US 12,133,567, filed under application 18/406,199 and issued on January 14, 2025, introduces a system and method developed by Dr. Wesley W.O. Krueger for using eye imaging on face protection equipment to assess human health. This innovation integrates advanced eye-tracking technology into faceguards, shields, or helmets to monitor eye movements, pupil responses, and other ocular metrics in real-time, evaluating health conditions such as concussions, fatigue, or neurologic impairments. Validated through NIH-supported research, this platform-agnostic technology leverages Dr. Krueger’s neurotology expertise to provide a portable and efficient health assessment tool across various high-risk settings.
Potential Applications
Contact Sports Safety: Detects concussions and health impairments for athletes in faceguard-required sports (e.g., football, hockey), preventing secondary injuries and permanent damage.
Military Combat Protection: Assesses soldier health and TBI status in combat helmets or face shields, reducing $1B+ mission risks.
Industrial Safety: Monitors worker health in construction, manufacturing, or emergency response using face protection, lowering $500M+ incident costs.
Emergency Medical Assessment: Aids paramedics and ER staff in evaluating health post-accident, improving triage and treatment decisions.
Occupational Health Monitoring: Tracks fatigue or neurologic status for workers in safety-sensitive roles, enhancing workplace safety.
Potential Users
Athletes: 3.3 million U.S. and 6 million+ global players in faceguard-required contact sports, plus millions in other sports using face protection.
Military Personnel: Special ops, infantry, and pilots (1.3M active-duty U.S. forces) wearing face protection in the field.
Industrial Workers: Construction, manufacturing, and emergency responders (e.g., 10M+ in safety-sensitive U.S. roles) using face shields.
Emergency Responders: Paramedics, ER doctors, and rehab therapists managing 5–60 million annual non-sport TBIs globally.
Occupational Safety Officers: Supervisors ensuring worker health across industries like aviation and oil fields.
Potential Buyers or Licensees
Sports Equipment Manufacturers: Bauer and Under Armour ($50M–$70M licensing) could embed this in faceguards, targeting the $200M–$300M sports safety market.
Defense Contractors: Thales and General Dynamics ($50M–$70M licensing) may integrate for military face protection, leveraging the DoD’s $11.7B R&D budget (2025).
Big Tech: Meta (R&D $10B+) and Apple (R&D $26B) could license for AR/VR safety features ($20M–$50M), aligning with the $635.82B wearable market (2034).
Medical Device Companies: Masimo and Welch Allyn ($30M–$50M licensing) could enhance health monitoring tools.
Industrial Safety Providers: MSA Safety and Kimberly-Clark ($40M–$60M licensing) could adopt for worker safety gear, driving recurring revenue.
Market Appeal and Valuation
This patent targets a $15B–$20B global market for sports safety, TBI management, and occupational health, with a per-patent value of $25M–$80M (average $52.5M), reflecting its innovative face protection integration. Licensing fees could range from $40M–$70M per deal (e.g., per industry or league), with royalties (1–5%) adding $10M–$20M annually. Within Dr. Krueger’s 20-patent portfolio, valued at US$750M–$1.68B, this patent strengthens the sports and commercial segments, with an upside to US$2.5B–$3B, enhanced by its synergy with faceguard and health assessment patents.
Investment Rationale
US 12,133,567 offers a compelling appeal by disrupting traditional health assessments (e.g., manual checks) with a rapid, objective, and integrated face protection solution. Its ability to monitor health across sports, military, and industrial settings generates substantial downstream revenue, aligning with big tech’s health tech focus, DoD safety priorities, and commercial efficiency needs. Potential buyers or licensees can leverage its validated efficacy and scalability to lead in health and safety innovation.