KC officials investigating death of man after Tasering
When you're out of shape, all drugged up and you start fighting - people tend to have heart attacks - even without a taser involved.
Ten studies just presented at the Fourth Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress (MEMC IV), in Sorrento, Italy showed Taser does not cause problems in the heart as the charge is too low and does not go deep enough into the chest cavity. This coroner has a lot to prove.
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Human Studies and Analytical Reports Released Analyzing Cardiovascular and Physiologic Effects of TASER X26
Tuesday October 2, 7:30 am ET
Studies Affirm TASER General Safety
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (NasdaqGS:TASR - News), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices, today announced that ten (10) new medical and scientific study posters, abstracts, and papers were published that document recent medical and scientific studies of TASER(r) technology. All of these studies affirmed the general safety of the TASER(r) electronic control device. Six (6) of these studies were presented at the Fourth Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress (MEMC IV), in Sorrento, Italy during September 15-18, 2007.
Several of these studies used human volunteers that underwent cardiovascular and physiologic evaluations on the effects of TASER activation in a human body and reached the following conclusions
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/17/07) Ultrasound Measurement of Cardiac Activity During Conducted Electrical Weapon Application in Exercising Adults. J. Ho; R. Reardon; D. M. Dawes; M. Johnson; J. Miner.
Conclusions: A 15-second CEW application on exercised volunteers
did not demonstrate any evidence of induced tachyarrhythmia. It
is unlikely that CEW exposure induces cardiac rate capture or
tachyarrhythmia in humans.
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/18/07) Absence of Electrocardiographic Change Following Prolonged Application of a Conducted Electrical Weapon in Physically Exhausted Adults. J. Ho; D. Dawes; H. Calkins; M. Johnson.
Conclusions: Prolonged 15-second CEW application in a
physically exhausted adult human sample did not cause a
detectable change in their 12-lead ECGs. Theories of CEW
induced dysrhythmias are not supported by our findings.
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/19/07) 15-Second Conducted Electrical Weapon Exposure Does Not Cause Core Temperature Elevation In Non-Environmentally Stressed Resting Adults. D. M. Dawes; J. Ho; M. Johnson; J. Miner.
Conclusions: In summary, our results do not show that a
15-second conducted electrical weapon discharge significantly
affects core body temperature in non-environmentally stressed
resting adults. While additional studies are needed, our data
suggests that theories about conducted electrical weapons
contributing to hyperthermia are likely unfounded.
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/19/07) The Neuroendocrine Effects of the TASER X26 Conducted Electrical Weapon as Compared to Oleoresin Capsicum. D. M. Dawes; J. Ho; M. Johnson; J. Miner.
Conclusions: The results suggest a significant greater
level of activation of the stress cascade with O.C. compared
to the CEW. Overlapping confidence intervals preclude a
definitive statement about the other measurements, but do
not suggest a greater activation of the stress cascade by
the CEW than O.C.
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/19/07) 15-Second Conducted Electrical Weapon Application Does Not Impair Basic Respiratory Parameters, Venous Blood Gases, or Blood Chemistries. D. M. Dawes; J. Ho; M. Johnson; J. Miner.
Conclusions: As with the previous study, this study suggests
that exposure to a CEW does not significantly impair
respiration. As in the previous study, pCO2 decreased and
pO2 increased as a result of the exposure. There was no change
in blood pH. While this study is small, it adds to the
growing body of literature that is demonstrating that these
weapons have a favorable risk-benefit ratio and are appropriate
additions to the use of force continua of police agencies.
(Abstract) (Poster) (09/19/07) Breathing Parameters, Venous Gases, and Chemistries with Exposure to a New Wireless Projectile Conducted Electrical Weapon. D. M. Dawes; J. Ho; M. Johnson; J. Miner; E. Lundin.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the new CEW has no
important deleterious effects on respiratory parameters, blood
chemistries, or venous blood gases. These results are
consistent with previous results for the TASER X26 CEW.
(08/29/07) Physiological Effects of a Conducted Electrical Weapon on Human Subjects, Gary M. Vilke, MD, Christian M. Sloane, MD, Katie D. Bouton, BS, Fred W. Kolkhorst, PhD, Saul D. Levine, MD, Tom S. Neuman, MD, Edward M. Castillo, PhD, MPH, Theodore C. Chan, MD. Article in Press, Ann Emerg Med. 2007;xx:xxx.
Conclusion: A 5-second exposure of a TASER X26 to healthy
law enforcement personnel does not result in clinically
significant changes of physiologic stress.
The above studies can be reviewed at: memciv.abstractcentral.com (create login, and open ``search'' tab and search by author's last name or abstract title or number).
The abstracts below can be viewed at: taser.com.
(09/19/07) Cardiac Current Density Distribution by Electrical Pulses from TASER Devices, Panescu D, Kroll MW, McDaniel W, Stratbucker RA., Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006;1(1):6305-6307.
Conclusions: TASER ECDs deliver electrical pulses that can
temporarily incapacitate subjects. The goal of this paper
is to analyze the distribution of TASER currents in the
heart and understand their chances of triggering cardiac
arrhythmias. The models analyzed herein describe
strength-duration thresholds for myocyte excitation and
ventricular fibrillation induction. Finite element modelling
is used to compute current density in the heart for
worst-case TASER electrode placement. The model predicts
a maximum TASER current density of 0.27 mA/cm2 in the heart.
It is conclude that the numerically simulated TASER current
density in the heart is about half the threshold for myocytes
excitation and more than 500 times lower than the threshold
required for inducing ventricular fibrillation. Showing a
substantial cardiac safety margin, TASER devices do not
generate currents in the heart that are high enough to excite
myocytes or trigger VF.
(09/19/07) Finite Element Modeling of Electric Field Effects of TASER Devices on Nerve and Muscle. Panescu D, Efimov IR, Kroll MW, Sweeney JD. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006;1(1):1277-1279.
Conclusions: TASER ECDs deliver electrical pulses that can
temporarily incapacitate subjects. The goal of this paper
is to analyze the distribution of currents in muscle layers
and understand the electro-muscular incapacitation safety
and efficacy of TASER ECDs. The analyses describe skeletal
muscle and motor nerve activation, cell electroporation and
current and electric field distributions through skin, fat
and muscle layers, under worst-case assumptions for TASER
electrode penetration and separation. For the muscle
layer, the analysis predicts worst-case current-density
and field-strength values of 94 mA/cm2 and 47 V/cm. Both
values are higher than thresholds required for neuromuscular
activation but significantly lower than levels needed
for permanent cellular electroporation or tissue damage. The
results indicate that TASER ECDs are safe and effective in
producing temporary subject incapacitation.
(08/28/07) Can the Direct Cardiac Effects of the Electric Pulses Generated by the TASER X26 Cause Immediate or Delayed Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Normal Adults? Raymond E. Ideker, MD, PhD, and Derek J. Dosdall, PhD. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1 Sep 2007 28(3): p. 195.
Conclusion: It is highly unlikely that the TASER X26 can
cause ventricular fibrillation either instantly or minutes
to hours after its use through direct cardiac effects of
the electric field generated by the TASER.
Note: Dr. Ideker is recognized as the international authority on fibrillation with over 400 scientific papers to his credit.
``We applaud the exhaustive efforts of these innovative physicians and scientists in their continual research into the medical safety of our life-saving TASER systems,'' said Rick Smith, CEO of TASER International. ``These studies of human volunteers affirm the general safety of TASER technology and continue to refute the unfounded and inaccurate media reports of the TASER device causing in-custody deaths.'' |
