CONCUSSION DETECTION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A device comprisinga first electronic module capable of being mounted to a sports helmet, the first electronic module including a controller, a transmit-receive assembly in communication with the controller, a first three-axis accelerometer and a second three-axis accelerometer each in communication with the controller and configured to communicate respective acceleration data to the controller, and a data storage unit in communication with the controller;
- the controller being configured to generate digital data packets, and the data storage unit being configured to store the digital data packets, each digital data packet containing information corresponding to the acceleration data from both of the first and second accelerometers at a certain time;
the first electronic module being operable in a first mode, in which the controller transmits via the transmit-receive assembly a first electromagnetic (EM) signal encoding at least one digital data packet associated with the first electronic module, and a second mode, in which the processor does not transmit digital data packets associated with the first data module;
wherein the transmit-receive assembly of the first electronic module is capable of receiving a second EM signal transmitted by a second such electronic module, and the controller of the first electronic module is configured to respond to the received second EM signal by retransmitting data contained in the second EM signal when the second EM signal contains information indicating a retransmission request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A concussion detection and communication system is described. In some examples a concussion data module may be worn by one or more subjects. Each concussion data module may include multiple accelerometers and may communicate data signals wirelessly to a base unit. Upon determining that the base unit is not within effective communication range, a concussion data module may relay signals to the base unit through another concussion data module.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising
a first electronic module capable of being mounted to a sports helmet, the first electronic module including a controller, a transmit-receive assembly in communication with the controller, a first three-axis accelerometer and a second three-axis accelerometer each in communication with the controller and configured to communicate respective acceleration data to the controller, and a data storage unit in communication with the controller; -
the controller being configured to generate digital data packets, and the data storage unit being configured to store the digital data packets, each digital data packet containing information corresponding to the acceleration data from both of the first and second accelerometers at a certain time; the first electronic module being operable in a first mode, in which the controller transmits via the transmit-receive assembly a first electromagnetic (EM) signal encoding at least one digital data packet associated with the first electronic module, and a second mode, in which the processor does not transmit digital data packets associated with the first data module; wherein the transmit-receive assembly of the first electronic module is capable of receiving a second EM signal transmitted by a second such electronic module, and the controller of the first electronic module is configured to respond to the received second EM signal by retransmitting data contained in the second EM signal when the second EM signal contains information indicating a retransmission request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising
an electronic module associated with a first body part of a user and including a controller, a transmit-receive assembly in communication with the controller, a first three-axis accelerometer and a second three-axis accelerometer each in communication with the controller for communicating respective acceleration data to the controller, and a data storage unit in communication with the controller for storing information related to the acceleration data; -
the controller being configured to receive the respective acceleration data from the first and second accelerometers, to calculate linear and angular acceleration values using the received data, to determine whether any calculated linear acceleration value exceeds a linear threshold value, and to determine whether any calculated rotational acceleration value exceeds a rotational threshold value; the electronic module being operable in a first mode, in which the controller transmits via the transmit-receive assembly an electromagnetic (EM) signal containing information corresponding to the calculated acceleration values of the electronic module, and a second mode, in which the controller does not transmit a signal containing information corresponding to the calculated acceleration values of the electronic module; and a base unit configured to receive the EM signal transmitted by the electronic module, the base unit including a receiver configured to receive the EM signal, a processor in communication with the receiver and configured to extract data from the received EM signal, a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store the extracted data, and a display for presenting the extracted data in human-readable form; wherein the electronic module is configured to automatically enter the first mode in response to a determination by the controller that either or both of the linear and rotational threshold values has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for processing acceleration data associated with a head of a user, the system comprising
a sports helmet configured to be worn on the head of the user; - and
a concussion data module releasably mounted to the sports helmet, the concussion data module having two accelerometers for sensing acceleration of the module, a processor for processing acceleration data received from the accelerometers, a memory for storing the processed acceleration data, and a communication assembly including a receiver and a transmitter capable of communicating electromagnetic (EM) signals encoding the processed acceleration data; wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions for processing the acceleration data, the processing including calculating a vectorized angular acceleration of the concussion data module, calculating a vectorized linear acceleration for each of the accelerometers, comparing the magnitude of the angular acceleration vector to a first threshold, comparing the magnitude of each of the linear acceleration vectors to a second threshold, collating the calculated vector data, results of the comparisons to the thresholds, a time value, and a device identifier into a data packet, storing the data packet in the memory, transmitting the data packet via the transmitter, and determining whether a responsive verification signal is received by the receiver, indicating that a receiving base unit is within communication range of the concussion data module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification