Cardiac stimulation with electronic control device application.

Background: Electronic control devices (ECDs) are weapons used to incapacitate violent subjects. Subjects have died suddenly after ECD application, but because cardiac dysrhythmias have been inconsistently observed during ECD application in animals, the cause for death is uncertain.

Objectives: The objective was to identify the factors contributing to cardiac stimulation during ECD application detected by transesophageal echocardiography.

Electrical parameters of projectile stun guns.

Projectile stun guns have been developed as less-lethal devices that law enforcement officers can use to control potentially violent subjects, as an alternative to using firearms. These devices apply high voltage, low amperage, pulsatile electric shocks to the subject, which causes involuntary skeletal muscle contraction and renders the subject unable to further resist. In field use of these devices, the electric shock is often applied to the thorax, which raises the issue of cardiac safety of these devices.

Cardiac safety of the surface application of the stinger s200.

Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) have been developed as less-lethal devices that law enforcement officers can use to control potentially violent subjects, as an alternative to using firearms. These devices apply high voltage, low amperage, pulsatile shocks to the subject, which causes involuntary skeletal muscle contraction and renders the subject unable to further resist. In field use of these devices, the electric shock is often applied to the thorax, which raises the issue of the cardiac safety of these devices.

Cardiac safety of neuromuscular incapacitating defensive devices.

Neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) devices discharge a pulsed dose of electrical energy to cause muscle contraction and pain. Field data suggest electrical NMI devices present an extremely low risk of injury. One risk of delivering electricity to a human is the induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Transthoracic defibrillation of dogs with Edmark, biphasic, and quadriphasic waveforms.

Patients with high transthoracic impedance are reported to be at higher risk of poor outcomes when treated by present defibrillators. This study evaluates the defibrillation efficacy of biphasic truncated exponential (BTE), quadriphasic truncated exponential (QTE), and Edmark waveforms at simulated low, average, and high impedance levels. Waveforms were tested at 2 energy levels in random order in anesthetized dogs (n = 15, 16.