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Thoracic injuries are frequently observed in motor vehicle crashes, and rib fractures are the most common of those injuries. Thoracic response targets have previously been developed from data obtained from post-mortem human subject (PMHS) tests in frontal loading conditions, most commonly of mid-size males. Traditional scaling methods are employed to identify differences in thoracic response for various demographic groups, but it is often unknown if these applications are appropriate, especially considering the limited number of tested PMHS from which those scaling factors originate. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish a new scaling approach for generating age-, sex-, and body size-dependent thoracic responses utilizing structural properties of human ribs from direct testing of various demographics.

Children recovering from cervical spine injuries may need a halo orthosis, which rarely fits into traditional child restraint systems (CRS) during motor vehicle travel. The objectives are to affix a halo orthosis to a 3-year-old anthropomorphic test device (ATD) and to explore the effectiveness of alternative safety restraints for these occupants. The head of the ATD was modified to allow proper insertion of halo pins. The ATD was restrained in either a backless booster or a RideSafer Travel Vest (RSTV) with and without the halo orthosis. The shoulder belt routing over the halo bars caused axial rotation of the occupant during frontal impacts, which increased lateral and torsional neck loads compared to tests without the halo. The halo decreased frontal neck shear and bending compared to tests without the halo. Loose fit between the halo vest and the torso of the ATD likely contributed to a concentration of loads in the cervical spine.