Title: Simulation of a human head subject to a lateral rotational impact and study on the cause of a diffuse axonal injury

Authors: D. Watanabe; K. Yuge; T. Nishimoto; S. Murakami; H. Takao

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ube National College of Technology, 2-14-1, Tokiwadai, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. ' Faculty of Science and Technology, Seikei University, Kitamachi 3-3-1, Kitamachi, Kichijoji, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan. ' College of Engineering, Nihon University, 1, Tokusada-Nakagawa, Tamura-machi, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima, Japan. ' Murakami Clinic, 7-38-8, Ichinoe, Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. ' School of Medicine, Jikei University, 3-25-8, Nishishinbashi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: This paper aims to study the cause of a Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) due to an impact. FEM simulation of a human head was conducted to understand intracranial response under a lateral impact. The obtained results showed that stresses are distributed in specific areas: the corpus callosum, the brain stem and the inside of the temporal lobe. It was confirmed that the localisations of brain functions in the greater stress areas correspond to the residual disorders in a DAI. It is expected that injury to the brain stem and the cerebral limbic system is in fact a DAI.

Keywords: vehicle safety; brain injury; DAI; diffuse axonal injury; FEM; finite element method; lateral impact; VOXEL head model; impact simulation; brain stem; cerebral limbic system; higher brain dysfunction; automobile industry; modelling; head injuries; intracranial response; stress; automotive safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2011.045774

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2011 Vol.5 No.4, pp.333 - 344

Received: 14 Sep 2011
Accepted: 08 Nov 2011
Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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