Sensors to immediately detect concussion

A project from Western Michigan University aims to create sensors that go inside helmets that can immediately detect a concussion.

A new piece of technology that's developed in west Michigan could soon be keeping athletes safe.

At Western Michigan University, a professor and team of students are working on sensors that can fit in any kind of helmet. 

The goal is to use them to detect concussions right after a big impact.

It may not look like much at first glance, but the first test helmet could soon bring the latest in sports safety. 

"It can be used for football and hockey helmets, as well as any other protective head gear," said WMU Professor Masood Atashbar.  

Lightweight and flexible sensors are placed in the lining of a helmet. 

They send a wireless signal to an application on a smartphone or tablet. 

"It measures and reports to the coaches any dangerous impact that athletes experience on their skull," Atashbar said.  

The program is so sharp, its creators say it can pinpoint how severe the hit was and where it happened. 

Professor Masood Atashbar said this is vital information considering athletes don't always report injuries and may not even know they have a concussion. 

"Coaches and parents can know that their kids have experienced a dangerous impact and they can act on it," Atashbar said. 

The professor and several students have been working on the cutting edge design. 

So far they've only done tests in the lab, like hitting the helmet with a hammer. 

Students are excited they have access to this right here in Kalamazoo. 

"The university has given us a lot of help in developing this technology. I'm very happy," said PHD student Binu Narakathu.  

The group has even started a company to promote the technology. 

Right now they're pricing it at $100 each; that would include the sensors and app. 

"Thinking about, okay, you can help protect these players on the field, that's pretty interesting because you're saving people's lives," said PHD student Ali Eshkeiti. 

The next step is getting funding so they can do tests outside the lab with actual athletes. 

Then they hope to get it out on the market.

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Will sensors be in all helmets by 2015?

A research study is looking into adding sensors into helmets. The results may be strong enough to put sensors into all helmets by 2015.

A pilot program designed to provide more information for concussion research could become more widespread, and put sensors in every helmet by 2015.

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, two teams participated in the program for part of last year, and researchers are trying to fine-tune the technology to measure head impact in games.

The work is being done by University of North Carolina researcher Kevin Guskiewicz, who is a member of both league and union safety committees.

“We need a sample of these players across all positions and studying every play type possible,” Guskiewicz said. “So, that’s the next step. Then I hope from there that, if we find (the devices) have utility that could actually help an individual player … my hope would be that we would go league-wide.”

Guskiewicz said the project still needs to be approved by the league and union, and getting that kind of agreement has been an issue in the past.

But he said he was “thrilled” that teams are buying into the idea of collecting data, though hurdles remain.

“I personally believe that there is valuable information to be gained for a player to learn how to perhaps modify his behavior, to track the way in which he’s leading with his head possibly or positioning his body on a certain play type that could help protect him,” Guskiewicz said.

“So, we just sort of have to go through this in a methodical approach to work on the feasibility. This year, I hope that we’re able to move forward with answering some of the questions that we have around potential rules changes, and then the following year, who knows?”

As with most issues, getting players and management to agree to anything is difficult, but if the technology can present a step forward in the accurate diagnosis of concussions and head injuries, then players and the league need to find a way to implement.

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