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Soft-armor Vest Effectiveness and Intrathoracic Biomechanics in Rodents Exposed to Primary Blast

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Abstract

The biomechanics and efficacy of personal protective equipment in mitigating injuries from blast overpressure remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to define intrathoracic pressures in response to blast wave (BW) exposure and biomechanically evaluate a soft-armor vest (SA) at diminishing these perturbations. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were instrumented with pressure sensors in the thorax and were exposed laterally to multiple exposures ranging from 33 to 108 kPa BW with SA and without SA. There were significant increases in rise time, peak negative pressure, and negative impulse in the thoracic cavity compared to the BW. Esophageal measurements were increased to a greater extent when compared to the carotid and the BW for all parameters (except positive impulse, which decreased). SA minimally altered the pressure parameters and energy content. This study establishes the relationship of external blast flow conditions and intra-body biomechanical responses in the thoracic cavity of rodents with and without SA.

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Acknowledgments

Disclaimer: Material has been reviewed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. There is no objection to its presentation and/or publication. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author, and are not to be construed as official, or as reflecting true views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. Research was conducted under an approved animal use protocol in an AAALAC International-accredited facility in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and all other federal statutes and regulations relating to animals and experiments involving animals, and adheres to principles stated in the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, NRC Publication, 2011 edition.

Funding

This research is funded by CDMRP-PRMRP research program under award W81XWH1920058.

Data Availability

Access to the complete data set can be obtained through a material transfer agreement by contacting the corresponding author.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA

    Elizabeth M. McNeil, Michael J. Reilly, Donna M. Wilder, Meghan A. Benton, Joseph B. Long & Venkata Siva Sai S. Sajja

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  1. Elizabeth M. McNeil
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  2. Michael J. Reilly
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  3. Donna M. Wilder
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  4. Meghan A. Benton
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  5. Joseph B. Long
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  6. Venkata Siva Sai S. Sajja
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Correspondence to Venkata Siva Sai S. Sajja.

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Associate Editor Jillian Urban oversaw the review of this article.

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McNeil, E.M., Reilly, M.J., Wilder, D.M. et al. Soft-armor Vest Effectiveness and Intrathoracic Biomechanics in Rodents Exposed to Primary Blast. Ann Biomed Eng 51, 1616–1626 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03174-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03174-5

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