washington business
Addressing Concussions Head-on
Washington state is home to the first sideline concussion protocol law
in the nation. The 2009 “Zackery Lystedt Law” is spurring equipment
modernization on sports fields from Pop Warner to the NFL.
Bobbi Cussins
The science behind concussions is still in its infancy, but two Washington-based companies are
pioneers in helmet and mouth guard technology that aims to collect more data on concussions
and protect athletes of all ages.
Like many 13-year-olds, Zackery Lystedt
played football for his junior high. He was
an impressive athlete by all accounts. But
in 2006, he sustained a head injury that
changed the course of his life forever.
Referred to as the “just shake it off
law,” the injured Zackery re-entered the
game after just three plays. When the
second half concluded, he collapsed on
the field and was airlifted to Harborview
Medical Center in Seattle where brain
swelling and strokes were just the start
of his long journey.
To combat the “shake it off” culture,
Zackery’s parents worked with state
Rep. Jay Rodne, R- Snoqualmie, to
author the first-ever sideline concussion
protocol law in 2009. The model
legislation prompted several states to
take similar action.
Today, this concussion awareness is
VICIS is designing, testing and manufacturing a modern football helmet in Seattle. Their goal: better
protection for athletes.
molding long-overdue and technological
advancements in sports equipment.
VICIS, a Seattle-based company
designing, testing and manufacturing
the first significant football helmet
modernization since the 1970s, is working
with former star athletes, top doctors and
— Dr. Samuel Browd, associate professor of neurological surgery at the
world-class engineers to give athletes
University of Washington, attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital
better protection with its ZERO1 helmet.
and co-founder and chief medical officer of VICIS
“About three years ago, it seemed like
there was a great opportunity to look at the equipment used in football and the helmet was an obvious place
to start,” said Dr. Samuel Browd, associate professor of neurological surgery at the University of Washington,
attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital and co-founder and chief medical officer of VICIS.
Browd was also part of the Brain Injury Alliance that helped shape the 2009 legislation.
While VICIS works on its ZERO1 helmet, Kirkland-based i1 Biometrics is refining its Vector MouthGuard.
“About three years ago, it seemed like there was a great
opportunity to look at the equipment used in football and the
helmet was an obvious place to start.”
36 association of washington business