Taser blunt probe dart-to-heart distance causing ventricular fibrillation in pigs.
The maximum distance between the heart and a model Taser stimulation dart, called the dart-to-heart distance, at which the Taser can directly cause ventricular fibrillation (VF), was measured in pigs. A 9-mm-long blunt probe was advanced snugly through the surrounding tissues toward the heart. Five animals [pig mass=61.2+/-6.23 standard deviation (SD) kg] for ten dart-to-heart distances where the Taser caused VF were tested. The dart-to-heart distances where the Taser caused VF of the first stimulation site ranged from 4 to 8 mm with average 6.2 mm+/-1.79 (SD) and of the second stimulation site ranged from 2 to 8 mm with average 5.4 mm+/-2.41 (SD). The results help inform the evolving discussion of risks associated with Tasers.
Wu
Jiun-Yan
JY
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Sun
Hongyu
H
O'Rourke
Ann P
AP
Huebner
Shane M
SM
Rahko
Peter S
PS
Will
James A
JA
Webster
John G
JG
D000818:Animals; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013552:Swine; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology