Muscle Contraction During Electro-Muscular Incapacitation: A Comparison Between Square-Wave Pulses and the Taser (registered trademark) X26 Electronic Control Device

Abstract

Electronic control devices -- ECDs (including the Advanced TASER(registered trademark) X26 model produced by TASER International) incapacitate individuals by causing muscle contractions. To provide information relevant to development of future potential devices, effects of monophasic square waves with different parameters were compared with those of the X26 electronic control device, using two animal models (frogs and swine). Pulse power, net/gross charge, pulse duration, and pulse repetition frequency affected muscle contraction. There was no difference in the charge required, between the square waveform and the X26 waveform, to cause approximately the same muscle-contraction response (in terms of the strength-duration curve). Thus, on the basis of these initial studies, the detailed shape of a waveform may not be important in terms of generating electro-muscular incapacitation. More detailed studies, however, may be required to thoroughly test all potential waveforms to be considered for future use in ECDs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA597215

Entities

People

  • Carrie C. Crane
  • David D. Cox
  • James A. Comeaux
  • James R. Jauchem
  • John A. D'andrea

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Animals
  • Data Acquisition
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Frequency
  • Incapacitation
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Nonlethal Weapons
  • Square Waves
  • Standards
  • Tendons
  • Waveform Generators
  • Waveforms
  • Waves
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electrochemical Surface Science
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems