Las Vegas NowUNLV Engineers Design New Device to Help Protect U.S.Troops
Professor Douglas Reynolds said, "The lower legs, the feet absorb energy initially and it shatters the bones in the legs and this is designed to prevent serious spinal injury."
Sgt. Portillo and three other troops were in a vehicle when they ran over a bomb in March of 2007. It's a moment he'll never forget. "You don't hear it when it hits you. All of the sudden you see black smoke," he said.Roadside bombs continue to be a daily threat for U.S. troops overseas. But now, an idea by UNLV engineers may give troops caught in the dangerous situation in Iraq some added protection.
It takes just one second to understand the consequences of a roadside bomb. For Sergeant Ron Portillo, with the Nevada National Guard, the memory is still fresh.
Sgt. Portillo said, "You don't hear it when it hits you. All of the sudden you see black smoke."
Sgt. Portillo and three other troops were in a vehicle when they ran over a bomb in March of 2007. It's a moment he'll never forget.
"It's like going down a roller coaster but you staying in one spot and all of the stuff coming up at you," he explained.
Portillo now needs help with balance after his spinal cord was damaged by the bomb's impact.
But UNLV engineers think they've found a way to lessen the impact with their inflatable seat cushion. The foam and air filled device gives troops riding in military vehicles an extra buffer that slows down their body's speed when it hits the seat.
Professor Douglas Reynolds said, "The lower legs, the feet absorb energy initially and it shatters the bones in the legs and this is designed to prevent serious spinal injury."
For UNLV, it has been four-and-a-half-years of hard work put to good use and could help future troops like Portillo who are always at risk.
Professor Reynolds continues, "These guys are doing a service and we just need to help them out all that we can."
Sgt. Portillo likes the idea but isn't completely sold an extra cushion will make a difference.
"I hope it saves some lives. But in all reality, if that thing is in a Humvee an IED will blow that thing up no matter how much cushion you have. An IED or EFP will kill people in a Humvee," Sgt. Portillo said.
But he says any idea that may help future troops from suffering what he did is worth a try.
The Army will be testing UNLV's seat system in January along with several others to see if their device will hold up during an explosion.
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