Applications of high-speed cineradiography to injury biomechanics research
Impact-induced head trauma and the resulting neurodegeneration has been linked to devastating health outcomes. While helmets have drastically reduced the incidence of severe focal brain injuries, their ability to prevent mild traumatic brain injuries is less certain. Current helmet testing standards for impact events focus on the rigid-body kinematics of head motion in the hope that they can be correlated to metrics of importance in leading injury mechanisms. These approaches typically rely on computational models to link these kinematic measures back to tissue strain/deformation profiles and ultimately to injury risk predictions; However, the data available for model calibration is quite sparse.
Our research has focused on developing new tools and techniques to complement existing helmet and injury evaluation methodologies, while imagining a new paradigm based on in situ deformation measurements. My biomechanics research program seeks to fill a number of knowledge gaps in the field of injury biomechanics surrounding impact trauma. My research makes use of a high-speed X-ray imaging system developed by our research group to investigate the dynamic response of cadaveric specimens, elastomeric head/brain surrogate models, and ex vivo tissue specimens. In this presentation, I will provide a high-level overview of our injury biomechanics research and how it fits within the broader injury biomechanics field.
Bio
Oren Petel is a Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to joining Carleton University in August 2013, he completed his PhD research at McGill University, where his focus was condensed phase detonation, terminal ballistics, and shock wave physics. Much of his current work is related to the dynamic response of multiphase protective materials and technologies, as well as development and use of novel diagnostic capabilities for injury biomechanics investigations. His group has developed several polymer nanocomposite materials that improve the ballistic performance of multilayer transparent armour and pelvic/extremity undergarment systems against environmental debris from improvised explosive devices. He is a recent recipient of the US Army’s Honorary Award for Science in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the Army’s Modernization Priority for Soldier Lethality and Soldier Protection.