(Page 2 of 2)
Conventional helmets are lined with different types of absorbency materials, such as foam or fluid-filled pads, intended to conform to the shape of the head and dissipate energy. Upon impact, the pads deform. However, the material lacks resiliency and thus degrades over time. Gel- and air-filled pads have to be refilled and monitored for leaks. What's more, these materials can't adjust to the amount of force.
A cable runs around the flexible cap from the back of the helmet toward the front, and through the helmet's chin straps. When a player pulls on the chin straps, the chin piece pulls the cable downward. This secures the back and sides of the helmet around a person's head, so the inside of the helmet is literally adapting to the person's head size and shape, says Ferrara.
The Xenith helmet is one more step in a football-helmet design that seems to be effective in absorbing energy and dispersing the impact so that it's not all going to the head, says Laurence Young, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT. Young is also working on a helmet design, still in the research phases, based on a similar concept.
The Xenith helmet will be available in one size this spring, and a full range of sizes will be released in 2009. Ferrara also plans to use the helmet technology in other sports helmets, as well as in military helmets.
Novel helmets designed to protect players from concussions are coming to market, but experts still need more data to fully understand the injury.
New data on the frequency and location of head impacts could shed light on the causes of brain injury.
New device shows that brain injury may linger even after obvious symptoms disappear.
Sports like American football, rugby or hockey are for violent idiots. Which brings up the question of what is the point of protecting such people's brains, when there is so little to protect to begin with?...
Just let them bash each other's heads. That is exactly what they want, don't they?
What's the point??? Are you a complete idiot? Are you one of those 4.0 book smart guys without any common sense? Great job of stereotyping every football player in the country. Is the QB at Harvard just out to bash someone's head in? Rudy Neiswenger , the center for the Kansas City Chiefs is prepared to attend medical school. My 13 year old son suffered a concussion in baseball when he was 9 and now he quarterbacks his team and will play high school football next year. He will be wearing a Xenith and based on his placement test will be in honors classes. Concussions are serious Gabe, if they ever develop the next level of pocket protectors I'm sure you'll be first in line.
You know....this is very insulting, but then again, I can imagine that you are a "pencil pusher" that could never handle playing any type of sport let alone be thrown to the ground like a rag doll because that's how we roll. Instead of insulting others or making useless comments worry about your own hobbies even if it is playing with dolls. Enjoy your day and be sure to watch our 1st game! Be careful going to get your mail....there are cars passing....hahahahahahah
My son just got one of these from school today. It is well worth the cost. It is very well put together and looks like it will provide extra safety for him. A++++
We bought my son who is 10 and suffers migraines a Xenith helmet about 2 months ago. I wasnt told that there was a "breaking in period." He has tried to wear it several times and gets headaches after about 10 minutes of wearing it. The local rep was of no help and now we are out 350 on a helmet. No thanks. We are going back to Schutt.
My son wore a Xenith helmet last year. He found it to offer more comfort and protection than the Riddel he had prior. He is currently wearing a Schutt DNA while he waits for his Xenith to be re-coloured. He is anxious to get his Xenith back. While it is tricky to get the fit just right because of the way the chin strap is used to snug the bonnet against the head I am unaware of a break-in period. We looked at the Schutt ION and found it to be the only real alternative to the X1. I think you may benefit from consulting with someone who really knows about the helmet. The fitting video is also very helpful.
The local high school just bought some of these new helmets. The coach gave them to the running back, linebackers and some lineman. They have played three games. The last two games they have sent 4 kids to the hospital with head injuries. Two are confirmed concision. The other two I am not for sure what they are calling it, but the way the players where acting it was not normal. The head coach is going back to the old helmets. It is my understanding the rep is coming down tomorrow. I am not for sure of all the detail but am very concerned.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
This document is part of the “How-To Guide for Most Common Measurements” centralized resource portal. This tutorial provides a detailed guide for measurement and device considerations to take temperature measurements using thermocouples. Get an introduction to thermocouples, which are inexpensive sensing devices widely used with PC-based data acquisition systems. Also review some specific thermocouple examples and learn how thermocouples work and ways to integrate them into a data acquisition measurement system.
View full PDF >
Listen to story > 
Our list of the 50 most innovative companies, including the following:
On Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
Subscribe to the Feed
Guest (stevieboy)
Concussion research
There is a movement toward concussion prevention in the form of jaw protection. The NFL, NHL and the military have found blows to the jaw or boxing trauma to be the origin of the majority of MTBI. Helmets only protect from a minority of head trauma, new designs have provided great protection, fitting and monitoring are a problem. A retainer like mouth guard developed the the N.E. Patriots head and neck specialist may hold the answer to protecting the jaw. on the gridiron and in Iraq. Go to www.mahercor.com for studies and news stories.
Reply
KCColorado
1 Comment
Re: Concussion research
After reading the article and comments on Technology Review we recently purchased a Xenith helmet because of the great reputation of MIT. We drove over 100 miles to have it fitted by the Xenith experts. Our son has been playing football for 6 years now. He plays QB and middle linebacker, typically plays every play of the game. His Xenith helmet starts hurting him and he gets severe headaches around halftime. It hurts in the area of his forehead where the most impact is taken. The reason for this is that there are only 2 relatively small points of contact on the forehead; simply not enough surface area to disperse the energy from the impact. His head turns extremely red under each of the front shock absorbers. Now after the first 3 weeks of football, 4 games and spending $200+ on a helmet, we are going to another brand. Anyone want to buy a cheap helmet?
Reply