Sensitized to this topic very early in his 15-year career, Mathieu Falbriard furthered his thinking at the École polytechnique de Lausanne during his PhD in movement analysis.

This is where the idea of ​​developing sensors and algorithms to enable real-time concussion risk assessment was born.

Two years ago he teamed up with another engineer, Tom Bertrand, a former rugby player who is also sensitive to the problems of skull shock. Together they founded the Bearmind company.

He speaks enthusiastically about the revolutionary helmet they have developed.

It’s a technology made up of two types of sensors, he explained to Radio-Canada Sports from Switzerland. There is a motion sensor that gives us information about how the helmet is moving during the impact and there are force sensors inside the helmet that give us information about the intensity of that impact: where it happened, the angle. And with all this information, we have algorithms that estimate the risk potential in the brain.

Mathieu Falbriard believes that next season all data can be transmitted in real time.

This year we were able to present this report at the end of the games. But it is clear that we do not want to replace the role of the doctor. There will always be a doctor. We provide the doctor with additional information that will help him with the diagnosis. Our short-term goal is to be able to intervene in real-time during matches to provide all information on the risks of returning to play for the player.he added.

But our analysis does not end here. We can also give the doctor longer-term information about the health of the player who took too many hits. These algorithms therefore make it possible to analyze the force of the impact and the player’s state of health. We can compare them with the player’s history but also with other players, which allows us to know if the effects have already been observed and what are the most common symptoms.he said.

” All of this prevents dramatic stories or career endings that will have long-term consequences for players’ health. »

According to him, the connection of these sensors and algorithms integrated into helmets will enable better monitoring of cognitive performance in sports, but also in other vulnerable areas.

The process has already moved beyond clinical trials and is now available to professional ice hockey teams in Switzerland. Lausanne HC and HC Lajoie, where Mathieu Falbriard played, are among those who use them.

We know that players, coaches and leaders in high-performance sport often hide certain symptoms and can accelerate return to play depending on the importance of the game or competition. Does Mathieu Falbriard feel like a pebble when he talks to you?

We don’t want to constantly take a player out of the ice, the engineer replied. We are aware that the player wants to play, the club wants their player to play as long as possible. Our aim is to allow the club to be more proactive in dealing with detected hits to the head and not just wait for the concussion or major concussion which means the player will be out for several months.

When he and his partner approached the professional teams, the reception was initially rather cold, because the interests of the researchers do not necessarily overlap with those of the executives.

By discussing with the different actors in this ecosystem, we had to adapt to their reality, to their daily life. They quickly understood that all this information that is broadcast within the club has a certain meaning. Today, all players who have been offered the system use it. It even gives them the peace of mind of knowing it’s being examined and adjusted, and that if there’s an alarm, the doctor will be notified. In addition, the sensor weighs 25 grams, so compared to the weight of a helmet, that’s nothing and that’s very well receivedhe explained.

With all this data collected over the past year, scientific rigor no longer needs to be proven. The Bearmind company works with four laboratories, two from the École Polytechnique de Lausanne and two from the Lausanne University Hospital.

In a few months they will publish the results of all their tests. Ultimately, this system allows the athlete and their team to track neurological health.

A collaboration with Montreal

Mathieu Falbriard and his partner come regularly to Montreal, a center of helmet manufacturing. They still had to convince before they found a manufacturer.

I don’t want to hide from you that they have been offered some studies like ours. Obviously not that successful. Once convinced, we found our manufacturer and have since made many journeys to improve our system.he concluded.

Mathieu Falbriard tells us that four new professional ice hockey teams in Switzerland will adopt their system next season. When asked if he thinks he’ll one day be adopted by the Montreal Canadiens, his eyes light up like he’s just received his Christmas present.

A case to follow.