| A lot of attention has been paid to the dangers of | | | | severity of concussions and other traumatic brain |
| concussions in football since the death of former NFL | | | | injuries. |
| defensive back Andre Waters and the release of a | | | | Here's how the system works: the X1 is equipped |
| report that indicated concussions were tied to | | | | with 18 Aware-Flow Shock Absorbers embedded |
| depression in ex-NFL players. Those incidents have | | | | between the outer shell of the helmet and a flexible |
| led the NFL to undertake several new initiatives and, | | | | interior head piece. Each shock absorber is a |
| across the nation, football programs from the | | | | lightweight, hollow disk made from thermoplastic |
| high-school to professional levels are taking a more | | | | urethane, with a small hole in the center that allows |
| proactive approach to preventing head injuries. A | | | | air to flow in and out. Unlike the foam in standard |
| former Harvard quarterback and his innovative | | | | football helmets, the shock absorbers respond |
| company are also contributing to the cause with their | | | | differently to high, medium and low impacts. The |
| newest invention - the X1 football helmet. | | | | disks absorb a low-impact hit by slowly letting air out |
| The X1 is the product of Xenith LLC, a company | | | | and compressing. But with a more forceful |
| established in 2004 by Vincent Ferrara - a Harvard | | | | (high-impact) hit, air pressure inside the disk creates |
| quarterback in the mid-90s and a graduate of | | | | greater resistance - slowing down the speed at |
| Columbia's business and medical schools. Ferrara | | | | which the disks compress even further. The overall |
| founded Xenith with the mission of advancing safety | | | | purpose of the X1's shock absorption system is to |
| and activity through innovation and education, and | | | | reduce the sudden movements of the head that |
| the company is currently focusing most of its | | | | often cause concussions. Meanwhile, the "Fit Seeker" |
| attention on finding ways to reduce concussions | | | | component assures that the helmet doesn't go flying |
| through new technology. Much of the technology | | | | off during impact. |
| Xenith has developed so far is featured in the X1, | | | | Recently, the X1 football helmet received approval |
| which incorporates an innovative head protection | | | | from the National Operating Committee on Standards |
| system not currently seen in any other helmet. The | | | | for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) - a nonprofit |
| system is called Xenith Adaptive Head | | | | organization that commissions research and attempts |
| Protection(TM), and it's comprised of patent pending | | | | to establish standards for athletic equipment. No |
| "Aware-Flow(TM) Shock Absorbers" and a new | | | | word yet on whether the NFL is looking into this new |
| fitting method known as "Fit Seeker(TM)". According | | | | technology, or when the X1 will be available for retail |
| to Xenith, the combined effect of these two | | | | purchase. |
| technologies is designed to reduce the risk and | | | | |