Browsing by Author "McNally, Craig"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Bicycle Helmet STAR Protocol
    Bland, Megan L.; McNally, Craig; Rowson, Steven (Virginia Tech, 2018-06-25)
    This document details the protocol used to rate adult bicycle helmets based on concussion risk according to the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings.
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    Development of the STAR Evaluation System for Assessing Bicycle Helmet Protective Performance
    Bland, Megan L.; McNally, Craig; Zuby, David S.; Mueller, Becky C.; Rowson, Steven (Biomedical Engineering Society, 2019-08-01)
    Cycling is a leading cause of mild traumatic brain injury in the US. While bicycle helmets help protect cyclists who crash, limited biomechanical data exist differentiating helmet protective capabilities. This paper describes the development of a bicycle helmet evaluation scheme based in real-world cyclist accidents and brain injury mechanisms. Thirty helmet models were subjected to oblique impacts at six helmet locations and two impact velocities. The summation of tests for the analysis of risk (STAR) equation, which condenses helmet performance from a range of tests into a single value, was used to summarize measured linear and rotational head kinematics in the context of concussion risk. STAR values varied between helmets (10.9–25.3), with lower values representing superior protection. Road helmets produced lower STAR values than urban helmets. Helmets with slip planes produced lower STAR values than helmets without. This bicycle helmet evaluation protocol can educate consumers on the relative impact performance of various helmets and stimulate safer helmet design.
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    Methodology for assessing the biomechanical performance of helmets
    (United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2017-10-24)
    The present invention provides a method for testing a helmet that uses a risk function that incorporates both linear and rotational acceleration to predict the helmet's ability to prevent a concussion. In certain embodiments, the testing matrix includes 3 impact energy levels and 4 impact locations, for a total of 12 testing conditions per helmet.