Helmet blastometer

摘要

A helmet blastometer for characterizing the direction, speed, magnitude, and duration of a blast event to determine the likelihood of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (biTBI). Time of arrival (TOA) gage sensors are mounted on a rigid outer shell of the helmet each producing a TOA signal in response to a fast rising blast induced positive pressure change above a predetermined threshold. A receiver analyzes the positive pressure changes from the gages to determine direction, speed, and magnitude of a blast. Other TOA gauge sensors can be used to produce a TOA signal in response to a negative pressure change below a predetermined threshold. The positive and negative pressure change TOA signals are used to determine blast duration. A second set of internal contact pressure sensors is connected to an inner liner of the helmet to detect contact pressure on a user's head to determine if biTBI has been sustained.

主权项

1. A helmet blastometer comprising:
a helmet having a rigid outer shell; a plurality of external sensors connected to the rigid outer shell at various locations thereof, with each external sensor comprising a time-of-arrival (TOA) gage that produces a TOA signal only in response to a blast-induced positive pressure change above a predetermined threshold pressure (“positive-pressure-change TOA signal”); and a receiver operably connected to receive the TOA signals from the TOA gages.