SALINE, Mich. (WXYZ) — A Michigan tech company has developed a new way to bring attention to concussions in the athletic arena.
Akervall Technologies, headquartered in Saline, are the makers of SISU Sense mouthguards -- a new smart mouthguard that measures impact to the head and helps lessen an athlete's exposure to concussions.
“We’ve combined the safest mouthguard on the market with a sensor that measures the force of hits to the head,” said Sassa Akervall of Akervall Technologies CEO. “The information provided by the SISU Sense will assist coaches, parents and athletes understand the impact of a hit and decide if an athlete should be taken out of the game."
The mouthguard comes with an app that displays the number of major and minor hits an athlete encounter throughout one day.
“Analysis of SISU Sense information may result in reducing an athlete’s exposure to dangerous situations in sports and may even change the rules in contact sports for the better.”
Developers say the guard is slightly thicker than a 50-cent coin and can be remolded up to 20 times using hot water to custom fit the wearer. It can also be worn over braces.
How does it work?
There is a microchip sensor embedded in the left side of the guard by the rear molars. The chip includes an accelerometer for 3D force detection. When impact happens, the chip collects acceleration measurements for what the head experiences.
The product will be released this month and will cost under $100, the company says.
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