TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - A TASER conducted electrical weapon with cardiac biomonitoring capability: proof of concept and initial human trial
JO  - Journal of forensic and legal medicine
A1  - Stopyra, Jason P.
A1  - Ritter, Samuel I.
A1  - Beatty, Jennifer
A1  - Johnson, James C.
A1  - Kleiner, Douglas M.
A1  - Winslow, James E.
A1  - Gardner, Alison R.
A1  - Bozeman, William P.
SP  - 48
EP  - 52
VL  - 43
IS  - 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Despite research demonstrating the overall safety of Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs), commonly known by the brand name TASER(®), concerns remain regarding cardiac safety. The addition of cardiac biomonitoring capability to a CEW could prove useful and even lifesaving in the rare event of a medical crisis by detecting and analyzing cardiac rhythms during the period immediately after CEW discharge. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To combine an electrocardiogram (ECG) device with a CEW to detect and store ECG signals while still allowing the CEW to perform its primary function of delivering an incapacitating electrical discharge. <br><br>METHODS: This work was performed in three phases. In Phase 1 standard law enforcement issue CEW cartridges were modified to demonstrate transmission of ECG signals. In Phase 2, a miniaturized ECG recorder was combined with a standard issue CEW and tested. In Phase 3, a prototype CEW with on-board cardiac biomonitoring was tested on human volunteers to assess its ability to perform its primary function of electrical incapacitation. <br><br>RESULTS: Bench testing demonstrated that slightly modified CEW cartridge wires transmitted simulated ECG signals produced by an ECG rhythm generator and from a human volunteer. Ultimately, a modified CEW incorporating ECG monitoring successfully delivered incapacitating current to human volunteers and successfully recorded ECG signals from subcutaneous CEW probes after firing. <br><br>CONCLUSION: An ECG recording device was successfully incorporated into a standard issue CEW without impeding the functioning of the device. This serves as proof-of-concept that safety measures such as cardiac biomonitoring can be incorporated into CEWs and possibly other law enforcement devices.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1752-928X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2016.07.003
ID  - ref1
ER  -