Assessment of an innovative seat belt with independent control of the shoulder and lap portions using THOR tests, the THUMS model, and PMHS tests

<p><b>Objectives:</b> The objective of this study was to determine the potential chest injury benefits and influence on occupant kinematics of a belt system with independent control of the shoulder and lap portions.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> This article investigates the kinematics and dynamics of human surrogates in 35 km/h impacts with 2 different restraints: a pretensioning (PT), force-limiting (FL) seat belt, a reference belt system, and a concept design with a split buckle consisting (SB) of 2 separate shoulder and lap belt bands. The study combines mathematical simulations with the THOR dummy and THUMS human body model, and mechanical tests with the THOR dummy and 2 postmortem human surrogate (PMHS) tests of similar age (39 and 42 years) and anthropometry (62 kg, 181 cm vs. 60 kg, 171.5 cm). The test setup consisted of a rigid metallic frame representing a standard seating position of a right front passenger. The THOR dummy model predictions were compared to the mechanical THOR dummy test results. The THUMS-predicted number of fractured ribs were compared to the number of fractured ribs in the PMHS.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> THOR sled tests showed that the SB seat belt system decreased chest deflection significantly without increasing the forward displacement of the head. The THOR model and the THOR physical dummy predicted a 13- and 7-mm reduction in peak chest deflection, respectively. Peak diagonal belt force in the mechanical test with the reference belt was 5,582 N and the predicted force was 4,770 N. The THOR model also predicted lower belt forces with the SB system than observed in the tests (5,606 vs. 6,085 N). THUMS predicted somewhat increased head displacement for the SB system compared to the reference system. Peak diagonal force with the reference belt was 4,000 N and for the SB system it was 5,200 N. The PMHS test with the SB belt resulted in improved kinematics and a smaller number of rib fractures (2 vs. 5 fractures) compared to the reference belt.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Concepts for a belt system that can reduce the load on the chest of the occupant in a crash and thereby reduce the number of injured occupants, in particular the elderly, was proposed.</p

Study cases.

<p>Case indicates the anonymous ordinal number of autopsy. M, man; W, woman. Age’s group: LT (lower than), less or equal to 65 years; GT (greater than), 65 years.</p><p>* (asterisk): the two cases marked (with alcoholism) did not differ in results with respect to other cases, without significant changes in results.</p><p>Study cases.</p

Size descriptors plot of the piamater, white matter, amygdala, hippocampus and temporal horn of the lateral ventricle by age group (LT and GT), in both MRI and histological studies, and for both right and left hemispheres.

<p>Data are mean and standard deviation.</p

Plot of the volume (a-f), circularity form factor (g-k), and thickness (l) for the twelve studied cases; regression equation, correlation significance, and regression lines that fits the data are displayed.

<p>Hemispheric correlation (right and left) are shown in top, for MRI study. Correlation between MRI and histological measurements are shown at bottom, for right hemisphere. GM: Grey matter; WM: White matter; A: Amygdala; Hp: Hippocampus; LV: Lateral ventricle; TL: Temporal lobe; Th: Thickness (entorhinal cortex).</p

Plot of the size descriptors for the piamater, white matter, amygdala, hippocampus and temporal horn of the lateral ventricle sorted by groups of age (LT, lower than 65 years, and GT, greater than 65 years, see text) in both MRI and histological studies, as well as for both right and left hemispheres.

<p>Data represent mean and standard deviation.</p

Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli-2

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/8/103</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():103-103.</p><p>Published online 29 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2216080.</p><p></p>) of the posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus, respectively. For abbreviations, see list. Calibration bar: A, C 400 μm; B, D 200 μm

Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/8/103</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():103-103.</p><p>Published online 29 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2216080.</p><p></p>xtran-amine injection into the main olfactory bulb (A). For abbreviations, see list. Calibration bar: A 1250 μm; B, C, E 400 μm; D, F 100 μm

Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli-4

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/8/103</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():103-103.</p><p>Published online 29 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2216080.</p><p></p>xtran-amine injection into the main olfactory bulb (A). For abbreviations, see list. Calibration bar: A 1250 μm; B, C, E 400 μm; D, F 100 μm

Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli-1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/8/103</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():103-103.</p><p>Published online 29 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2216080.</p><p></p>the posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus (A). For abbreviations, see list. Calibration bar: A, B, E 400 μm; C, F 100 μm; D 50 μm

Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli-3

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Projections from the posterolateral olfactory amygdala to the ventral striatum: neural basis for reinforcing properties of chemical stimuli"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/8/103</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():103-103.</p><p>Published online 29 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2216080.</p><p></p>e nucleus accumbens (C), respectively. For abbreviations, see list. Calibration bar: A, C 400 μm; B, D 100 μm