The Investigation of the Parameters of Head Injury Related to Acceleration and Deceleration

摘要

The report describes the results of a three year program in experimental head injury. During this period a highly successful head accelerating device was evolved. Major features of this machine include the application of a reproducible non-deforming stimulus to the head through a controlled path. A series of head acceleration experiments were conducted with this machine. Graded stimuli from no effect through concussion to lethality were found possible without deformation of the skull. Because of the reproducible acceleration waveform produced by this machine, statistical ranking of clinical signs of concussion is possible and is reported. From these experiments, clinical data as well as gross pathological findings are summarized. Detailed design criteria for the head accelerator are included in this report, as well as the associated instrumentation. Conclusions regarding the engineering and physiological findings are followed by recommendations for further work. (Author)