Team unveils neck collar that could protect athletes from mTBI

(HealthDay)—A new type of lightweight and pressurized neck collar may help prevent mild traumatic brain injury during sports, according to the developers of the device.

The collar, which weighs four to five ounces—is designed to exert a minimal amount of continual pressure on the neck. That slight pressure, which is similar to the pressure of a tie knot, triggers a mildly increased blood volume in the vein structure of the brain which helps cushion it in case of impact, the researchers said.

The device was tested in two separate peer-reviewed research studies, which were published in the medical journals Neurosurgery and the Journal of Neurosurgery. The research indicated an associated 83 percent reduction in the number of torn fibers in a standard concussion model when the device was utilized.

Kevin Davis, chief executive officer of Performance Sports Group, the company developing the collar, said the collar could be available "in the next year or two." But experts stressed that the device is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And it's still considered experimental while testing continues.