Triax Technologies Inc., also known as Triax, is an American company specializing in impact sensor technology. Its headquarters are located in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Contents
The company was started by Dale Hollingsworth and Chad Hollingsworth in 2012. Dale is a lifelong entrepreneur who graduated college with three patents to his name.
Triax Smart Impact Monitor
As of August 2015, Triax offers two products: the SIM-P for individual athletes and the SIM-G for teams and organizations. Both Smart Impact Monitor (SIM) products measure the force and frequency of head impacts in real-time. A small sensor is placed in either a headband or skullcap and measures hits to head during play (practices or games). Depending on the version, the impact data is sent to a smart device on the sidelines via Bluetooth or Radio Frequency in as little as 20 milliseconds. The sensors contain a 3-axis high-g linear accelerometer that measures 3 to 400 G’s, and a 3-axis gyroscope to capture rotational acceleration.
The company website states that "what is best for our kids and athletes is best for sports, and the better we can protect our players, the better they perform on and off the field." Its mission is to "redesign the game through measurement that helps keep athletes and sports moving forward safely."
Impact sensors are designed to monitor head impacts so that parents, coaches or athletic trainers can see when an athlete has sustained a significant hit and may need to be removed from play and receive clinical evaluation. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are between an estimated 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States every year.
Independent Validation
Triax's Smart Impact Monitors are Hit Count Certified for non-helmeted sports and helmeted sports, including lacrosse, football, and ice hockey. According to its website, the Hit Count® Initiative was launched in February 2012 by the Sports Legacy Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to offer a certification that parents, athletes, coaches, schools and sports leagues could rely on for guidance before purchasing a head impact sensor system. Hit Count products measure acceleration and "provide an alert when an athlete suffered head acceleration that exceeded a threshold for concussion."
Abby Wambach
In October 2014, Triax announced a partnership with top American female soccer player, Abby Wambach, to launch the SIM-P to support long-term player health and safety. Abby suffered a concussion on April 20, 2013 while playing for the Western New York Flash of the NWSL. Abby Wambach joined the company to remind players of all ages that good technique is critical to improving their soccer game and avoiding injury. Co-Founder Chad Hollingsworth appeared on CBS This Morning to talk about concussions in women's soccer and Triax's relationship with Abby Wambach during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Major League Lacrosse
In April 2015, Major League Lacrosse became the first professional sports league in the United States to provide their athletes and athletic trainers with head impact monitoring technology. As part of the partnership, players from the New York Lizards would wear the SIM devices during select practices and games. In a press release, David Gross, Commissioner of Major League Lacrosse said, “We cannot stop injuries from occurring but anything we can do to provide safety is of the utmost importance and it is imperative that we take these next steps. Our players are our greatest asset and we will continue to strive to create the safest environment possible."
Other
Some of Triax’s other noteworthy partners or users include the Games Organizing Committee for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015), Washington Youth Soccer, and the California Youth Soccer Association - North (Cal North Soccer). The Shipley School also uses the device as part of their proactive stance on head injuries in sports, which includes banning heading at their middle school.
The sensors are being used in several concussion research studies, including at the University of Delaware under Dr. Tom Kaminski and at Santa Barbara City College in collaboration with Cottage Hospital.