Abstract: A method of evaluating a chest wall protector comprises determining a flight time to impact on a subject of a projectile launched using a bow, determining an actuation time of a mechanism configured to release a string of the bow to launch the projectile based upon a desired time of receipt of energy from the projectile by a heart of the subject, determining an external location on an exterior surface of the subject corresponding to where a left ventricle of the heart of the subject is desirably close to the external surface, arranging at least one of the subject and the bow such that a flight path of the projectile is directed at the determined external location, disposing a protector device in the projectile's flight path in contact with the subject, actuating the mechanism at the actuation time, and monitoring a heartbeat of the subject before and after transfer of energy from the projectile to the subject.

Abstract: A chest wall protector comprises a shell made of a relatively hard, rigid material, a cushion attached to the shell such that the cushion is disposed between the shell and a thoracic wall of a person outside of a region over a heart of the person when the protector is worn by the person, and a garment configured to be worn by the person and to retain the shell and cushion in positions to protect a portion of the thoracic wall of the person when the garment is worn by the person.