Table 1.

Blast simulator tube characteristics.

Blast tube inner diameter	2 inches (5.1 cm)
Expansion tube length	65 inches (165 cm)
Compression chamber length	4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Compression chamber peak pressure	3170 ± 209 kPa
Compression gas	Helium
Mylar burst membranes	12.7 mm (total thickness)
Tube incident pressure	483 ± 55 kPa (measured in tube, 7.62 cm from exit)
Reflected pressure	1380 ± 110 kPa (measured 2.54 cm from tube exit)
Distance from tube exit to rat head	2.54 cm
Animal shielding	Body shielded by plastic cylinder

Compression chamber pressure and tube incident pressure were monitored with each use, and values are means ± s.e.m. from 8 trials.

Reflected pressure is mean ± s.e.m. from 3 measures obtained during instrument calibration with compression chamber peak pressure 3170 kPa and mean tube incident pressure 483 psi.