Assessment of the TASER XREP blunt impact and penetration injury potential using cadaveric testing.
TASER International's extended range electronic projectile (XREP) is intended to be fired from a shotgun, impact a threat, and apply remote neuromuscular incapacitation. This study investigated the corresponding potential of blunt impact injury and penetration. Forty-three XREP rounds were deployed onto two male human cadaver torsos at impact velocities between 70.6 and 95.9 m/sec (232 and 315 ft/sec). In 42 of the 43 shots fired, the XREP did not penetrate the abdominal wall, resulting in superficial wounds only. On one shot, the XREP's nose section separated prematurely in flight, resulting in penetration. No bony fractures were observed with any of the shots. The viscous criterion (VC), blunt criterion (BC), and energy density (E/A) were calculated (all nonpenetrating tests, average ± 1 standard deviation: VC: 1.14 ± 0.94 m/sec, BC: 0.77 ± 0.15, E/A: 22.6 ± 4.15 J/cm(2)) and, despite the lack of injuries, were generally found to be greater than published tolerance values.
ECRI Institute, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA. slucas@ecri.org
Scott R
SR
Lucas
Joseph C
JC
McGowan
Tack C
TC
Lam
Gary T
GT
Yamaguchi
Matthew
M
Carver
Andrew
A
Hinz
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D002102:Cadaver; D057667:Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology