Low-cost blast wave generator for studies of hearing loss and brain injury: blast wave effects in closed spaces.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Military personnel and civilians living in areas of armed conflict have increased risk of exposure to blast overpressures that can cause significant hearing loss and/or brain injury. The equipment used to simulate comparable blast overpressures in animal models within laboratory settings is typically very large and prohibitively expensive.

New method

To overcome the fiscal and space limitations introduced by previously reported blast wave generators, we developed a compact, low-cost blast wave generator to investigate the effects of blast exposures on the auditory system and brain.

Results

The blast wave generator was constructed largely from off the shelf components, and reliably produced blasts with peak sound pressures of up to 198dB SPL (159.3kPa) that

SUBMITTER: Newman AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4331227 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature