Biofoam
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Biofoam (short for biomedical foam)[1][2] is a self-sealing, space-filling coagulant and an antimicrobial, tissue-regenerative foam polymer used by the United Nations Space Command as a form of medical first aid. This foam keeps damaged organs in place and helps stop bleeding and hemorrhaging. The medicinal compound is morphophetamine in a polyethyltriphosphate liquid medium dispensed with nitrous oxide. When applied, the polyethyltriphosphate and nitrous oxide mix to create a foaming effect that can encapsulate, disinfect, and numb wounds.[3] Within the Unified Earth Government, biofoam is an OTC-legal product and can be purchased legally "over-the-counter."[2]
Overview[edit]
Contents[edit]
Prior to application, biofoam consists of two substances: nitrous oxide and morphophetamine-infused liquid polyethyltriphosphate,[3] with the latter incorporating MediGel, a product of Optican.[4]
Usage and effects[edit]
Biofoam is generally contained within a cylindrical canister or bottle with a deployable nozzle used to apply the mixture directly to the affected area of a patient.[5] Sealed combat armour such as MJOLNIR exoskeletons or vacuum suits may have ports on them to allow for the injection of biofoam into the suit without having to remove it. If injected in this manner, the medic must use a small plunger to feed the substance into the wound.[6]
When applied and exposed to air, the nitrous oxide and liquid polyethyltriphosphate mix and produce a foaming reaction.[3] The foam strongly adheres to tissues and simultaneously releases encapsulated medical compounds that advances clotting, disinfects the wound, and eventually numbs pain. After a short duration of time, the foam applied will set and become a semi-rigid, porous mass internally, which forms a hardened skin on regions of the body exposed to air.[2] In some cases, additional medical tape, bandages,[7] or needlework may be required to close up the injury and ensure the foam does not leak out.[8] The standard dosage is 10 centiliters (10cL) or 3.38 fl. oz.[9]
Despite biofoam's painkilling properties,[10] for the first few seconds after its application to an open wound it is known to be very painful,[3] to the point of overpowering the pain of the original wound.[11] This effect has been described as feeling like "burning ants crawling around the wound"[12] and "thousands of tiny knives" stabbing the recipient.[13] Biofoam does not seem to have this kind of painful reaction when applied to an unwounded area, as during the Battle of Mombasa, Jonathan Doherty was seen spraying a small amount onto his uninjured fingers and did not react in pain.[14] To counter the pain of the biofoam, medics may use polypseudomorphine on their patients.[15]
The effects of biofoam are temporary, and after a few hours, it simply breaks down. Therefore, it is normally a form of first aid, used only as a temporary sealant until proper medical attention can be sought.[3][7][16] In extremely rare cases, allergic reactions to biofoam have been documented. Edema is a rare side effect of biofoam, caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.[2] In some cases, application of the foam may fail, resulting in the foam coagulating into several smaller solid chunks that remain moving inside the wound, which can cause further pain and exacerbate the injury.[10] In other cases, biofoam may set wrong, resulting in the biofoam hardening and setting a broken limb at the wrong angle.[17]
Applications[edit]
Biofoam is often used as a medical option when there are no medical personnel available. Bottles of biofoam can be found in health packs.[18][19][16] UNSC medics will use it as a sealing agent during treatment in the field.[3] The MJOLNIR Mark VI,[20] MJOLNIR GEN2,[21][22] and MJOLNIR GEN3[23] armors contain automatic biofoam injectors, which negate the need for their Spartan wearers to use health packs.
Trivia[edit]
The closest equivalent in the modern world to biofoam is Quikclot combat gauze, which utilizes kaolin nanoparticles impregnated into gauze. It is designed to stop moderate to severe bleeding and stabilize a combat casualty. However, it is not a foam, and as gauze, it must be packed into the wound. An experimental foam developed in late 2012 by DARPA also bears many similarities to biofoam, as it is capable of packing combat wounds and halting internal bleeding.
Gallery[edit]
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Biofoam being used in Halo: Landfall.
A render of a biofoam canister in Halo 3: ODST.
Biofoam packaging container label.
Biofoam being applied to Romeo in Halo 3: ODST.
Biofoam exuding out of Romeo's damaged chest plate.
The Master Chief applies biofoam to Michael Sullivan's wound in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.
A back view of the biofoam prop.
The biofoam prop with its nozzle extended.
The biofoam prop with its top section detached.
Corpsman Helena Gruss holding a biofoam canister.
The "Mr. Bones" chest attachment for the MJOLNIR Mark VII armor core in Halo Infinite, featuring a biofoam canister.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: The Flood
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- Halo: Landfall
- Halo: Contact Harvest
- Halo: The Cole Protocol
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Halo: Blood Line
- Halo: Blood Line Issue 5 (Mentioned only)
- Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
- Halo: New Blood
- Halo: Last Light (Mentioned only)
- Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
- Halo: Fractures
- Into the Fire (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Smoke and Shadow (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Envoy
- Halo: Retribution
- Halo: Silent Storm (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Oblivion
- Halo: Shadows of Reach
- Halo: Divine Wind
- Halo Infinite
- Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
- Halo: Empty Throne
- Halo: Edge of Dawn
Sources[edit]
- ^ Halo: New Blood, chapter 8
- ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Biofoam (Retrieved on Oct 27, 2015) [archive]
- ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 5
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 29
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Kikowani Station
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 25
- ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 19
- ^ Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 13
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, Biofoam canister label texture
- ^ a b Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 6
- ^ Halo: Edge of Dawn, chapter 35
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 10
- ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 2
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Mombasa Streets
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - Dirt
- ^ a b Halo: Oblivion, chapter 10
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - Blunt Instruments
- ^ Halo: The Flood, chapter 3
- ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 13: "William retrieved a can of biofoam from the rover and inserted the tip into the tiny injection port in his armor—pushed it through the skin between his fourth and fifth ribs. He filled his abdominal cavity with the space-filling coagulant/antibacterial/tissue-regenerative polymer."
- ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, page January 7, 2535
- ^ Halo: Retribution, chapter 25
- ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 28
- ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 5
