American football: new smart foam in helmets helps to evaluate the risk of concussion

American engineers have developed a nano-composite foam that can be inserted into a helmet, which is capable of measuring the impact of a hit whilst wirelessly connected to a tablet. The foam has been evaluated scientifically in a study* published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, on 07/09/2017. The results show that the device is capable of evaluating the risk of concussion.

The violent hits sustained in American football, but also in rugby, are the cause of a significant number of concussions. Players also tend to return too early to the field, and studies showing that these repeated hits leave heavy after-effects are multiplying. In particular, they promote the development of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, researchers have also identified a link between concussions and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

"Standard systems can lead to erroneous results" (J. Merrell, 07/09/2017)

• It is necessary to decode the mechanical characteristics of the impacts on football players and rugby players. That is why engineers at Brigham Young University have tried to design a foam…