Body mounted monitoring system and method
Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring head acceleration and/or forces acting thereon are disclosed. A device for monitoring an acceleration or a force acting on the head of a user includes a flexible article adapted to be worn on the head of the user; and a monitoring assembly coupled to the flexible article. The monitoring assembly includes a sensor for measuring a force on the head and transmitting data relating to the force, the sensor disposed proximate to the head, a processor adapted to receive the force data from the sensor, and a flexible strip operatively connecting the sensor and the processor.
1. A device for monitoring a force acting on a head of a user, comprising:
a flexible article configured to be worn on the head of the user; and
a monitoring assembly removably coupled to the flexible article, the monitoring assembly including:
a sensor for measuring a force on the head and transmitting data relating to the force, the sensor positioned to be disposed immediately proximate to the head;
a processor configured to receive the force data from the sensor; and
a flexible strip operatively connecting the sensor and the processor, the flexible strip including a first end and a second end,
wherein the sensor is disposed at the first end of the flexible strip and the control unit processor is disposed intermediate to the first end of the flexible strip and the second end of the flexible strip,
wherein a neck portion of the flexible strip extends downwardly and is configured to be positioned at a base of a neck of the user, and
wherein the processor is coupled to the neck portion.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a pocket formed in the flexible article, and wherein at least a portion of the monitoring assembly is disposed in the pocket.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the monitoring assembly is securely attached to the flexible article.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the head.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of accelerometers.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor further comprises at least one gyroscope.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the monitoring assembly is disposed between an outer flexible layer and an inner flexible layer of the flexible article.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible article is configured to conform to a crown of the head of the user.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible article is configured to conform to at least one portion of the user's head proximate to a region selected from the group consisting of the cranium, the frontal bone, the temporal bone, the parietal bone, the sphenoid bone, the occipital bone, the scalp, and combinations thereof.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor positioned to be disposed immediately proximate to the head is positioned to be disposed proximate to the temporal bone or the parietal bone of the head.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor positioned to be disposed immediately proximate to the head is positioned to be disposed proximate to the cranium.
12. A modular head impact monitoring system, comprising:
a rigid helmet for protecting a head of a user;
a conformal headpiece including an outermost conformal layer formable to the head of the user, the conformal headpiece configured to be worn in between the rigid helmet and the head with a portion of the conformal headpiece extending below the rigid helmet and configured to be positioned at a base of a neck of the user;
a sensor unit for measuring an acceleration of the head, the sensor unit coupled to the headpiece and configured to be disposed in between the head and the outermost conformal layer; and
a control unit having a processor, the control unit coupled to the portion of the conformal headpiece extending below the rigid helmet,
wherein the sensor unit is operatively connected to the control unit, and
wherein the conformal headpiece is configured to be worn separately from the rigid helmet.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the rigid helmet is a sports helmet.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the rigid helmet is an industrial helmet.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the rigid helmet is a military helmet.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor unit is removably coupled to the conformal headpiece.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a flexible strip having an accelerometer disposed thereon and a contact for connecting to a processor.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is connected to the sensor unit and configured to receive acceleration data from the accelerometer.
19. A device for monitoring a force acting on a head of a user, comprising:
a flexible article configured to be worn on the head of the user, the flexible article having a pocket; and
a monitoring assembly removably disposed within the pocket of the flexible article, the monitoring assembly including:
a sensor for measuring a force on the head and transmitting data relating to the force, the sensor positioned to be disposed immediately proximate to the head and proximate to the cranium and comprising at least one low-g accelerometer configured to measure accelerations of no more than 24 g;
a processor configured to receive the force data from the sensor; and
a flexible strip operatively electrically connecting the sensor to the processor,
wherein a neck portion of the flexible strip extends downwardly and is configured to be positioned at a base of a neck of the user, and
wherein the processor is coupled to the neck portion.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the sensor positioned to be disposed proximate to the cranium is positioned to be disposed proximate to the temporal bone or the parietal bone of the head.