The Mamori Mouthguard: The Solution to Concussions in Sports

Have you ever gotten an injury? Was it a concussion? Was it a serious injury? I’ve got the solution...the Mamori mouthguard! The Mamori mouthguard is a mouthguard with built-in sensors that can detect hidden concussions that a person wouldn’t be able to see normally. Mark Dillon, a young Irish inventor made this invention. Did you know that "Mamori" is japanese for "protect"? The ongoing controversy about concussions in the NFL provides a powerful backdrop for Mark Dillon's invention. Ice hockey, in addition to football, inspired him to address the problem. For example, one ice hockey player received a severe concussion, taking him out of the game, and it wasn't until after a week and multiple tests and doctors that it was determined that he had, in fact, been concussed for several days before the incident. Stacking concussions can have dire, even fatal consequences. Luckily, there is a solution! According to the Dillon, the creator of the mouthguard. “What if, Dillon wondered, the original concussion and others like it could be detected and treated instantly? A few sensors on the player would be able to determine when a shock received was serious enough to cause head injury.” This is where the mouthguard comes into play! The Mamori mouthguard is being developed in the USA as well!


Now, you might be asking yourself, "A mouthguard that detects concussions? How is that possible?". First of all, I'm glad you asked! Second of all, without the mouthguard, detecting a concussion is difficult. Allowing athletes to play with one can cause a lifetime of brain damage. The mouthguard has built-in sensors that can send alerts to players and coaches when a collision is intense enough to cause a concussion. Cool, right? What motivated Mark Dillon to develop this invention is how there is an ongoing controversy about concussions in the NFL and in hockey. According to the text, “The ongoing controversy about concussions in the NFL provides a powerful backdrop for Mark Dillon's invention. Ice hockey, in addition to Gaelic football, inspired him to address the problem. ‘At the moment in Ireland, head injuries have gotten a lot of coverage in our national sport, Gaelic football,’ wrote Dillon in an email to NBC News. ‘Helmets provide a great deal of protection but unfortunately concussion is unavoidable.’". He's saying that helmets have a lot of protection to begin with, but it is just not enough to keep you safe while playing a sport like football or hockey. This is important to the global community because if people keep stacking concussions playing the sports that they love without knowing it. This can have dire consequences. As stated in the text, “Stacking concussions can have dire, even fatal consequences" This will have a major positive impact because players will now be safe from stacking up concussions and they will not have to worry about that anymore so they can play their game! According to NBC News, “The inertial sensors constantly monitor for movement and relay that information in real time to a laptop on the sidelines. If a player takes a hit, the force involved is immediately known, and if the impact falls above the threshold where a concussion is likely, medical care can be given instantly.” This mouthguard will change the world and sports as we know it, so stacking concussions can be a thing from the past!