RESEARCH & TESTING

Vector Scientific (and its prior entity Biomechanics Research & Consulting, Inc.) has conducted both internally and externally funded research as part of our mission to conduct "original scientific research in order to advance the applied science of forensic biomechanics."

In our research endeavors we utilize our background and experience in physical testing, computational biomechanics (mathematical modeling/simulation), statistical methods, and thousands of real-world accident case investigations and reconstructions.

VSI has a successful track record of research collaborations with prestigious universities, private corporations, and national and international amateur and professional sports organizations including:

  • Colorado School of Mines (CSM Center for Biomechanics & Rehabilitation Research, Computational Biomechanics Group)
  • J2 Engineering
  • MEA Forensics
  • National Hockey League (NHL)
  • United States Cycling Federation (USCF)
  • United States Olympic Committee (USOC Sport Science & Technology Division)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Department of Physiological Science & UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB Engineering)
  • University of Colorado (CU Health Science Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Biomechanics Laboratory)
  • University of Southern California (USC Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy)
  • Wayne State University (WSU Department of Biomedical Engineering)

We have received external funding from:

  • National Hockey League (NHL)
  • Science Council of British Columbia (SCBC) Technology BC
  • Investments in Research and Development United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Sport Science Technology & Committee

Our research has included work in the areas of:

    Automobile Impact Injury Biomechanics
  • Rollover crash injuries including analysis of case studies and NASS-CDS data for injury patterns and related crash variables
  • Children in rollover collisions (assessing restraint system use, effectiveness, injury risk using NASS-CDS analysis and statistics)
  • Cervical spine injury biomechanics in low-speed rear-end impacts (measuring head/neck kinematics, muscle dynamics, and injury biomechanics in full-scale car crash tests with live human volunteers)
  • Forensic determination of seat belt use (generating collision induced markings and other belt evidence in sled tests with ATDs)
  • Head restraint head impact dynamics and cervical disc injury biomechanics (seat back and head restraint design evaluation)
  • Instrument panel knee impact dynamics and associated meniscus injury biomechanics (using cadaver lower extremity specimens)
  • Physical evidence, modeling, and simulation of occupant kinematics and seat belt usage
    Sport/Recreation Impact Injury Biomechanics
  • Evaluation of the protective capacity of ice hockey goaltender masks
  • In-depth analysis and reconstruction of equestrian jockey accidents and their helmets
  • Head impact dynamics of helmeted hockey players onto dasher board cap-rail designs (instrumented headform impacts)
  • Head impact dynamics of helmeted hockey players into glass-terminal post padding designs (instrumented headform impacts)
  • Head/face impact dynamics and injury tolerance from hockey puck impacts (field data, puck velocity analysis, and injury mechanics)
  • Ice resurface machine passenger/rider safety feasibility study
  • Bicycle shoe-pedal interface dynamics and overuse knee injury biomechanics
  • Bicycle seat design pressure patterns and injury assessment
  • Ski lift tower pole padding performance and injury mitigation
    Industrial/Occupational Impact Injury Biomechanics
  • Framing construction nailgun dynamics, injury mechanics, and patellar fracture patterns (using cadaver lower extremity specimens)
  • Framing construction nailgun dynamics, injury mechanics, and safety helmet protection (using surrogate skulls)
  • Fall injury biomechanics and injury risk assessment onto protective floor mats used bedside in hospital/care settings
  • Industrial floor sweeper seated operator dynamics and lumbar spine injury mechanics
  • Slip and fall dynamics and tribometer measurement techniques, validation, and repeatability

Our research has been published in academic journals, scientific conference proceedings, and invited book chapters including:

  • Applications in Engineering Science
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
  • American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
  • The American Journal of Sports Medicine
  • Annals of Biomedical Engineering
  • Applied Sciences
  • Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)
  • Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference
  • Clinical Biomechanics
  • Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering
  • Frontiers in Whiplash Trauma: Clinical and Biomechanical
  • IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
  • International Congress on Biomechanics (ISB International Society of Biomechanics)
  • International Journal of Crashworthiness
  • International Journal of Sport Biomechanics
  • International Journal of Mechanical Sciences
  • International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering
  • International Symposium on Whiplash
  • IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact
  • Journal of Applied Biomechanics
  • Journal of Biomechanics
  • Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
  • Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
  • Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
  • Journal of Testing and Evaluation
  • Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
  • National Academy of Forensic Engineers
  • North American Congress on Biomechanics (NACOB: ASB American Society of Biomechanics & ISB International Society of Biomechanics)
  • Orthopaedic Research Society
  • Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Stapp Car Crash Conference
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • Sports Biomechanics
  • Sports Engineering
  • Sports Medicine
  • Sports Medicine Open
  • World Congress of Biomechanics
  • World Congress on Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Our work has been presented at scientific conferences:

  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports
  • International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) Congress on Biomechanics
  • International Symposium on Whiplash
  • International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research
  • IRCOBI International Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact
  • Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Ice Hockey Summit III: Action on Concussion
  • North American Congress on Biomechanics (NACOB)
  • Stapp Car Crash Conference
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress
  • Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists
  • Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators
  • The 20th Biennial Meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics
  • The Sport Concussion Conference
  • World Congress of Biomechanics
  • World Congress on Whiplash-Associated Disorders

We have been invited to lecture/present to:

  • ABA Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
  • Association of Biomedical Communication Directors, Biocommunications Association, Health Sciences Communications Association Joint Meeting
  • CLM 2016 Product Liability Conference
  • Colorado School of Mines (Bioengineering)
  • DRI Product Liability Conference
  • International Society of Biomechanics
  • National Institute of Forensic Studies
  • SOAR/WATAI/TAARS Combined Conference
  • Texas A&M University (Texas Engineering Extension Service)
  • UCLA (Department of Physiological Science)
  • University of Colorado (Department of Integrative Physiology)
  • University of Colorado Fleming Law School

Our research has been nominated for international awards:

  • Finalist International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) Clinical Biomechanics Award
  • Finalist International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) Young Investigator Poster Award
  • Finalist International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) Young Investigator Poster Award