3D-printed wound channels

Although soft tissue simulants are widely used in ballistic research, glycerine soap is the only material that offers a clear view of the temporary cavity of a wound channel without the use of optical apparatus. However, the latter still shows some inconvenience mostly on its weight and its dehydration process when cut, making it challenging to carry and to store. In an attempt to overcome these issues, the authors tried printing the temporary cavity using 3D-printable materials, with no intention of producing a faithful reproduction suitable for micrometric analysis. Several shots were made with different firearms and ammunition in order to create temporary cavities in glycerine soap blocks manufactured by Mettler (CH, D). The next step in the process involved the conversion of each cavity into a 3D surface derived from computed tomography (CT) scans, in order to be printed using a 3D printer. The results obtained show clear and light representations of temporary cavities that can easily be stored and manipulated by any attendant or student for educational purposes, for instance. The methodology used and the results obtained are intended solely to illustrate temporary cavities for demonstration purposes in teaching or training. Under no circumstances does this technical note seek to present a new technique for the microscopic measurement of temporary wound cavities.