Wearable Headband Accelerometer for Concussion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective means to detect and alert for potential concussions in athletes, particularly in children and young sportsmen, as mild impacts can be overlooked, leading to potential long-term health consequences, and existing solutions do not provide real-time monitoring and data management for concussion risks.
Innovation Solution
A wearable headband equipped with a fingertip-sized accelerometer-transducer-transmitter package that detects impact acceleration in three directions, transduces signals, and transmits data to mobile devices, analyzing impact levels, logging peak magnitudes, and providing alerts through sound and light, while securing data with encryption and employing circular RAM buffering to prevent event miss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wearable accelerometer device is integrated into a headband to detect impact acceleration, then concussion risk detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the accelerometer, transducer, transmitter, battery, and housing into a single integrated fingertip-sized package that is embedded within the headband structure. This merging of multiple functional components into one compact unit simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining comprehensive concussion detection capabilities through the integrated sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The headband device performs multiple functions: it detects impact acceleration in three directions, transduces analog signals to digital, transmits data wirelessly, provides visual and audible alerts, and logs impact events. This multi-functionality is achieved through a compact integrated circuit board that houses all necessary components, reducing device complexity while enhancing measurement precision for concussion risk assessment.
2Reliability
If real-time impact monitoring and data transmission are implemented, then concussion risk warning capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device transmits impact data wirelessly in periodic bursts rather than continuously, triggered by detected impact events. The accelerometer continuously monitors for impacts, but the transmitter only activates when threshold violations occur, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable real-time monitoring capability for concussion risk assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit board automatically processes accelerometer signals, determines if impact thresholds are exceeded, and triggers transmission only when necessary. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous power-intensive operations, as the system intelligently manages its own energy consumption by activating communication functions only during relevant impact events.
3Loss of information
If circular RAM buffering is employed to store impact data, then data completeness is improved, but memory management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device pre-allocates circular buffer memory space in the integrated circuit board to store impact event data before events occur. This preliminary preparation of storage structure simplifies data management during actual impact events, as the system only needs to write data to predetermined buffer locations using simple overwrite logic when memory is full, reducing real-time processing complexity while ensuring no impact data is lost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The headband effectively warns athletes and coaches of concussion risks in real-time, providing critical data for immediate action and long-term health management, enhancing safety and confidence in sports participation by accurately detecting and managing impact levels.
Implementation Method 1
Detecting impact acceleration levels on microchip level in 3 directions (X, Y and Z) at least by one transducer
Implementation Method 2
Transducing acceleration signals to electronic signals
Data Source
AI summary
Method for warning a coach in real-time that a team player suffered head injuries why playing on a sports field with other players present, comprising the steps of:having the player wear a headband with one battery powered multi-axial motion sensor mounted on the rear;measuring with the sensor 3-D (X-Y-Z) accelerations out of which 2-D (X-Y) is in essentially horizontal plane when the player is standing facing forward; establishing head bank, roll and yaw angular acceleration thresholds for mild, moderate and severe head injuries; having an applet calculate the angular accelerations form the linear accelerations or measure angular accelerations directly; comparing measured angular accelerations to threshold angular accelerations; warn the coach about the occurrence of threshold exceedances indicating mild, moderate or severe head injuries; log the time of the threshold exceedances along with the measured values of the angular accelerations. Said warning are yellow, orange or red colors or low, moderate and high frequency beeps or both.