Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has turned to sensors as a way of potentially quantifying head traumas. By adding sensors inside football helmets, researchers are trying to identify biomarkers that could be indicative of if an athlete has suffered a concussion during game play.
Helmet Sensors to Detect TBI
The study, conducted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute, combined data taken from sensors placed inside players’ helmets during practices and games and as blood, urine, and saliva samples from each player in an attempt to examine changes that can occur as the result of multiple head impacts.
Sensors placed in helmets detected the number, direction, and intensity of hits of 55 players, ages 18 to 25, sustained over three football seasons from 2013 to 2016. Data from head impacts was compared to the players’s genetics, a practice which could definitively determine whether a player had a concussion and how long it might take them to recover.
The study data was recently published to help other researchers develop similar tests that might be able to detect head injuries off the playing field, including those sustained during car accidents.
“We want to develop some type of a test – that could be a rapidly-administered test – that would help understand if a player did receive a head impact or a concussion that may not be showing typical symptoms,” said Matt Huentelman, professor of neurogenomics at TGen.
Protecting Yourself Following a Traumatic Brain Injury
Almost 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and most of them do not know how to file a TBI lawsuit to protect themselves after those TBIs. Knowing how wide-spread these types of injuries are, even more frightening is that some people do not show signs of a TBI until weeks or even months after sustaining the injury. Because of that, it can be hard to pursue legal action. Below we will outline what a TBI is, and how you can protect yourself if you or a loved one suffers a TBI through someone else’s negligence.
Over the past few years, traumatic brain injuries have gained a lot of attention in the media due to the fact that more and more information is becoming more widely available. One of the main reasons TBIs have become so widely discussed is because of the number of football players that are coming forward with TBIs, and issues related to TBIs.
TBIs in football players have been linked to high levels of depression, suicide, and violent behavior. But it’s not just football players, who take numerous hits to the head, that are victims of TBI. Across the nation, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain TBIs annually. Of that number: 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.365 million are treated and released from emergency rooms.
Traumatic brain injury is brain dysfunction caused by an external force, such as a violent blow or jolt to the head or body during an accident, or an object penetrating the skull.
There are various levels of traumatic brain injuries, but all of them should be taken seriously, as even TBIs termed “mild” can have serious consequences.
Mild traumatic brain injury, such as a slight or mild concussion can cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. This can result in long-term complications and even death.
The effects of a TBI are not just limited to physical, but also psychological effects. And though some signs or symptoms appear immediately, some only appear days or weeks later. In cases like this, because the incident has occurred so long ago, you might not even realize that you are dealing with a symptom of a TBI.
What Causes TBIs?
Any number of things can cause a concussion or TBI, including a car accident, bus accident, or a faulty product. Below we outline some of these common accidents that are also common personal injury accidents that would warrant a lawsuit.
Automobile Accidents
Working with a Personal Injury Attorney After an Accident
If you or a loved one have been a victim of a personal injury accident, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney that understands the specific laws around these types of accidents. They will be able to perform a full investigation and build your case. It’s crucial that you work with someone that knows the intricacies of the laws surrounding these types of cases as well as your specific state’s laws. The attorneys at Personal Injury Attorneys PLLC have experience handling personal injury cases such as elevator accidents, automobile accidents, and slip and fall accidents. They will help build a case to ensure you receive everything you need to recover from your specific accident.
