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Spencer has just completed a Bachelor of Design (Hons), majoring in industrial design, at Massey University.
For his final year project, he designed a mouthguard that can calculate concussion risk in rugby players, by measuring the impact of a tackle on the player’s brain.
His prototype mouthguard Nerve features microelectronics, including motion sensors, within the middle layer of the design. The data received from the mouth guard is linked to a sideline iPad which accumulates the player’s percentage of concussion risk based on an algorithm.
It identifies where on the head a player has sustained an impact injury while also providing previous concussion history and pre-season baseline tests.
Spencer, who suffered several concussions playing rugby and snowboarding, says his design allows medical sideline staff to make more accurate informed decisions as to whether a player should continue playing on after suffering a head knock.
“My design picks up impacts missed by the human eye and transfers the data to a side line doctor,” he says. “With the benefit of accurate real time data, they can decide if a player needs to come off the field for rehabilitation to minimise the possibility of a second impact syndrome [multiple injuries in a game].”
Spencer says while the technology he’s used has been around for a while, his design focused on functionality.
“There’s been a lot of interest in the mouthguard and I’d be surprised if this technology isn’t being used in the next Rugby World Cup. It’s not cheap and requires a clinical diagnosis, so the target market would be professional, high performance athletes, but over time, it would be great if this could filter down to schools and clubs because amateur athletes are the ones who are most at risk.”
Spencer, who is currently holidaying with family at Kaipara Flats, hopes to pursue a career as a product designer.
Concussion costs
There are an estimated 35,000 head injuries in New Zealand every year and 21 per cent are sustained through sport. The ACC only receive claims for about 85 per cent of the sports-related concussion injuries suggesting that 1100 currently go untreated. Between 2009 and 2013, sports-related concussion claims cost ACC $76 million.
Injuries are most frequently sustained during rugby, cycling and equestrian activities, and 11 per cent of sports-related concussion claimants had multiple concussions within a two-year period. With repeat concussion, people may experience a decline in general health and quality of life for up to 10 years following the injury.
