BlackBox Biometrics is not a typical wearable device maker. With a pedigree of developing blast-force sensors used in military and law enforcement settings, the company is bringing its expertise in measuring the unseen impact of concussive forces from the battlefield to the playing field with the Linx IAS.

The Linx IAS concussion management system combines wearable technology with a mobile app to provide athletes, parents and coaches with real-time data and analysis of potential impact-related head injuries. Weighing about the same as a nickel and with the size of a stick of gum, it can easily fit into a custom skull cap or headband, allowing it to be worn in any sports environment. The companion app, which will be available for iOS and Android devices, enables impact monitoring and sideline testing, giving the user the ability to detect head impacts across sports and over time.

The Linx IAS will be available for purchase by the end of this quarter. It comes at a time when the number of people affected by a sports- or recreation-related brain injuries is rising, especially among young adults and children, as evidenced by a 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. Said study found that between 2001 and 2009, the number of Americans younger than 19 treated each year for sports concussions rose to 250,000 from 150,000. Another study, the 2013 Institute of Medicine report, says that the number of people injured this way climbs up to 3.8 million per year.