Mouth mounted accelerometer pack

• US 4,198,990 A
• Filed: 03/05/1979
• Issued: 04/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fanamation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Mercer, Roger W., Kroh, Gunter H., Higgins, Aubin M., Fowler, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US06/017,624
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 128/782, 128/777, 128/774, 128/631, 73/488, 73/493, 340/573, 340/574, 340/576
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

An apparatus, for measuring head accelerations of a test subject, having a mouthpiece which includes metal clips for securing the mouthpiece to the upper teeth of the test subject. Three accelerometers are secured to a mounting block which is attached to the mouthpiece. The three accelerometers have their active axis located along three orthogonal axis through the mounting block. The mounting block, the accelerometers and the accelerometer leads are embedded in an electrically insulating material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring head accelerations of a test subject, comprising:

a metal mouthpiece adapted to be secured to the upper teeth of the test subject;

means, secured to said mouthpiece, supporting three accelerometers along three orthogonal axis;

means, adapted to pass between the upper and lower teeth of the test subject, for transmitting signals from said accelerometers to at least one external signal processing circuit.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said accelerometers on said mouthpiece includes a synthetic mounting block removably secured to said mouthpiece;

said accelerometers being mounted on three nonopposing surfaces of said mounting block.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for transmitting signals from said accelerometers to external signal processing circuits include leads connected to said accelerometers;

means, coating said mounting block, said accelerometers and said leads for electrically insulating said leads and said accelerometers.