Development of a child head analytical dynamic model considering cranial nonuniform thickness and curvature – Applying to children aged 0–1 years old. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Zhigang; Ji, Cheng; Wang, Lishu
• Is Part Of: Computer methods and programs in biomedicine. Volume 161(2018)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Child head -- Analytical model -- Cranial thickness -- Curvature -- Dynamic response -- Effect law; Medicine -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Biology -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Computers -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Biologie -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Biology -- Computer programs; Medicine -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2018.04.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-2607

Abstract

Highlights: A new analytical impact model considering actual cranial nonuniform thickness and curvature is developed and validated. A procedure is established to automatically calculate cranial thickness and curvature from medical images. The effect law of elastic modulus, cranial thickness and radius of curvature on child head dynamic responses are analyzed. Child head dynamic response variations at different head location are comparatively investigated. Abstract: Background and objective: Although analytical models have been used to quickly predict head response under impact condition, the existing models generally took the head as regular shell with uniform thickness which cannot account for the actual head geometry with varied cranial thickness and curvature at different locations. The objective of this study is to develop and validate an analytical model incorporating actual cranial thickness and curvature for child aged 0–1YO and investigate their effects on child head dynamic responses at different head locations. Methods: To develop the new analytical model, the child head was simplified into an irregular fluid-filled shell with non-uniform thickness and the cranial thickness and curvature at different locations were automatically obtained from CT scans using a procedure developed in this study. The implicit equation of maximum impact force was derived as a function of elastic modulus, thickness and radius of curvature of cranium. Results: The proposed analytical model are compared with cadaver test data of children aged 0–1 years old and it is shown to be accurate in predicting head injury metrics. According to this model, obvious difference in injury metrics were observed among subjects with the same age, but different cranial thickness and curvature; and the injury metrics at forehead location are significant higher than those at other locations due to large thickness it owns. Conclusions: The proposed model shows good biofidelity and can be used in quickly predicting the dynamics response at any location of head for child younger than 1 YO.