Adaptive Lumbar Support/Alignment System

The objective of this program is to develop an adaptive lumbar support and alignment system that will serve to reduce spinal injuries to the lower spinal column for aircrew members involved in aircraft ejections or high impact helicopter crashes. Fractures of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebra are identified as the most dominant major type of injury that occurs during the high acceleration catapult stage of ejection. Similar statistics are observed with respect to helicopter mishaps. Inadequate alignment of the upper torso is the significant cause of lumbar spinal injuries in otherwise successful ejections or helicopter recovery. A support method is required to provide support and alignment to the lower spinal column during these high impact accelerations. The parameters and functional requirements that establish an optimal support and alignment system will be identified and quantified. A preliminary design and alternative design o options are provided. An analytical development procedure will be used to evaluate the preliminary design and design options. The Phase I program will accomplish a detailed conceptual design. The detailed conceptual design will provide an optimal lumbar support and alignment system as determined by the design Parameters and the analytical development of the system.