Technology
Overview
Wayne
State University Researchers have designed a football helmet to reduce the
likelihood of a cerebral concussion to the wearer during blunt impact with
another player or the ground. The
helmet shell and interior padding are tuned using a computer model of the head
and helmet to reduce the strain experienced by the brain during impact.
Commercial
Applications
Studies
on the risks of long-term brain damage to American Football players have
recently raised awareness of the need for improvements in protective
equipment. Our helmet design has
the potential to improve upon the safety of current football helmets, greatly
reducing the probability that the wearer will sustain a mild concussion during
game play. Our helmet design has
implications for increasing safety measures for professional, college-level, and
amateur football players. Major
sports helmet manufacturers will likely have interest in incorporating our
technology into their helmet designs.
Competitive
Advantage
Current
football helmets are designed only to prevent skull fractures and severe brain
injuries, and provide insufficient protection against concussions during game
play. Our helmet design holds
advantages over existing helmets in that it is specifically designed to prevent
mild cerebral concussions.
Market
Status/Potential Competitive Landscape
·
There
is growing concern for the long-term damage that may be caused by frequent and repeated mild cerebral
concussions experienced by professional American football players
·
No
football helmet currently exists that is specifically designed to prevent
concussions
Stage
of Development
We
are seeking industry partnerships and funding to proceed with development of a
prototype and in-type testing.
Patent
Status
Patent
pending