS members with a biannual, state-of-the-art summary of the current research, outreach, legislature and media coverage on child and adolescent injury prevention.

Comparative Performance of the Hybrid III 3C and Q3 Dummy Necks in Simulated Frontal Crashes

Principal Investigator: Matthew R. Maltese, PhD

At the time this research was conducted, two anthropometric test devices (ATDs) representing the 3-year-old human child existed -- the Q3 and the Hybrid III 3C. When used to evaluate safety systems, each yielded different neck injury criteria metrics. The project goal was to build on the quasistatic testing by examining the performance of the necks in a simulated frontal FMVSS No. 213 crash. The results of this research were used to determine how…

Injury Mechanisms in Belt-restrained Children in Side Impact Crashes

Principal Investigator: Matthew R. Maltese, PhD

The research delineated injury mechanisms for children involved in side impact crashes and highlighted the differences and similarities between adult and child injury patterns. The research helped determine when adult safety system concepts can be applied to children and when they cannot. It also described the patterns and mechanisms of injuries, such as abdominal or upper extremity, or injuries to various organs experienced by belt-restrained…

Accidental Head Injuries in Young Children: Integrated Epidemiological and Biomechanical Analysis

This research was based on the hypothesis that accidental head injury outcomes are better for older children than infants due to biomechanical and developmental differences. A retrospective single-center cohort study and anthropomorphic surrogate experiments were conducted to correlate age-specific biomechanical factors and environmental circumstances associated with accidental head injury. The information garnered from this project helped CChIPS target high-priority opportunities to enhance child safety via effective public education and improved safety in automotive, home, and play…

Development of a Rear Facing Child Restraint System Finite Element Model

The objective of this study was to begin the process of building the database of child seats by developing a geometrically well-defined rear facing infant seat. Testing of the plastic material was conducted in accordance with ASTM D638-03 standards. A rigid body and finite element-based computational models were developed. The models were exercised in both MADYMO and LS-DYNA. Occupant responses in both models were also comparatively studied.

Understanding the Variation of Accelerations Experienced by Rear-seated Occupants

This study gathered acceleration data from the rear cross members of a sample of popular passenger cars, SUVs and minivans of model years ranging from 1980 to 2005 that have undergone NCAP testing. Analysis was conducted of the rear cross member acceleration data by model year of every sampled vehicle to determine the change in acceleration over the years. The effect of this variation in acceleration was quantified with the help of a MADYMO model. These results helped researchers understand and quantify the variation of these accelerations based on dummy performance.

2008-2009

Effect of Seat and Seat Belt Geometry on Abdominal Injuries in Belt-Restrained Children

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The primary objective of this study is to identify the quantitative characteristics of seat and seat belt geometry that lead to abdominal injury in seat belt-restrained child occupants.

Painful Spine Injury in Children and Young Adults: Integrated Biomechanics and Pain Modeling

This project expands an in vivo model of facet-mediated painful injury to provide injury data for children and young adults. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the role of age in painful neck injuries and to address whether and how the tolerances and mechanisms for this class of injuries are altered in different aged populations.

Cervical Range of Motion of Children and Adult Volunteers

Principal Investigator: Matthew R. Maltese, PhD

The primary objective of this study is to compare the static passive cervical spine flexion of children of specific age groups (6-8, 9-12, 13-15) with adults.

Understanding and Optimizing the Advanced Restraint Systems for Rear- Seated Occupants Using MADYMO and ModeFRONTIER

This study will conduct evaluation and optimization of rear-seated occupant protection performance by pretentioner and load limiter for different occupant sizes in typical vehicle rear seat conditions using MADYMO and modeFRONTIER.

State-of-the-Art Science: An Update on Child and Adolescent Injury Research and Prevention

This study provides the CChIPS members with a biannual, state-of-the-art summary of the current research, outreach, legislature and media coverage on child and adolescent injury prevention.