Validating a Device for Whiplash Motion Simulation in a Porcine Model

Paper i proceeding, 2021

Whiplash injury is a common outcome following minor automobile collisions. One theorized

mechanism for whiplash injury is that the rapid head and neck motions induced by a collision can

injure nerve cells in the dorsal root ganglia through pressure gradients developed in the spinal

canal and surrounding tissues. This injury mechanism has previously been studied in human

cadaver and porcine models. However, the whiplash motion simulation methods in the latter

studies lacked the control necessary to explore the independent effects of head rotation and

retraction on the measured spinal pressures. This project aimed to address the limitations of

previous porcine whiplash studies by developing and validating a new whiplash motion simulation

device to enable further study of this injury mechanism. The new proposed device consists of two

servomotors which can be programmed to precisely actuate a headplate through mechanical

linkages. For the current study, an inert surrogate model was used for preliminary testing of the

device using a whiplash motion profile from previous porcine studies. The time scale of the motion

profile was adjusted to incrementally increase severity. The positional accuracy and repeatability

of the device was assessed through marker tracking of the headplate and logging of the motor

encoder positions. Angular rates and linear accelerations of the plate were also measured. Testing

demonstrated the strengths of the proposed device in accurately and repeatably replicating

programmed motion profiles. Some design modifications can potentially enable simulating

whiplash motion severities commensurate with previous porcine whiplash studies. With future

testing using this device, our understanding of the pressure-induced whiplash injury mechanism

can be improved, which can inform effective treatments and preventative measures for whiplash

injury.