IIHS Introduces Damage and Brain Injury Assessment in Testing Standards
Improving Vehicle Safety: The Role of the Diffuse Axonal Multi-Axis General Evaluation (DAMAGE)
The automotive industry is making strides in improving vehicle safety, particularly in reducing the risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during crashes. One of the key advancements in this area is the Diffuse Axonal Multi-Axis General Evaluation (DAMAGE) metric.
DAMAGE is a comprehensive assessment tool developed by the University of Virginia that helps quantify the likelihood and severity of diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a primary mechanism in TBIs during crashes. Unlike traditional linear acceleration measures, which primarily focus on skull fractures or focal injuries, DAMAGE focuses on rotational dynamics, which are strongly linked to DAI.
The multi-axis approach of DAMAGE considers the complex rotational head motions that occur in real-world crashes, providing a more accurate prediction of brain injury risk. This aligns with how rotational forces in actual impacts affect the brain in intricate ways, rather than just around a single axis.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has been at the forefront of this development. In 2012, they introduced rotational motion sensors into their dummy fleet and began evaluating new ways to interpret the data. They found that about 60 dummies revealed potential risks that the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) alone did not capture.
In response, the IIHS has integrated DAMAGE into its crash test criteria. By combining DAMAGE with HIC, they can provide a more complete assessment of head injury risk. This change could lead to improvements in airbag designs to help reduce rotational brain injuries.
The IIHS has applied DAMAGE to about 800 crash tests, confirming its effectiveness. Advanced crash test dummies with up to 200 sensors are used to measure the risk of rotational brain injury. These sensors provide detailed data on how the human body would respond in a crash, enabling more sensitive detection of subtle brain injury mechanisms.
The NFL has also adopted a metric for assessing the risk of rotational brain injury, recognising the importance of this issue in sports safety as well. DAMAGE's multi-axis, tissue deformation-based approach provides a more detailed and applicable assessment framework for both sports and automotive safety contexts.
In conclusion, the DAMAGE metric is a significant step forward in the field of vehicle safety. By providing a more accurate prediction of brain injury risk, it allows for improved helmet and vehicle safety design, enhanced regulatory and evaluation standards, and a more comprehensive assessment of injury risk. This could lead to a reduction in the number of TBIs sustained in crashes, making our roads safer for everyone.
- Scientists and medical professionals are exploring the potential applications of the DAMAGE metric beyond vehicle safety, such as in the field of neurological disorders and sports safety.
- With its focus on rotational dynamics and tissue deformation, DAMAGE could provide valuable insights into the management of fitness and exercise regimens for individuals with medical conditions or nutritional imbalances that put them at risk of neurological disorders.
- Therapies and treatments for neurological disorders like DAI could be enhanced by integrating DAMAGE's multi-axis approach, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanical forces at play in the brain during injury.
- The popularity of CBD as a natural supplement for health and wellness could be impacted by research into its potential role in reducing the severity of rotational brain injuries, particularly in cases where traditional therapies and treatments have proven ineffective.
