title: Finite element modeling of electric field effects of TASER devices on nerve and muscle.
abstract: TASERs deliver electrical pulses that can temporarily incapacitate subjects. The goal of this paper is to analyze the distribution of currents in muscle layers and understand the electro-muscular incapacitation safety and efficacy of TASERs. The analyses describe skeletal muscle and motor nerve activation, cell electroporation and current and electric field distributions through skin, fat and muscle layers, under worst-case assumptions for TASER electrode penetration and separation. For the muscle layer, the analysis predicts worst-case current-density and field-strength values of 94 mA/cm(2) and 47 V/cm. Both values are higher than thresholds required for neuromuscular activation but significantly lower than levels needed for permanent cellular electroporation or tissue damage. The results indicate that TASERs are safe and effective in producing temporary subject incapacitation.
authors.affiliation: St. Jude Medical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Dorin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panescu
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Igor R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Efimov
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors