Biosensors & Bioelectronics

A Biosensing Approach for Detecting and Managing Head Injuries in American Football

Abstract

Matthew Morrison, John N Daigle and John Ralston*

We describe our real-time biosensing approach to detecting and managing head impacts in football at the University of Mississippi as well as the Heads in the Game, our high school outreach program. Our work is in response to the fact that sports are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury for people aged between 15 and 24 years [1,2]. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control estimates indicate that 5,000 concussions occur at the high-school level for every concussion in the NFL, and that 3.8 million sports brain injuries occur annually. Mild Traumatic Brain Injures (mTBI) are often not reported in high school football due to injury underestimation, motivation to remain in play, and lack of awareness. Resources and education for improved athlete concussion management reduces the player's susceptibility to cumulative or catastrophic brain injuries [3]. Our system uses X2 Biosystem’s xPatch 6DOF mounted directly behind the player’s ear and features a secure wireless telemetry system for reporting head impacts in real time to an analysis system that is capable of reporting the major characteristics of the impact in near real time. Collected data will also contribute to understanding the potential long-term effects brain injuries such as second impact syndrome (SIS) [4]. Pilot studies with the University of Mississippi football team show significant reduction of head impacts through improved form and education. By reducing the overall head impact, improving impact distribution, and reducing dangerous impacts, mechanisms for improving remove-from-play (RFP) and returnto- play (RTP) decisions, assessing impact severity, coaching and training, and understanding the pathology of mTBI and long-term brain injuries causing persistent cognitive impairment. We discuss research partnerships as well as the Heads in the Game program, a high school concussion research program with University of Mississippi Athletics