Table 1.
Common data elements for experimental blast exposure in preclinical studies
| Animal characteristics | |
| Species | Rattus norvegicus |
| Age range | 7–8 weeks at mbTBI |
| Sex | Female and male |
| Animal vendor | Charles River |
| Strain | Sprague–Dawley |
| Weight range | 200-240 g female; 240-280 g male |
| Animal History | |
| Housing | Group housed; 12 h light/dark cycle; food and water ad libitum; AAALAC accredited animal care facility maintained to USDA standards |
| Anesthetic type | Isoflurane (4% for induction, 2.5% for maintenance) |
| Anesthetic route | Inhaled |
| Analgesia type | N/A |
| Injury severity | Mild (blast) |
| Number of injury exposures | Single |
| Euthanasia type | Fatal Plus followed by perfusion and decapitation |
| Injury model characteristics | |
| Injury model | McMillan Blast Device |
| Device manufacturer | GLR Enterprises, Nicholasville, KY |
| Animal stabilization method | Rat is fully inside blast tube and laterally placed with respect to blast source. The thorax and lower body is shielded from direct blast forces while the head is unshielded and constrained inside a mesh netting to prevent head movement |
| Blast Elements | |
| Blast-induced delivery device | McMillan Blast Device |
| Pressure wave type | Single blast waves (Friedlander-style over- and under-pressure waves) |
| Detonation type | Compressed helium driver and Mylar® membrane |
| Detonation material quantity | 10 mil-thick Mylar sheet |
| Driver gas | Compressed helium |
| Pressure wave medium | Air |
| Blast tube cross-sectional area | 113 square inches |
| Blast tube length | 22.5 feet |
| Driven section length | 20 feet |
| Membrane thickness | 0.010 inches (0.254 mm/sheet) |
| Membrane burst method | Active puncture with pneumatic knife |
| Membrane burst pressure | ~ 33 psi |
| Tube end configuration | Open end |
| Animal orientation to blast wave | Lateral |
| Overpressure peak | ~ 11 psi |
| Positive overpressure duration | ~ 6.7 ms |
| Impulse | ~ 36 psi*ms |
| Pressure sensor type | Piezoresistive pressure transducers |
| Sampling frequency | 500 kHz |
| Body exposure | Head fully exposed; body partially exposed |
| Protective shielding location | Thorax and lower body partially protected |
| Protective shielding type | Metal tubing |
| Primary blast effects | Various |
| Secondary blast effects | N/A |
| Tertiary blast effects | N/A |
| Quaternary blast effects | N/A |
| Systemic injuries | None |
| Extracranial injuries | None |