Integration of Subject-Specific Rib Cages in Human Body Models for Injury Analysis
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Finite element human body models (HBMs) are widely used to understand thoracic injury tolerance in motor vehicle crashes. Baseline HBMs can be morphed to demographic based targets from geometric variability studies [1]. However, these statistical shape models only account for 50% of rib cage variability despite evidence suggesting that rib cage shape influences injury risk [2]. This study addresses this limitation by integrating subject-specific rib cage shapes into an HBM to assess their influence on injury outcomes. Subject rib cages [3] were integrated into an average male HBM using radial basis function interpolation. 528 landmarks were collected on each subject’s rib cage and sternum using custom MATLAB code. 3D surface deviation between morphed and target geometry was calculated, and rib cage measurements of morphed models were compared to their target measurements. Morphed models were simulated in a frontal and oblique thoracic hub impact. Peak force, peak deflection, and rib fracture probability were related back to rib cage measurements via multivariate multiple linear regression at a significance of α = 0.05. 1,052 morphed models were created. The average absolute 3D deviation was below 4 mm. The largest deviation in rib cage measurements was seen in rib cage height, with an average deviation of 2.75% of the target value. A total of 2,104 simulations were run across both load cases. 81% of frontal simulations normal terminated while 78% of oblique simulations normal terminated. Exemplar model traces are provided in Figure 1. Peak force, peak deflection, and number of predicted rib fractures showed varying correlations with rib cage measurements and begin to span the range seen experimentally. These results expand the investigation of injury outcomes to a broader range of the population while using real-world rib cages instead of statistical averages. It also presents the possibility of individualized risk outcomes.
