Muscle Contraction During Electro‐muscular Incapacitation: A Comparison Between Square‐wave Pulses and the TASER^® X26 Electronic Control Device*

Abstract

Electronic control devices (including the Advanced TASER(®) 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, electrical pulse 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.

40‐Hz Square‐Wave Stimulation Requires Less Energy to Produce Muscle Contraction: Compared with the TASER®X26 Conducted Energy Weapon

“…It has also been noted that the most energy‐efficient pulse duration for stimulation is in the range of 100 μs . In a previous study , we showed there was no difference in the electrical pulse charge required, between the square waveform and the commercial CEW waveform when applied at comparable repetition rates and at similar pulse durations, to cause approximately the same muscle contraction response (in terms of the strength–duration curve). Among four different types of waveforms ([a] square, [b] Gaussian, [c] increasing exponential, and [d] decreasing exponential pulses), the square pulse required the least energy to elicit equivalent force responses of limbs of the swine Sus scrofa .…”

Exposures to Conducted Electrical Weapons (IncludingTASER®Devices): How Many and for How Long are Acceptable?

“…The detailed shape of a CEW waveform may not be important in terms of generating electromuscular incapacitation . Although some in the general public may presume that “electrocution” occurs in any death temporally related to use of a CEW, repeated applications of the device do not result in a “cumulative dose” of electricity per se .…”

The study on booster output characteristic for conducted electrical weapon applying on biological target and surrogates

“…Overseas, Jeffrey, D. H. [6] analyzed the conductive currents of CEW in the human body and the potentially physiological effects after electrocution. James, A. C. [7] compared the difference in interference of electromyographic signal (EMG) and control of muscle under the effected of square wave pulses and the narrow pulses generated from Taser x26 CEW. Sebastian, N. K. [8] studied the effect of electrocution on heart and skeletal muscle through the biological and human experiment.…”