Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a helmet is adapted to be worn on the head of a human wearer. An absorbing layer is adjacent to the helmet. The absorbing layer is configured to absorb at least a portion of a radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic pulse. This RF electromagnetic pulse may originate from an explosion event, such as detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

1 . A system for protection against traumatic brain injury, comprising:
 a helmet adapted to be worn on the head of a human wearer;   a layer of dielectric material adjacent the helmet, the layer of dielectric material configured to absorb at least a portion of a radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic pulse with a frequency of less than twenty gigahertz originating from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonation, wherein the absorbing layer is configured to cover the ears of the human wearer;   a visor coupled to the helmet and configured to shield the eyes of the human wearer;   a coating adjacent to the visor, the coating configured to:
 reflect, refract, or absorb energy from the RF electromagnetic pulse away from the eyes of the human wearer, and 
 reflect, refract, or absorb microwave electromagnetic energy away from the eyes of the human wearer; 
   a face mask coupled to the helmet and configured to cover the jaw of the human wearer; and   a second absorbing layer adjacent the face mask, the absorbing layer configured to absorb the RF electromagnetic pulse.   
     
     
         2 . A system for protection against traumatic brain injury, comprising:
 a helmet adapted to be worn on the head of a human wearer; and   an absorbing layer adjacent the helmet, the absorbing layer configured to absorb at least a portion of a radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic pulse.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , wherein the RF electromagnetic pulse has a frequency of less than twenty gigahertz. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , the absorbing layer comprising a dielectric material. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , the absorbing layer comprising carbon allotropes. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , the absorbing layer configured to absorb at least a portion of a RF electromagnetic pulse originating from an explosive event. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet system of  claim 6 , wherein the explosive event is an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonation. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , wherein the RF electromagnetic pulse is a near-field RF electromagnetic pulse. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , wherein the absorbing layer is configured to cover the ears of the human wearer. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a visor coupled to the helmet and configured to shield the eyes of the human wearer; and   a coating adjacent to the visor, the coating configured to reflect, refract, or absorb energy from the RF electromagnetic pulse away from the eyes of the human wearer.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a visor coupled to the helmet and configured to shield the eyes of the human wearer; and   a coating adjacent to the visor, the coating configured to reflect, refract, or absorb microwave electromagnetic energy away from the eyes of the human wearer.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a face mask coupled to the helmet and configured to cover the jaw of the human wearer; and   a second absorbing layer adjacent the face mask, the absorbing layer configured to absorb at least a portion of the RF electromagnetic pulse.   
     
     
         13 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising a goggle apparatus, the goggle apparatus comprising:
 a goggle frame, the goggle frame adapted to be worn by the human wearer with the helmet;   one or more goggle lenses coupled to the goggle frame, the one or more goggle lenses configured to cover the eyes of the human wearer; and   a coating adjacent to the one or more goggle lenses, the coating configured to reflect, refract, or absorb energy from the RF electromagnetic pulse away from the eyes of the human wearer.   
     
     
         14 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising a goggle apparatus, the goggle apparatus comprising:
 a goggle frame, the goggle frame adapted to be worn by the human wearer with the helmet;   one or more goggle lenses coupled to the goggle frame, the one or more goggle lenses configured to cover the eyes of the human wearer; and   a coating adjacent to the one or more goggle lenses, the coating configured to reflect, refract, or absorb microwave electromagnetic energy away from the eyes of the human wearer.   
     
     
         15 . A system for protection against traumatic brain injury, comprising:
 a goggle frame, the goggle frame adapted to be worn by a human wearer;   one or more goggle lenses coupled to the goggle frame, the one or more goggle lenses configured to cover the eyes of the human wearer; and   a coating adjacent to the one or more goggle lenses, the coating configured to reflect, refract, or absorb energy from a radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic pulse away from the eyes of the human wearer.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the coating further configured to reflect, refract, or absorb microwave electromagnetic energy away from the eyes of the human wearer.