40‐Hz Square‐Wave Stimulation Requires Less Energy to Produce Muscle Contraction: Compared with the TASER ® X 26 Conducted Energy Weapon

Abstract Conducted energy weapons ( CEW s) (including the Advanced TASER ® X26 model produced by TASER International, Inc.) incapacitate individuals by causing muscle contractions. In this study using anesthetized swine, the potential incapacitating effect of primarily monophasic, 19‐ H z voltage im...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of forensic sciences Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 1026 - 1031
Main Authors Comeaux, James A., Jauchem, James R., Duane Cox, D., Crane, Carrie C., D'Andrea, John A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.07.2013
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Summary:Abstract Conducted energy weapons ( CEW s) (including the Advanced TASER ® X26 model produced by TASER International, Inc.) incapacitate individuals by causing muscle contractions. In this study using anesthetized swine, the potential incapacitating effect of primarily monophasic, 19‐ H z voltage imposed by the commercial CEW was compared with the effect of voltages imposed by a laboratory device that created 40‐ H z square waves. Forces of muscle contraction were measured with the use of strain gauges. Stimulation with 40‐ H z square waves required less pulse energy than stimulation with the commercial CEW to produce similar muscle contraction. The square‐pulse stimulation, at the higher repetition rate, caused a more complete tetanus at a lower energy. Use of such a simple shape of waveform may be used to make future nonlethal weapon devices more efficient.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.12122