A Personal Computer-Based Head-Spine Model

Abstract : The Head-Spine Model (HSM) originally developed for the Unix environment was recoded for the personal computer. This recode included code improvements and bug fixes, as well as the development of a graphical interface for creating simulations. The HSM can be used to predict the forces and motions of a human spinal column. The vertebrae are modeled with rigid bodies while hydrodynamic elements model the intevertebral discs. A full set of ligamenteous and active muscular models is also incorporated. External accelerations can be applied to the system and the resulting response calculated. A novel method of calculating an initial equilibrium position was incorporated. Several simulations of frontal and vertical accelerations were conducted to demonstrate the utility of the software. Along with the HSM, a database of spinal element properties was created. This database can be separately used from the software to determine mass, material, and geometric properties of the spinal elements as derived from a variety of sources in the literature.