IngentaConnect Physiological effects of the TASER C2 conducted energy weapon

Authors: Jauchem, James¹; Seaman, Ronald²; Klages, Curtis³

Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, Volume 5, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 189-198(10)

Abstract:

In previous studies, exposure to conducted energy weapons (CEWs) (such as TASER International's Advanced TASER X26 device) resulted in leg muscle contraction, acidosis, increased blood electrolytes, and other biochemical and physiological changes. In the current study, experiments were performed to examine the effects of exposures to TASER International's “C2” CEW, which is specifically marketed to civilian rather than law-enforcement users. Ten pigs (Sus scrofa) were sedated with an intramuscular injection of Telezol (tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl) and intubated. General anesthesia was maintained with an IV propofol infusion. Applications of the C2 device for 30 s resulted in extensive muscle contraction and significant increases in heart rate and hematocrit, and in blood levels of pCO₂, lactate, glucose, and potassium, sodium, and calcium ions. Significant decreases were observed in blood oxygen saturation, pO₂, and pH. Qualitatively, many of these changes were consistent with previous reports in the literature dealing with studies of muscle stimulation or exercise. The changes in blood pCO₂, pO₂, electrolytes, lactate, and pH, however, were greater than in a previous study of three repeated 5-s exposures to the X26 CEW commonly used by law-enforcement personnel. On the basis of the results, potential detrimental effects due to use of the “citizen-version” TASER C2 CEW may be more likely than limited intermittent applications of the X26 CEW.

Keywords: Forensic science; Forensic pathophysiology; TASER; Conducted energy weapon; Electronic control device; Electro-muscular disruption; Muscle contraction; Acidosis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1007/s12024-009-9100-1

Affiliations: 1: Directed Energy Bio-Effects Division, 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RHDR, 8262 Hawks Road, San Antonio, TX, 78235, USA, Email: james.jauchem@brooks.af.mil 2: Advanced Information Services, A General Dynamics Company, 3276 Reliance Loop, San Antonio, TX, 78235, USA, 3: Directed Energy Bio-Effects Division, 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RHDR, 8262 Hawks Road, San Antonio, TX, 78235, USA,

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Physiological effects of the TASER® C2 conducted energy weapon

Physiological effects of the TASER^® C2 conducted energy weapon