Patent ID: 7937780

Claim:
A method of reducing injury to and decreasing the probability of amputation to extremities comprising: providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of an upper arm, said protection comprising at least 270 degree coverage of the outside of said upper arm with a ballistic material, said protection further comprising shadowing of an inside portion of said upper arm, wherein said shadowing is positioned and configured to ventilate said upper arm; providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of an lower arm, said protection comprising at least 270 degree coverage of a front portion of said lower arm with a ballistic material, said protection further comprising shadowing of a back portion of said lower arm, wherein said shadowing is positioned on a back of said lower arm when said lower arm is held at the individual's side, and configured to ventilate said lower arm; providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of an elbow zone, said protection comprising approximately 360 degree coverage of said elbow zone with a ballistic material, wherein said coverage is configured to provide flexibility of said elbow; providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of an upper leg, said protection comprising at least 270 degree coverage of the outside of said upper leg with a ballistic material, said protection further comprising shadowing of an inside portion of said upper leg, wherein said shadowing is positioned and configured to ventilate said upper leg; providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of an lower leg, said protection comprising at least 270 degree coverage of said lower leg with a ballistic material and shadowing positioned over the shinbone and configured to ventilate said lower leg; providing protection of vascular and nerve bundles of the knee zone, said protection comprising approximately 360 degree coverage of said knee zone with a ballistic material, wherein said coverage is configured to provide flexibility of said knee; and providing protection of the sciatic nerve extending from the lower back down the buttocks to the rear of said upper leg, said protection comprising coverage of said sciatic nerve with a ballistic material.