Body armors:Body armors:interests and limitsinterests and limits

Médecin Principal Nicolas PRAT, MD, PhD

EuroballisticsEuropean Society for Wound BallisticsInstitut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, FranceUniversité Claude Bernard Lyon1, France

MaterialsMaterials

CompositionComposition

Stopping mechanismStopping mechanism

PerformancePerformance

InjuriesInjuries

- Penetrating- Penetrating

- BABT- BABT

Bullet proof Jacket

Bullet proof Jacket

1920’s1920’s

Infanterie-Panzer

Brewster Body Armor

Washington, D.C., 1923

FibersFibers

materialsmaterialsBullet proof Jacket

CeramicCeramic

compositioncompositionBullet proof Jacket

Soft ballistic packHard ballistic pack (+/-)Anti-trauma

Bullet proof Jacket

Soft pack

Shear stress Tensile stress

Min. Intérieur/CTSI

stopping mechanismstopping mechanism

stopping mechanismstopping mechanismBullet proof Jacket

Soft pack

Min. Intérieur/CTSI

Bullet proof Jacket

Hard plate (ceramic)

stopping mechanismstopping mechanism

Stopping power ≠ protective powerprotection / mobilityNo stabbing protection

performancesperformancesBullet proof Jacket

INJURIES

The projectile avoids the jacket- Classic penetrating injuries- Anatomical particularities - Modification of the injuries body

distribution

The projectile goes trough the jacket- Loose of protective qualities- Inadequate protection level- Worsen injuries ?

Penetrating injuriesPenetrating injuries

Injuries

Behind Armor Blunt trauma

Blunt injuriesBlunt injuries

Thoracic wallCardiovascularPulmonary

Wounding effectWounding effectBehind Armor Blunt Trauma

HDPECeramic

HDPECeramic

Thoracic wallCardiovascularPulmonary

Wounding effectWounding effectBehind Armor Blunt Trauma

HDPECeramic

Thoracic wallCardiovascularPulmonary

Wounding effectWounding effectBehind Armor Blunt Trauma

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

• Penetrating injuries:Penetrating injuries:– Unquestionable need for bullet proof jacket

– Fitting to the threat

• BABT:BABT:– Potentially lethal in animal research– Quid in human? (need for more data)– Need for medical attention in wounded– Research is ongoing to improve the protective power

(anatomical lesions and incapacitation effect)

• Body armor effectsBody armor effects– Wounds redistribution to the unprotected areas– Interest/Limits = Mobility/Protection– Need for a real observational study