We are a team of world-class engineers and scientists that provides testing, analysis, and other consulting services to companies across the globe.

Biocore

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Pushing the envelope

Biocore’s mission is to provide the highest level of engineering and analytics expertise to clients dedicated to the understanding and reduction of injury. We do this by performing influential and highly-cited research, maintaining state-of-the-art testing capabilities, and leveraging a global network of leaders in biomechanical engineering and data analytics.

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  • Analytics, AI & ML

    The Analytics, AI, and Machine Learning team leverages athlete-worn sensors, video-derived data, and injury databases to identify interventions that can mitigate risk for athletes in professional and amateur sports.

    Our work leverages statistical and machine learning models for risk analysis, computer vision models for head impact detection, and on-field pose estimation for recreation and simulation of injury events.

    This modeling informs injury reduction strategies through the implementation of better training schedules, improvement of athlete load management, refinement of rules to mitigate risky behavior, adaption of athlete-specific techniques, and fielding of improved equipment.

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Biomechanics

Biocore has over 150 years cumulative experience developing and applying engineering knowledge for protecting people in automotive, sports, military, and other environments.

  • Injury Prevention Programs

    Leverage our in-house experts and external engineering network to design and implement injury prevention programs.

  • Health and Safety

    Provide engineering expertise to professional sport and other health and safety committees and assess sports equipment protection.

  • Automotive Safety

    Assess restraint biomechanics and performance, including seatbelts and airbags, child seat performance, and improve crash protection for the obese.

  • Anthropomorphic Test Devices

    Perform biomechanical engineering and impact testing using anthropomorphic test devices (crash test dummies).

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Computational Modeling

Biocore leverages finite element (FE) modeling, musculoskeletal modeling, and statistical shape analysis for biomechanical applications. We have used human FE models to understand the injury mechanisms of concussions as well as upper and lower extremity injuries. In addition, modeling has been used to design testing protocols and safety equipment for players and occupants. In collaborating with university partners, we have developed FE models of equipment (helmets, cleats, and shoulder pads) and parametric artificial turf.

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  • Consulting & Research

    Our experts model complex injury scenarios as well as validate injury claims.

    • Automotive Crash Injuries

      • Restraint-induced injuries and restraint effectiveness.
      • Restraint use.
      • Occupant kinematics.
      • Pedestrian injury biomechanics.
      • Traumatic brain injury.
      • Thoracic injury.
      • Abdominal injury.
      • Injuries of the hip, thigh, knee, leg, ankle, and foot.

    • Sports Injuries

      • Concussion
      • Spinal injuries
      • Injuries of the knee, ankle, and foot
      • Equipment performance and standards

    • Forensic Injury Biomechanics

      • Mechanisms of injury
      • Methods and admissibility of scientific evidence challenged under Frye, Daubert, and other standards.
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Helmets

From analyzing video footage of concussive impacts to developing helmet test protocols, the Biocore team is instrumental in providing both on-field and laboratory data to educate athletes on helmet performance. The team has utilized and developed state-of-the-art test equipment to mimic and study on-field helmet impacts with a goal of characterizing both the resulting kinematics of the head and the underlying deformations of brain tissue during impact.

The team strives to provide actionable data that can inform rule-makers and to work closely with current helmet manufacturers to provide information that can be used to improve upon existing helmet technology. The team has also developed customized data-driven protocols for testing helmet add-on devices and other equipment meant to enhance player protection.

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Lower Extremities

  • While lower extremity injuries are a significant and persistent burden to elite athletes; the circumstances, mechanism, and outcomes of these injuries can be as varied as the players themselves.

    Challenged with these unique problems, our goals are to understand the causal factors leading to injury and then to design and implement mitigation strategies to reduce the injury burden for athletes.

  • Biocore brings together a multidisciplinary group with backgrounds in lower extremity musculoskeletal biomechanics, athlete performance, footwear design and construction, turf and soil surface management and design, and statistical and epidemiological injury tracking.

    • Biomechans of Thigh, Knee, Ankle, and Midfoot Injuries
    • Athlete Performance Tracking
    • Shoe/Surface Interaction Assessment for Performance and Injury
    • Play Surface Characterization
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Mouthguard Sensors

The goal of the mouthguard sensor program is to improve head impact protection for athletes. Biocore has led a design effort to create an instrumented mouthguard that captures motion of the head during impact. The instrumented mouthguard measures three-dimensional linear acceleration and angular acceleration of the head.

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Product Testing

Biocore performs world-class biomechanical engineering research and testing using our in-house state-of-the-art laboratory and our global network of university and engineering industry collaborators. We maintain an array of high-tech testing equipment including drop towers, impactors, turf testers, shoe flexion devices, and a host of other engineering research resources.

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Biocore in the Press