New Improved Helmet
Scientists from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) recently announced that they are developing a new helmet material that may better protect someone’s head at the point of impact. Over the past few decades, helmet technology has been gradually improving. These advances in helmet design have protected countless people from suffering a traumatic brain injury. Individuals can sustain a TBI in a variety of ways, including sports, motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall injuries, and physical assaults. When helmets absorb the force of an impact, they have the potential to save a life.
The Challenges Facing Current Helmet Designs
Helmets are commonly used by athletes, soldiers, cyclists, and motorcycle riders. Researchers have indicated that there are plenty of helmet models that can absorb a single impact; however, the biggest challenge is designing a helmet that can stand up to repeated impacts spread out over a long period.
When scientists come up with helmet models that can stand up to the force of repeated impacts, they run into some common issues. The helmets are often either too big, too heavy, or too expensive. While new ideas for helmets are released regularly, the improvements have been relatively marginal. Fortunately, a team of helmet scientists from UCSB may have come up with a significant breakthrough.
The New Helmet Material
The goal of the researchers is to revolutionize helmet technology to improve the safety of cyclists, soldiers, and athletes. The new material uses a micro lattice structure. Think about the lattice structure used to make the Eiffel Tower. This is similar to the lattice structure used in the novel helmet technology; however, instead of using fabric, the material used is called a photopolymer.
The researchers tested their material in a variety of situations. They used an anvil to simulate a blow to the head, striking the helmet with it. They found that the new helmet material absorbed 14 percent more of the impact than the current helmet structure. Furthermore, they found that the new helmet material did a better job of maintaining the integrity of its structure. This means that it can withstand more impacts than the old helmet technology.
Moving Forward with More Tests
The researchers plan to test the new helmet technology against a variety of impacts. This is done to simulate different types of traumatic brain injuries. The scientists are trying to see if the new helmet might stand up better in some situations than others.
Assuming this new helmet continues to outperform existing technology in the research lab, the next step will be to bring the helmet to the open market. It has the potential to prevent more head injuries than its predecessors. This new helmet design might even save lives.
Watch YouTube Video: Helmet Safety Game Changer. The following video discusses the new state of the art technology for motorcycle helmet safety.
Sacramento Brain Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Attorney. This new helmet material has the potential to prevent traumatic brain injuries and save lives. If a loved one has suffered a severe head injury due to the negligence of someone else, please call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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