Doc develops 'skin' helmet that protects brain

London, May 15 (ANI): A type of helmet that, in the event of an accident, can reduce the damaging effect of head rotation that often leads to brain injury has been developed by a British doctor.

Dr Ken Phillips decided to design a helmet that replicated the head's natural defenses. The skin's ability to slip slightly over the skull normally moderates the sudden rotation of the head that typically leads to severe brain injuries even when the skull is protected from impact, reports The Times.

In Phillips's design, an artificial membrane to the exterior of a conventional helmet is added to mimic the slipping of human skin.

"My son started the whole thing off," said Phillips. "He told me that rotation was causing a lot of injuries that helmets didn't protect against - and what was I going to do about it? As a doctor, I knew about head injuries but I had a bit of learning to do about helmet engineering."

And after 15 years, the first range to employ the new Phillips Head Protection System (PHPS) has come to market - Lazer Superskin (lazerhelmets.com) helmets.

They are available at around 200 pounds. (ANI)