# US 11,029,226 B2 · Body mounted monitoring system and method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,029,226 B2
- Document ID: US11029226B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/033,553
- Filed: 2018-07-12
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-27
- Assignees: Reebok International Ltd.; Medidata Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Reebok International Limited; Medidata Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Paul M. Davis; William Marvin; Steven Fastert; Kevin Dowling; Paul E. Litchfield; Benjamin Schlatka; Gilman Callsen; Robert Rich; Dustin G. Simone; Keith A. Stern; Dennis Gaboriault
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029226B2

## CPC

- G01L 5/0052: {measuring forces due to impact (G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00)}
- A42B 3/046: {Means for detecting hazards or accidents}
- A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)}
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- A61B 5/6814: {Head}
- G01M 7/08: Shock-testing
- G01P 1/023: {for acceleration measuring devices}
- G01P 15/08: with conversion into electric or magnetic values
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0257: Proximity sensors
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the monitoring assembly is securely attached to the flexible article.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of accelerometers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises at least one gyroscope.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible article is configured to conform to a crown of the head of the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the rigid helmet is a sports helmet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the rigid helmet is an industrial helmet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the rigid helmet is a military helmet.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor unit is removably coupled to the conformal headpiece.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is connected to the sensor unit and configured to receive acceleration data from the accelerometer.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

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.