{"id":137557,"key":"TissueDB/Materials/Ballistic_Gel","title":"TissueDB/Materials/Ballistic Gel","latest":{"id":1259832,"timestamp":"2026-08-10T23:41:17Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{TissueDB Material Layout\n| hero_image = Aimed Research Sub-Microsecond Photography of Federal Power-Shok 100grn .243.JPG\n| hero_image_caption = Ballistic gelatin block showing wound channel from projectile impact, demonstrating optical clarity and tissue-mimicking properties.\n| lead_paragraph = Ballistic gel (ballistic gelatin) is a standardised gelatin formulation used in medical simulation to create durable, optically clear tissue phantoms for ultrasound-guided procedures, needle insertion training, and trauma response.<ref name=\"marsh2024\">Marsh-Armstrong B, et al. \"Building Affordable, Durable, Medium-fidelity Ballistic Gel Phantoms for Ultrasound-guided Nerve Block Training.\" ''J Vis Exp.'' 2024. doi:10.3791/66194</ref> Available in 10% (FBI standard) and 20% (NATO standard) concentrations, it provides reproducible mechanical properties, self-healing capability, and optical clarity that allows direct visualisation of needle paths and embedded structures.\n| tissues_rows = <tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Soft Tissue|Soft Tissue]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>Ultrasound-guided nerve block phantoms<ref name=\"marsh2024\" /></td>\n<td>10% concentration at 4°C. Optical clarity allows direct needle placement verification without imaging.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Connective Tissue|Subcutaneous Tissue]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>Sonographic ballistic gelatin phantoms<ref name=\"frederick2025\">Frederick J, Stolz L. \"Molding the Future: A Novel Method for Developing Custom Silicone Molds for the Creation of Sonographic Ballistics Gelatin Phantoms.\" ''J Emerg Med.'' 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.08.040</ref></td>\n<td>Custom silicone moulds create anatomically accurate '''ballistics gelatin''' phantoms accepting embedded vessels and structures.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Muscle|Muscle]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>Ventricular catheter placement trainer<ref name=\"todnem2020\">Todnem N, et al. \"A simple and cost-effective model for ventricular catheter placement training: technical note.\" ''J Neurosurg.'' 2020. doi:10.3171/2020.2.JNS19161</ref></td>\n<td>20% concentration approximates muscle density. Cost under $5 per unit.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Soft Tissue|Soft Tissue (vascular)]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>ECMO cannulation training model<ref name=\"palmer2021\">Palmer D, Aspenleiter M, da Silva J, da Silva L, Medina-Castro M, Grayson M, Morell V, Palmer A, Sharma M, Stebler J, Viegas M (2021). \"A High-Fidelity Percutaneous Model Used to Demonstrate ECMO Cannulation.\" ''J Extra Corpor Technol'' 53(3):208–213. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34658414/ 34658414]. Free full text: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8499641/ PMC8499641]. DOI 10.1182/ject-2100009 is the publisher's own and is not registered, so it does not resolve.</ref></td>\n<td>Synthetic ballistic gel (Clear Ballistics) is room-temperature stable for percutaneous cannulation training.</td>\n</tr>\n| troubleshooting = <table style=\"width:100%;\">\n<tr><th>Do Not Do This</th><th>Do This Instead</th><th>Why</th></tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Use ballistic gel above calibration temperature</td>\n<td>Maintain at 4°C for standardised properties; use promptly after removal from refrigeration</td>\n<td>Warm gel softens and provides unrealistic low resistance, teaching incorrect force calibration</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Expect ballistic gel to hold sutures</td>\n<td>Use [[TissueDB/Materials/Silicone|silicone]] or layered fabric materials for suture training</td>\n<td>Ballistic gel does not hold sutures adequately; practising on it teaches incorrect suture tension and technique</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reuse blocks with extensive damage without recasting</td>\n<td>Remelt and recast damaged blocks to restore properties</td>\n<td>Accumulated wound channels alter mechanical properties and create unrealistic needle paths</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Use traditional ballistic gel when refrigeration is unavailable</td>\n<td>Use synthetic alternatives (Clear Ballistics, Perma-Gel) or switch to [[TissueDB/Materials/Agar|agar]]</td>\n<td>Traditional gelatin-based ballistic gel requires strict cold chain; without it, mechanical properties drift</td>\n</tr>\n</table>\n| alternatives_rows = <tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Materials/Gelatin|Gelatin]]</td>\n<td>General simulation where calibration is not critical</td>\n<td>Lower cost, locally available; not standardised, same cold chain requirement</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Materials/Agar|Agar]]</td>\n<td>Resource-limited settings, culturally-inclusive programmes</td>\n<td>No refrigeration needed, halal/kosher compatible; brittle, no self-healing, not optically clear</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Materials/PVA|PVA Cryogel]]</td>\n<td>Long-term phantoms, elastography training</td>\n<td>Room temperature stable, durable; not optically clear, requires freezer for fabrication</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Materials/Silicone|Silicone]]</td>\n<td>Permanent installations, high-volume training</td>\n<td>Durable, no temperature concerns; high cost, not optically clear, not self-healing</td>\n</tr>\n| overview = Ballistic gel is a specialised formulation of [[TissueDB/Materials/Gelatin|gelatin]] with standardised concentration and preparation protocols originally established by the FBI (10%) and NATO (20%) for consistent ballistics testing. In medical simulation, it creates optically clear phantoms that allow direct visualisation of needle paths and embedded structures during ultrasound-guided procedure training. Traditional ballistic gel requires strict temperature control at 4°C for standardised properties. Commercial synthetic alternatives (Clear Ballistics, Perma-Gel) are stable at room temperature and reusable through remelting. It sits within the [[TissueDB/Materials/Castable Materials|castable materials]] group, the materials a builder forms on site rather than buys in a finished shape.\n| shelf_life_rows = <tr>\n<td>Traditional (gelatin-based)</td>\n<td>1–2 weeks refrigerated (4°C)</td>\n<td>Moderate-high spoilage risk; 20–50+ puncture reuses; sealed/wrapped storage</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Synthetic (Clear Ballistics, Perma-Gel)</td>\n<td>Indefinite at room temperature</td>\n<td>No spoilage; reusable through remelting; 20–50+ puncture reuses</td>\n</tr>\n| synonyms_text = '''Common names:''' Ballistic gel, ballistic gelatin, ordnance gelatin, wound channel gel\n\n'''Forms:''' FBI gel (10% formulation), NATO gel (20% formulation), traditional gelatin-based, synthetic alternatives\n\n'''Trade/commercial names:''' Perma-Gel, Clear Ballistics\n| keywords = ballistic gel, ballistic gelatin, ultrasound phantom, tissue phantom, nerve block training, ECMO cannulation, medical simulation, FBI gel, NATO gel\n| description = Ballistic gel is a standardised gelatin formulation used in medical simulation for ultrasound-guided procedure training, needle insertion, and trauma simulation.\n}}\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| description = Ballistic gel is a standardised gelatin formulation used in medical simulation for ultrasound-guided procedure training, needle insertion, and trauma simulation.\n| keywords = ballistic gel, ballistic gelatin, ultrasound phantom, tissue phantom, nerve block training, ECMO cannulation, medical simulation, FBI gel, NATO gel\n| hide = yes\n}}"}