Neck Load Simulation During Individual Warfighting Postures and Maneuvers Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-170 Topic Title: Neck Load Simulation During Individual Warfighting Postures and Maneuvers Proposal No.: N102-170-0009 Firm: Mustard Seed Software, LLC 1634 Brandywine Drive Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-2802 Contact: Simeon Fitch Phone: (210) 867-1616 Web Site: http://mseedsoft.com/ Abstract: The proposed project focuses on the development of a prototype application to estimate neck load of a dismounted Warfighter engaged in three common mission tasks (i.e. marching, running, and jumping), using an existing verified and validated physics-based computational neck model. In contrast to forward dynamics models (such as that described in (Ryan McCullough)), our physics-based cervical spine finite element model approach includes explicit representations of the head and full cervical column, including all vertebrae, intervertebral discs, ligaments, as well as active muscles, and can compute loads, stresses, and strains in each of these components as well as overall dynamic loading in the neck. Our model has been extensively verified and validated against a suite of quasi-static and dynamic experimental data and has been shown to be highly accurate. By employing a biomechanical component-based approach, where models for each tissue type are treated individually, we not only have a simulation that is more accurate and able to be better validated over a forward dynamics model, but that also results in higher-fidelity simulations able to predict very specific local injuries and overall (global) neck injuries with a high level of accuracy. Benefits: We foresee great commercialization potential in providing critical quantitative assessment of the risk of neck injury under a wide variety of activities. For example, the following organizations, groups, and industries involve the possibility of debilitating or catastrophic neck injuries routinely:  DoD interests where, during normal or extraordinary mission-related activities, mounted or dismounted Warfighters and Soldiers may be placed in scenarios involving potential neck injury  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and astronaut safety industry  Automobile occupant safety, including high-speed racing events (i.e. NASCAR and F1)  "First responders," such as emergency medical and firefighting forces, that may be subject to abnormal neck loads due to necessary head mounted protective or task-assisting systems  Construction safety industry  Recreational and professional sports equipment  Ergonomic design industry  Amusement park industry The general framework presented herein also allows for investigation of injury potential and mitigation in other critical and non-critical musculoskeletal systems that are of importance to other DoD and commercial entities. Because of the expense and safety considerations of human testing, we see a significant opportunity for a validated neck simulation tool and supporting services in commercial and federal markets. Return