Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 173-177, May 2009

Physiology and pathology of TASER® electronic control devices

  • Mark W. Kroll, PhD FACC (Adjunct Full Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationTel.: +1 612 624 4507; fax: +1 480 287 9479.

University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering Department, Box 23, Crystal Bay, MN 55323, United States

Received 17 February 2008; received in revised form 20 August 2008; accepted 9 December 2008.

Abstract 

TASER® ECDs (electronic control device) are small, battery powered, handheld devices. They deliver short duration, low energy pulses to stimulate motor neurons, causing transient paralysis. While the experience is painful, proper use of the device is rarely associated with significant side effects in spite of 1070 human worldwide exposures daily. In fact, there have been more than 780,000 training exposures and 630,000 field uses (total of over 1.4 million human uses) without any credible evidence of a resulting cardiac arrhythmia. In this article we describe the mechanisms by which the device operates, and review possible morbidities.

Keywords: TASER, Electronic control device, Stun gun, Electrocution

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PII: S1752-928X(08)00235-7

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.12.012

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 173-177, May 2009

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