Team 2
Bevor, Inc.: Deployable Neck Brace for Reduced Axial Loading and Increased Spinal and Collarbone Protection for Motorcyclists
Bevor, Inc.: Deployable Neck Brace for Reduced Axial Loading and Increased Spinal and Collarbone Protection for Motorcyclists
Team Members: Cooper Bertke, Devin Dulay, Kevin Thieu - SBHSE
Team Mentors: Dr. Jitendran Muthuswamy - SBHSE
Dr. Gary Yamaguchi - Rimkus
YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting
Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/98159829503
Abstract
Bevor is an emerging company seeking to introduce innovation into motorcycle protective equipment. We seek to reduce the number of neck injuries sustained by motorcyclists each year. In 2016, there were 8.7 million registered motorcycles within the United States alone. Of those 8.7 million registered motorcycles in 2016, there were 5,286 fatalities and around 89,500 injuries. One of the most common causes of neck-related deaths among motorcyclists is from spinal cord rupture above the C3 vertebrae with a fracture. To prevent harm in such cases as well as in many other circumstances, our device was created to offer more protection for the cervical spine, prevent axial loading, and prevent collarbone injury while not restricting the movements of the user. In order to achieve this goal, we have determined the major categories of device specifications to be: crash response time, material properties, pre-deployment mechanical and post-deployment mechanical properties, and human factors. Combining needs and specifications, we have created a neck brace that maximizes mobility and protection for the rider. Through the deployment of an airbag, our device limits the range of motion within the cervical spine during a crash. All product development efforts have been conducted in compliance with Title 21 Part 820 (Quality System Regulation) of the Code of Federal Regulations in order to design a safe and effective medical device. We have refined the design of the neck brace through multiple iterations of virtual and physical prototypes including extensive experiments that were designed and conducted to validate each performance metric of the device. The primary performance metrics validated were the circuit response time, post-deployment range of motion, and the neck injury criteria score. Following the validation of performance metrics, the development team is confident in the brace’s ability to protect the user’s cervical spine in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
