Mouth guard formation methods

Abstract

A method for producing a mouth guard having an encapsulated sensor module. The method includes vacuum forming a first sheet of thermoplastic material using a mold to produce a first mouth guard layer, attaching a sensor module to the first mouth guard layer with a hot melt adhesive, vacuum forming a second sheet of thermoplastic material over the sensor module to produce a second mouth guard layer, storing a default threshold level in the sensor module, and calibrating the sensor module to account for sensor alignment. In an example embodiment, the first and second layers are formed such that they define an open area that allows a user's tongue to touch their upper palate after the mouth guard has been inserted and such that the layers define a channel for accepting a plurality of teeth, including the incisors of a user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONParticipation in athletic activities is increasing at all age levels. All participants may be potentially exposed to physical harm as a result of such participation. Physical harm is more likely to occur in athletic events where collisions between participants frequently occur (e.g., football, field hockey, lacrosse, ice hockey, soccer and the like). In connection with sports such as football, hockey and lacrosse where deliberate collisions between participants occur, the potential for physical harm and / or injury is greatly enhanced. Approximately 300,000 athletes incur concussions in the United States each year. This may be a conservative estimate because many minor head injuries go unreported. Although most concussions occur in high-impact sports, athletes in low-impact sports are not immune to mild traumatic brain injury. Head injuries are caused by positive and negative acceleration forces experienced by the brain and may result from linear or rotation...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a wirelessly linked sports impact sensing and reporting system. The system mainly includes one or more player electronics modules, a sideline module, and a remotely served and remotely accessible recording database module. In one aspect of the invention, the player module is housed independently within the volume of a set of an otherwise standard mouth guard and chin strap assembly, the sideline module is housed within the structure of an otherwise standard clipboard, and the database module is accessible via a network, e.g., public or private Internet.

Problems solved by technology

All participants may be potentially exposed to physical harm as a result of such participation.

Physical harm is more likely to occur in athletic events where collisions between participants frequently occur (e.g., football, field hockey, lacrosse, ice hockey, soccer and the like).

This may be a conservative estimate because many minor head injuries go unreported.

Although most concussions occur in high-impact sports, athletes in low-impact sports are not immune to mild traumatic brain injury.

Both linear and rotational accelerations are likely to be encountered by the head at impact, damaging neural and vascular elements of the brain.

At the school level, school authorities have become sensitive to the risk of injury to which student participants are exposed, as well as to the liability of the school system when injury results.

Some players engage in reckless behavior on the athletic field or do not appreciate the dangers to which they and others are subject by certain types of impacts experienced in these athletic endeavors.

Unfortunately, the use of mouth guards and helmets does not prevent all injuries.

One particularly troublesome problem is when a student athlete experiences a head injury, such as a concussion, of undetermined severity even when wearing protective headgear.

The same problem arises in professional sports where the stakes are much higher for a team, where such a team loses a valuable player due to the possibility of a severe head injury.

Other attempts have been made, however all these attempts can be costly to implement and fail to provide full historical medical information to coaches, trainers and medical professionals in real-time for dozens of players at a time on one or more adjacent fields.

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