A new method to assess the deformations of internal organs of the abdomen during impact

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Due to limitations of classic imaging approaches, the internal response of abdominal organs is difficult to observe during an impact. Within the context of impact biomechanics for the protection of the occupant of transports, this could be an issue for human model validation and injury prediction.

Methods: In the current study, a previously developed technique (ultrafast ultrasound imaging) was used as the basis to develop a protocol to observe the internal response of abdominal organs in situ at high imaging rates. The protocol was applied to 3 postmortem human surrogates to observe the liver and the colon during impacts delivered to the abdomen.

Results: The results show the sensitivity of the liver motion to the impact location. Compression of the colon was also quantified and compared to the abdominal compression.

Conclusions: These results illustrate the feasibility of the approach. Further tests and comparisons with simulations are under preparation.

KEYWORDS:

• abdominal injury
• front impact
• cadavers
• ultrafast ultrasonography

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Leila Benboubaker, Stéphane Ardizzone, and Yves Caire for their valuable assistance.

Conflict of interest

MT is a founder and shareholder of Supersonic Imagine. JLG is a scientific consultant for Supersonic Imagine.

Funding

The authors thank the Region Rhône-Alpes for its financial support.