Protective Helmet Sensor System for Concussion Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for monitoring protective headgear lack comprehensive and accurate methods to assess impact events on the head, often relying solely on acceleration data, which can lead to false positives or negatives in determining the severity of concussions and other injuries.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a handheld communication device and a wireless device mounted on protective headgear, which uses a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes to generate and transmit detailed impact data, including linear and rotational acceleration, to a processing module that analyzes the data to determine the severity of impacts and alert for potential injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional systems use only accelerometers to monitor impact, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of concussion assessment deteriorates due to false positives and negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines accelerometers and gyroscopes into an integrated sensor system mounted on the protective headgear. This merging of complementary sensors allows the system to capture both linear acceleration and rotational motion data, significantly improving impact assessment accuracy while managing system complexity through unified data processing architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting linear acceleration, measuring rotational acceleration, determining impact location, calculating impact force, and assessing concussion risk. This multi-functional approach improves measurement precision without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function
2Measurement precision
If sensors are positioned directly on the head surface, then the measurement precision of impact detection improves, but the ease of operation and user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protective headgear as an intermediary carrier that holds the sensor system. The headgear serves as a mediator between the user's head and the sensors, allowing accurate impact detection without requiring direct sensor contact with the skin, thereby maintaining user comfort and ease of operation
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are positioned at various locations on the head, then the measurement precision and location accuracy improve, but the device complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor system into modular components distributed on the protective headgear. By placing sensors at strategic locations on the headgear rather than requiring comprehensive head coverage, the system achieves sufficient location accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
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
This system provides more accurate and comprehensive impact analysis, reducing false alarms and improving the assessment of head injuries by considering both linear and rotational acceleration data, enabling better diagnosis and treatment of concussions.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to motion of the protective headgear, the sensor module including an accelerometer and a gyroscope
Implementation Method 2
a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to motion of the protective headgear, the sensor module including an accelerometer and a gyroscope
Data Source
AI summary
A protective helmet includes an outer shell. A bladder, coupled to the outer shell, provides shock absorption in at least one zone or protection. The bladder holds an absorption pack that contains a plurality of absorption particles and/or a fluid and has a relief valve for relieving pressure on the bladder when the pressure on the bladder is greater than a pressure threshold.