Engineers say scanning the bone density of fingers could help to prevent car injuries by better tailoring seat belt and airbag systems, according to a June 14 CBC news report. Researchers in Britain are exploring whether adding an ultrasound finger scanner in the dashboard or door could lead to smarter seatbelts that measure how much strain someone can handle. The scanner information would feed into the restraint system in addition to other data used to detect the conditions for firing airbags and controlling the seatbelt operating characteristics. The chest area is particularly vulnerable during collisions, researchers say. Before commercializing the technology, the team from the Cranfield Impact Research Centre in Bedfordshire, U.K. plans to investigate how the device could be added into cars. They will also study what effects it would have on battery and engine performance, according to the CBC report.