Impact Sensing Wearable Device And Method

Abstract

A mouth guard, or wearable device, senses impact forces, calculates risk factors for injury, and displays status of risk and potential injury. A mouth guard may be used to identify, treat and prevent exacerbating brain injury. A wearable device can be programmed with biometric data to better calculate and anticipate impact thresholds and more precisely predict and prevent injury.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method for detecting impacts experienced by a user during an activity, the user wearing a mouth guard in an oral cavity thereof that includes at least one linear force detector configured to detect linear force imparted to the user by the impacts, and at least one rotational force detector configured to detect rotational force imparted to the user by the impacts, the method comprising:
 generating, using the at least one linear force detector, linear impact data associated with linear force imparted to the user by at least one impact experienced by the user during the activity;   generating, using the at least one rotational force detector, rotational impact data associated with rotational force imparted to the user by the at least one impact experienced by the user during the activity;   determining, based at least on the linear impact data and the rotational impact data, a concussion probability that the at least one impact caused the user to suffer a concussion; and   in response to the concussion probability exceeding a predetermined threshold, providing an indication using the mouth guard.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising receiving biometric data associated with the user, the determination of the concussion probability being further based on the biometric data. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the biometric data includes an age of the user, and wherein determining the concussion probability includes determining if the age of the user is below a lower age threshold or above an upper age threshold. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact is higher in response to the age of the user being below the lower age threshold or above the upper age threshold as compared to the age of the user being above the lower age threshold and below the upper age threshold. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the biometric data includes a gender of the user, the user being female increasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being male. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the biometric data includes a weight of the user, the user being in a high weight category decreasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being in an average weight category, the user being in the average weight category decreasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being in a low weight category. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein determining the concussion probability includes determining, based at least on the linear impact data and the rotational impact data, a direction of the at least one impact relative to the user. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the direction of the at least one impact being to a front of the user or a back of the user increases the determined concussion probability compared to the direction of the at least one impact being to a side of the user. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 determining the concussion probability of a first impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a first amount of rotational force and (ii) an amount of total force; and   determining the concussion probability of a second impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a second amount of rotational force that is greater than the first amount of rotational force and (ii) an equal amount of total force,   wherein the concussion probability of the second impact is greater than the concussion probability of the first impact if biometric data associated with the user indicates that an age of the user is less than a threshold age.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 determining the concussion probability of a first impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a first amount of rotational force and (ii) an amount of total force; and   determining the concussion probability of a second impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a second amount of rotational force that is greater than the first amount of rotational force and (ii) an equal amount of total force,   wherein the concussion probability of the second impact is greater than the concussion probability of the first impact if historical impact data indicates that the user has experienced at least one prior impact.   
     
     
         55 . A mouth guard for detecting impacts experienced by a user during an activity, the mouth guard comprising:
 a main body comprising a soft plastic material, the main body being configured to fit into an oral cavity of the user;   at least one linear force detector disposed within or coupled to the main body, the at least one linear force detector configured to generate linear impact data associated with linear force imparted to the user by at least one impact experienced by the user during the activity;   at least one rotational force detector disposed within or coupled to the main body, the at least one rotational force detector configured to generate rotational impact data associated with rotational force imparted to the user by the at least one impact experienced by the user during the activity; and   a microcontroller disposed within or coupled to the main body, the microcontroller being configured to:
 determine, based at least on the linear impact data and the rotational impact data, a concussion probability that the at least one impact caused the user to suffer a concussion; and 
 in response to the concussion probability exceeding a predetermined threshold, provide an indication using the mouth guard. 
   
     
     
         56 . The mouth guard of  claim 55 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to receive biometric data associated with the user, the determination of the concussion probability being further based on the biometric data. 
     
     
         57 . The mouth guard of  claim 56 , wherein the biometric data includes an age of the user, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine if the age of the user is below a lower age threshold or above an upper age threshold. 
     
     
         58 . The mouth guard of  claim 57 , wherein the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact is higher in response to the age of the user being below the lower age threshold or above the upper age threshold as compared to the age of the user being above the lower age threshold and below the upper age threshold. 
     
     
         59 . The mouth guard of  claim 56 , wherein the biometric data includes a gender of the user, the user being female increasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being male. 
     
     
         60 . The mouth guard of  claim 56 , wherein the biometric data includes a weight of the user, the user being in a high weight category decreasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being in an average weight category, the user being in the average weight category decreasing the determined concussion probability for the at least one impact compared to the user being in a low weight category. 
     
     
         61 . The mouth guard of  claim 55 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine, based at least on the linear impact data and the rotational impact data, a direction of the at least one impact relative to the user. 
     
     
         62 . The mouth guard of  claim 61 , wherein the direction of the at least one impact being to a front of the user or a back of the user increases the determined concussion probability compared to the direction of the at least one impact being to a side of the user. 
     
     
         63 . The mouth guard of  claim 55 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to:
 determine the concussion probability of a first impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a first amount of rotational force and (ii) an amount of total force; and   determine the concussion probability of a second impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a second amount of rotational force that is greater than the first amount of rotational force and (ii) an equal amount of total force,   wherein the concussion probability of the second impact is greater than the concussion probability of the first impact if biometric data associated with the user indicates that an age of the user is less than a threshold age.   
     
     
         64 . The mouth guard of  claim 55 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to:
 determine the concussion probability of a first impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a first amount of rotational force and (ii) an amount of total force; and   determine the concussion probability of a second impact of the at least one impact to the user that imparts (i) a second amount of rotational force that is greater than the first amount of rotational force and (ii) an equal amount of total force,   wherein the concussion probability of the second impact is greater than the concussion probability of the first impact if historical impact data indicates that the user has experienced at least one prior impact.