Inventive Problem Solving
Ideation Process
Project Initiation
1. Project objectives
To design a new model for football helmets to reduce angular acceleration in head collisions
To design a new system for checking helmets to determine when they are no longer effective
2. Importance of the Situation
Subdural hemorrhages (SH) are becoming an increasing problem at the high school and college level of American football. Because acceptable levels of angular acceleration are allowed that can cause SH, it is becoming more urgent that a new system and helmet model be established.
Innovation Situation Questionnaire
1. Brief description of the situation
American Football has gained in popularity over the past thirty years. As this trend increases at the professional level, it also parallels the gain in the college and high school level as well. These areas are where helmet design is flawed. Because levels of rotational acceleration are permited which can cause subdural hemorrhages, athletes are experiencing increased issues with this form of brain trauma.
2. Detailed description of the situation
Since the inception of the game in 1869, American football has enjoyed ever increasing popularity until becoming the pinnacle of sporting entertainment which it achieved in the 21st century. However, as the sport continues to grow, more and more athletes are exposing themselves to the inherent risks of the game. One of these, subdural hemorrhages (SDH), poses a significant risk to athletes of any level and serves as the focus of this design and application process. It has been theorized, but only loosely proven, that subdural hemorrhages, and thus, concussions and other similar injuries, are the result of angular acceleration due to violent head collisions (Forbes). In fact, based on research performed from 1945 to 1994, subdural hemorrhages have accounted for the majority of football related deaths. To be more precise, it was determined that at least 352 of the 684 fatalities during this timeframe were the result of SDH (Cantu).
This significance of head injuries has dictated the policy of equipment design for several decades. Helmet use has been mandatory for approximately 70 years and facemasks have been required for almost 60. As these new equipment models were required, it slowly began to change the manner in which the game was played. New technique, such as leading a tackle with the crown of the helmet, by athletes yielded a significant increase in helmet leading tackles (Cantu). Thus, the incidence of fatalities as a result of brain injuries peaked from 1965 to 1969. This led to the initiation of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). By 1973, the NOCSAE had created a new set of rules and regulations on how to play the game safely, and by 1980, similar standards had been passed down to collegiate and high school level football as well. Additionally, the NOCSAE began implementing new standards of helmet regulation which further improved the safety of football players.
Despite the initial indications that helmet related injuries were decreasing, this trend soon plateaued around 1994, and began to steadily increase once again. Additionally, the cause of a significant majority (94%) of fatalities was directly linked to the incidence of subdural hemorrhages (Boden). Modern testing and the improvement in helmet assessment now allow for a much better investigation as to the precise levels of translational and rotational accelerations and the values of these collisions, even at the high school level, overlap with the minimum threshold to induce subdural hemorrhages (SDHs). Because translational acceleration has been studied thoroughly over the past decade with minimal success, it is reasoned to believe that a much greater cause of injury due to SDH is the rotational acceleration from violent collisions. This study hopes to investigate this claim, engineer helmets that more appropriately address this concern, and finally propose a new system to the NOCSAE to properly test and measure this concept as it relates to regulating helmets in American Football.
2.1. Supersystem - System - Subsystems
2.1.1. System name
Radial Helmet
2.1.2. System structure
The helmet will improve upon existing structures by reducing the lever arm of collisions, possibly with a new cushion material, and still maintain protection from translational acceleration
2.1.3. Supersystems and environment
Minimal environmental concerns as long as the materials that are used are appropriate and not hazardous to the environment
2.1.4. Systems with similar problems
Theoretically, other sports with helmet use could posses similar problems. For example, cycling requires a helmet to protect against collisions, but this is minimal risk compared to that associated with American football
2.2. Input - Process - Output
2.2.1. Functioning of the system
Reduce rotational acceleration
2.2.2. System inputs
Force at a specific point at a specific angle on the helmet
2.2.3. System outputs
Rotation at a given acceleration on the head
2.3. Cause - Problem - Effect
2.3.1. Problem to be resolved
Current models permit dangerous levels of rotational acceleration that can cause subdural hemmhorages
2.3.2. Mechanism causing the problem
Force from the collision of two players causes a reaction in the head of at least one player that recoils when struck with sufficient force at the appropriate angle
2.3.3. Undesirable consequences if the problem is not resolved
Subdural hemorrhages will continue, and possibly increase, as athletes get bigger, stronger, and faster
2.3.4. Other problems to be solved
Size, style, and cost are three other factors that must be kept in mind during the design process
2.4. Past - Present - Future
2.4.1. History of the problem
Over the past two decades, this problem has grown as athletes, particularly at the high school level, are experiencing a growing number of subdural hemmorhages. One particular study found that approximately 15 players per 10000 had complications because of this issue. Because SH can rapidly lead to sever problems, including death, this must be addressed
2.4.2. Pre-process time
N/A
2.4.3. Post-process time
N/A
3. Resources, constraints and limitations
3.1. Available resources
The design labs at Vanderbilt as well as the human resources at the Medical Center and in the football equipment department will be instrumental in the success of our project
3.2. Allowable changes to the system
The entire helmet can be modified as long as other requirements are met
3.3. Constraints and limitations
Lightweight and comfortable are two constant requirements. Additionally, it must protect against translational acceleration as well
3.4. Criteria for selecting solution concepts
Mathematical formulas (torque = force * distance of lever arm) will be the governing concepts for the solution design
Problem Formulation and Brainstorming
Conflict Map
12/7/2010 11:53:43 AM.
1. Find an alternative way to obtain Reduce angular acceleration that offers the following: provides or enhances Reduce strain on blood vessels in brain does not require Decrease Torque.
2. Find an alternative way to obtain Reducing the lever arm that offers the following: provides or enhances Decrease Torque does not cause Shorter time of impact does not require Shrink helmet shell.
3. Resolve the contradiction: Reducing the lever armshould be provided to produce Decrease Torque andshouldn't be provided to avoid Shorter time of impact.
4. Find a way to eliminate, reduce, or prevent Increases translational acceleration in order to avoid Concussions and other brain trauma under the conditions of Shorter time of impact.
5. Find a way to eliminate, reduce, or prevent Concussions and other brain trauma under the conditions of Increases translational acceleration.
6. Find an alternative way to obtain Shrink helmet shell that offers the following: provides or enhances Reducing the lever arm and Maintain current facemaske model does not require Design new cushion material or structure.
7. Find an alternative way to obtain Decrease Torque that offers the following: provides or enhances Reduce angular acceleration does not require Reducing the lever arm.
8. Find a way to eliminate, reduce, or prevent Shorter time of impact in order to avoid Increases translational acceleration under the conditions of Reducing the lever arm.
9. Find an alternative way to obtain Design new cushion material or structure that provides or enhances Shrink helmet shell.
10. Find an alternative way to obtain Maintain current facemaske model that does not require Shrink helmet shell.
11. Find an alternative way to obtain Reduce strain on blood vessels in brain that offers the following: eliminates, reduces, or prevents Subdural Hemorrhages does not require Reduce angular acceleration.
12. Find a way to eliminate, reduce, or preventSubdural Hemorrhages.
Develop Concepts
1. Categorize preliminary ideas
Goals:
1. Reduce risks while maintaining general size and shape of helmet design.
2. Desirable for use (i.e. comfortable, not bulky, etc.)
3. Use same materials that are generally used in current football helmets.
Techniques:
1. Allow helmet to rotate separately from the player's head during collisions.
2. Increase padding to lengthen the duration of the collision, thus decreasing impulse.
3. Improve facemask-helmet interface to decrease rigidity.
2. Combine ideas into concepts
By using the same materials as current football hemets and making the helmet desirable for use, all while decreasing the risks of subdural hemmorhages we can produce a helmet that is effective and accepted in the sport. This can be done by allowing the helmet to rotate seperately from the players head during collisions, as well as taking measures to increase the length of collisions by adding more padding and imporving the facemask-helmet interface.
Evaluate Results
1. Meet criteria for evaluating Concepts
In current football collisions, rates of translational acceleration often reach the range where subdural hemmorhages can occur. If successful, our design will eliminate the possibility that normal football collisions reach such levels of acceleration. Helmets are currently only tested and certified based on translational acceleration. Thus, while the main goal is to decrease rotational acceleration on the player, the helmet must still sufficiently minimize translational forces in order to be certified and be allowed for use.
2. Reveal and prevent potential failures
One of the main potential failures is that while decreasing the rotational acceleration during a collision, there is a chance that the design would be less efficient at mitigating translational acceleration. Another is that this type of helmet design has never been done before. While in theory, this design will work, there is a chance that we could end up making a prototype and it not actually accomplish the desired goals when it is tested. This would call for a complete redesign.
3. Apply Patterns/Lines of Evolution
As our model improves and we refine our testing, it will be necessary to develop accurate and effective means of measuring angular acceleration in human subjects with precise numbers from American football collisions. Once this testing is established and verified, it can be implemented on a wider scale.
4. Plan the implementation
The first step of implementation will involve presenting our work at the national conference in Denver in April. This will give us a solid foundation to transition to local high schools and other governing bodies.
Innovation WorkBench® software. Dec/07/2010, 11:55
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