This Wearable Patch Zaps Your Neck to Instantly Detect Concussions
It’s no secret that concussions are a massive issue in sports. 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually in the U.S. alone. Heck, Will Smith even made a whole two-hour middling movie about it. Even one concussion can cause long-lasting brain damage resulting in memory loss, depression, and—in the worst cases—death. While there have been many advancements in protective equipment in sports to try and prevent such injuries (like better helmets and pads in football for example), the best way to prevent the long-term effects of brain trauma is often simply identifying and treating them early.
Luckily, a team of scientists developed a wearable device that can immediately detect concussions during high-impact sports like football or hockey.
In a study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from Michigan State University developed a patch that’s about the size of a band-aid that can be worn on the back of an athlete’s neck that senses when a concussion has occurred. More specifically, the device uses an electrical signal that can detect sudden neck movements, alerting its wearer and nearby medical teams to then treat the injury immediately.
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