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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to create a
computational model of the pregnant occupant of a motor vehicle to predict fetal
outcome in crashes. STUDY DESIGN: A finite element uterine model of a 7-month
pregnant woman was created and integrated into a multibody human model.
Unrestrained, three-point belt, and three-point belt plus airbag tests were
simulated at speeds that ranged from 13 to 55 km per hour. RESULTS: Peak uterine
strain, as determined by the model, correlated well with the risk of fetal
death, as determined by investigations of car crashes. The strain in the uterine
wall exceeded the limits of the tissue in simulations of no restraint at 35 km
per hour and three-point belt tests at 45 and 55 km per hour. The safest
restraint for the pregnant driver is the combination three-point belt and
airbag. CONCLUSION: The model is a good first step toward the prediction of the
risk of fetal death and verified experimental findings that note the importance
of proper restraint use for the pregnant occupant. |