title: Cardiac current density distribution by electrical pulses from TASER devices.
abstract: TASERs deliver electrical pulses that can temporarily incapacitate subjects. The goal of this paper is to analyze the distribution of TASER currents in the heart and understand their chances of triggering cardiac arrhythmias. The models analyzed herein describe strength-duration thresholds for myocyte excitation and ventricular fibrillation induction. Finite element modeling is used to compute current density in the heart for worst-case TASER electrode placement. The model predicts a maximum TASER current density of 0.27 mA/cm(2) in the heart. It is conclude that the numerically simulated TASER current density in the heart is about half the threshold for myocytes excitation and more than 500 times lower than the threshold required for inducing ventricular fibrillation. Showing a substantial cardiac safety margin, TASER devices do not generate currents in the heart that are high enough to excite myocytes or trigger VF.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stratbucker
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: Dorin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panescu
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011674:Pulse; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation