The 2014-15 NFL season is right around the corner and teams are making their way to training camp. Although excitement is in the air for those avid football fans, there is still a big issue that looms over the sport like a threatening storm cloud, and that is the danger of concussions for football players. Just as football players receive crushing blows to the head that result in concussions, so too, do other athletes involved in full-contact sports.
Today, we want to get a better look at an inventor who is working to alleviate the impact of concussions in sports.
One young Irish inventor, Mark Dillon, was concerned about the lack of attention that was paid to head injuries from full-contact sports. So, rather than sit on the sidelines, he invented a mouthguard that is equipped with built-in sensors that can detect and alert someone when a player has received a serious injury that isn’t visible to those watching.
Located within the mouthguard are a small accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, in addition to a wireless chip and battery. Dillon calls his invention the “Mamori,” which, in Japanese, means “protect.”
While the Mamori is in use, the inertial sensors are constantly monitored for movement and then they relay the recorded information in real time to a laptop on the sidelines. Let’s say a player gets hit. Once the impact occurs, the force that was involved is immediately articulated and if the impact exceeds the threshold where a concussion is likely, medical care can be administered instantly.
This new invention works to help reduce and prevent concussions. However, that isn’t the end of this ongoing story. Although this invention will help to increase the ability to detect concussions, it won’t prevent a player from actually getting a concussion. The Mamori is full of innovative potential and only time will tell if it will be used to help ensure player safety.
Here’s a better look at the Mamori as described by inventor Mark Dillon:
Copyright Inventionland 2014
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