The basics of the breakthrough.

[1] What is the Impact Intelligence System?

The Impact Intelligence System (IIS) is the world’s first system for end-to-end management of sports brain injury (SBI). It consists of an impact sensing mouthguard, a real-time wireless network, and a player assessment tool to monitor a player’s head impact over an extended period of time.   


[2] How does it work?

The IIS utilizes the innovative new Impact Sensing Mouthguard, an instrumented mouthguard that measures the impacts and accelerations experienced by the brain. The Impact Sensing Mouthguard transmits the data and information via a proprietary wireless protocol to a base station at the sideline, then via GSM to a secure internet database. The IIS sends notifications and alerts to authorized athletic trainers, team medical personnel and/or coaches via mobile devices or computers, about impacts to players heads. The system also provides a suite of tools supporting athlete assessment in bench vs. play decisions, recovery and safe return to play protocols.


[3] Is the IIS intended to provide a diagnosis about the presence or absence of concussion?
No. The IIS is not intended for use as a diagnostic tool, particularly since individual instances of concussion occur under a wide range of external input conditions and no clear threshold for concussion has been established to date for any of the measured impact parameters. The IIS is instead meant to be a screening and awareness tool that ensures that potentially dangerous impacts and combinations of impacts are detected, measured, recorded, and reported in real time to sideline personnel.

[4] Will the IIS prevent concussions?

The IIS will not prevent concussions, but it is a tool for athletic trainers and coaches that will assist in the detection and prevention of sports brain injury (SBI).

[5] Can the system tell when a player needs to be removed from a game?

No, but the data collected and the sidelines assessment tools will allow coaches and medical personnel to properly assess if a player needs to be removed from the game. The system will never replace the physician or team medical staff’s judgment. It simply gives the physician or medical staff more information to make a more informed decision.


[6] Where does a player’s data get stored?  How is it being analyzed?

The player’s data is stored in secure cloud-based database, and is analyzed using proprietary software either on a laptop or handheld device.


[7] What teams, schools, and/or players are currently using the technology? 
The product is currently being used by leading institutions including, Stanford University, Notre Dame, University of Washington, University of Maryland, Temple University and University of North Carolina. 
 


[8] Are any sports professionals endorsing this system? 

Two key advisors include former NFL coach Jim Mora, Jr. and Dr. Stanley Herring, a team physician for the Seattle Seahawks; a member of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee; a major contributor to the successful passage of the Zackery Lystedt Law in Washington; a consultant to the UW Sports Medicine Program; and co-medical director of the Seattle Sports Concussion Program.

[9] Has research and testing been conducted?
Yes, the IIS has undergone rigorous research and testing for the past four years in the lab and on the field with high school, college and professional teams including football, soccer and hockey. Stanford School of Medicine recently press released an independent research study demonstrating the accuracy of the system. Studies continue at the Southern Impact Research Center at the University of Tennessee. See the Research & Science section.

[10] Does this mouthguard provide the same protection as other mouthguards?
It provides protection with the added impact monitoring benefits.  

[11] Do I have to worry about having electrical devices in my mouth?
In the highly unlikely event that the components inside the mouthguard were to become exposed to the user’s mouth, there would be little to no risk posed to the user. The circuitry inside an Impact Sensing Mouthguard operates at 2.85V and below, falling well below the established CE and UL limits for Safety of Low-Voltage devices.


[12] How can my team order the IIS?

We are currently taking requests for delivery in 2012.

[13] How much does the system cost?
The system varies in cost based on the number of mouthguards utilized. Please contact us for more information.