Citation

Raymond D, van Ee C, Crawford G, Bir C. J. Biomech. 2009; 42(15): 2479-2485.

Affiliation

Wayne State University, Bioengineering Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.07.018

PMID

19674749

Abstract

Less-lethal ballistic projectiles are used by police personnel to temporarily incapacitate suspects. While the frequency of these impacts to the head is low, they account for more serious injuries than impacts to any other body region. As a result, there is an urgent need to assess the tolerance of the head to such impacts. The focus of this study was to investigate the tolerance of the temporo-parietal skull to blunt ballistic impact and establish injury criteria for risk assessment. Seven unembalmed isolated cadaver heads were subjected to fourteen impacts. Specimens were instrumented with a nine-accelerometer array as well as strain gages surrounding the impact site. Impacts were performed with a 38mm instrumented projectile at velocities ranging from 18 to 37m/s. CT images and autopsies were performed to document resulting fractures. Peak fracture force for the seven resulting fractures was 5633+/-2095N. Peak deformation for fracture-producing impacts was 7.8+/-3.2mm. The blunt criterion (BC), peak force and principal strain were determined to be the best predictors of depressed comminuted fractures. Temporo-parietal tolerance levels were consistent with previous studies. An initial force tolerance level of 2346N is established for the temporo-parietal region for blunt ballistic impact with a 38mm diameter impactor.

Language: en