SECTION IV: p. 1

University
of Nebraska
Medical Center

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SAPEn" TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF !'liE BODEL U

I.

~2nd

and Dewey Avenuf
Omah., NE 68105

,

5000 ELECTROHIC -STUll

cur

IIIlTRODOCTIOR:

During the fall of 1984, the Douglas
County Nebraska Sheriff's Office sought to
gain an independent evaluation of a new
electronic defensive weapon known as the Stun
Gun. Al though this dev ice is being marketed
widely witbout significant restrictions, those
responsible for the decision whether or not to
incorporate it into the Sheriff's inventory
desired answers to certain safety questions
about the device which had not been addressed
heretofore in manUfacturer's promOtional
materials or in other pUblished reports about
the device. In addition there are questions
which would logically be raised by the public
'if sU,ch devices were to come into general use
by. law enforcement.
.
Accordingly, the evaluation team set
about to find consultative resources with
knowledge and experience both in the field of
electrical safety and the medical aspects of
the interaction of electrical stimuli with
biological systems,
'- especially human
subjects. This report constitutes tbe result
of these eval uations.
. .

:

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** Please Note: The Electronic cicuitry of the NOVA XR-5000 is
identical to that of the TASER system, and is produced under
patent license to John H. Cover. This safety study therefore
applies directly to the TASER device as well as the NOVA XR5000.

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SECTION IV: p. 2

II.

LITEJlA'l'ORE REVIEW:

A systematic review of the ~e~ical literature vas un~ertaken
utilizing the National Library of Me~icine computer search service
~.
In a~dition various authors known to b' active in the field of
electrical safety and electrical injury vere cross reference~·through
the UNMC library's Citation In~ex. Overall approximately 500 articles
published between 1975 and the present vere reviewed by title, author or
by abstract. Approsimately 20 of these were reviewed in depth.
~e

computer search criteiia~we~e adjusted to determine the effect
on yield of pertinent articles. When strict criteria were employed,
i.e., the combination of ·electric injury·, ·electronic weapons·, and
various near modification of these descriptors nQt ~ pertinent article
vas recovered. This discovery suggested that there has not been
significant reported vork in the specific area covered by this report
over the past 10 years. Significant confidence that the search was
adequately sensitive was gained when such neighboring topics such as
electric therapy, electronic torture and electric eroticism pro~uced
numerous. reports. If this new control concept in law enforcement
becomes as popular generally as it appears to be regionally, reports of
this kind should be welcomed into the .e~ical literature.

~

It should be noted that articles on electrical hazards and
electrical safety do not always appear in medical journals. One likely
location for such articles would be in professional engineering
journals. Author cross referencing appears to have picked up most of
these and it is doubtful that there are many of significance which were
missed. The particular citations to the literature listed in the
sections on
and
are
referenced in the appendis.

•

SECTION IV: p. 3

ftBORl

or

OPBRA~IORI

~he

stated mechanism for effectiveness of the Stun Gun is related
to the interaction of the electrical impulses produced by the device
with the nervous and muscular systems. The term "temporary incapacity·
is used to describe the effect of the Stun Gun on persons in whom
control of their aggressive actions is a primary police objective.
Nerve and muscle tissue, although differing rather substantially in
certain specific characteristics of electrical stimula ion, are in fact
quite similar in the major category of "excitability." 1 , which is of
primary importance here.
Precise differentiation of which of these two types of tissue is
stimulated preferentially by the electrical stimulus is made somewhat
more difficult in gross laboratory evaluation by the fact that nerves
normally activate muscles, therefore a particular muscle contraction in
response to a Stun Gun stimulUS, for example, might have been caused
indirectly by activation of the motor nerve feeding that particular
muscle .and not directly by the muscle itself.
It <is a well known principal of physiology dating back to the
1700's and the classical work of Galvani that nerve and muscle ~including heart muscle - can be stimulated to react, each in its own
"!Jcharacteristic way, by the application of electrical stimuli of the
~ kind.
From this knowledge one can postulate that some electrical
stimuli may well be improper and hence ineffective in causing excitation
of nerve and muscle. It is reasonable to assume that there is a
spectrum of electrical stimuli wbich are in an intermediate zone
between very effective and ineffective. Such stimuli may be called
"marginally effective" and it is in this category that the output from
the Stun Gun generator probably belongs.
Electrical energy in small amounts may stimulate tissue to respond
normally. Higher energies may stimulate as well as daffiage tissue.
~his damage or injury effect is primarily, although not exclusively,
related to the heating effect of electrical current passing through
tissue. Specifically, heat production in watts is related to the
current in amps squared. Each kind of excitable tissue, nerve, muscle,
heart etc., is most efficiently excited by electrical stimuli of quite
precise characteristics of intensity (voltage or current) and timing
(pulse shape and duration). Deviation from the optimum characteristics
in either direction means generally that more electrical energy ~ust be
injected to cause the same reaction thereby reducing the efficiency and
tending toward thermal injury.

3

SECTION IV: p. 4

Nerves favor brief duration stimuli while heart muscle requires
much longer duration impulses to become activated. This is due to the
~uch higher electrical capacitance of heart tissue than of nerve tissue.
Since the Stun Gun generates extremely short duration i~pulses measuying
only a few ~illionths of a second, one ~ight expect it to be totally
ineffective in stimulating heart muscle no ~atter how intense the
stimulus. This is indeed the case. These ultra'short duration impulses
ere only slightly effecti ve in stimulating nerves even though the
intensity, as measured in terms of peak voltage, may be thousands of
times greater than the minimum amount necessary if the stimulus were
longer in duration.
The extreme brevity of the stimulus pul6e as produced by the
electronic timing circuit in the Stun Gun accounts for the fact that
even though the pu lses may be of such enOIlIlOUS vol tage so as to cause
ionization of the air the production of Ozone and the formation of
discharge arcs, the duration of these pulses is so short that only a fe,,'
nerves in the close vicinity of the pulse generator ere actually
stimulated. Cardiac tissue, normally far removed geographically from
the Stun Gun in its customary mode of application, would not and could
not be stimulated even if it were in direct contact with the Gun due to
the unique characteristic of heart tissue requiring relatively prolonged
stimulatIng pulses for effective sti~ulation.

~

The physiologic principal governing these observations is known as
. a -tissue chronaxie-. The principal relates stimulus intensity to
stimulus duration and, as noted above, is not constant but varies widely
from one tissue type to another. .It may vary from one moment to the
next in the same tissue depending on physical and chemical surroundings.
The shorter duration an electrical impulse is, the higher its
intrinsic frequency components. In the case of the stun Gun the major
energy component of the shock pulses are actually in the radio frequency
spectrum rather than the audible sound spectrum where most functional
nerve and muscle stimuli are located. This welt known and predictable
phenomenon results in the so-called skin effect wherein high frequency
electrical currents crowd to the surface of an electrical conductor such
as the human body and does not penetrate to the nerves and muscles
beneath. It is well known, for example, that one may touch a radio
transmitter antenna possessing thousands of volts of electrical
potential and experience no sensation or muscle contraction at all. The
Stun Gun produces some sensation but not of the 6everity as would be
expected if its pulses were of longer duration. The relationship
between the frequency of stimulation a~d the gross effect on muscle
contraction was determined by Dalziel. Although his experiments relate
the so called -let go- current to the frequency of stimulation, a
somewhat different physiologic situation, the results have the advantage
of having been obtained in human subjects.

I

~

Ii

As pointed out above, very short duration pulses are only
marginally effective in stimulating excitable tissue. This is a desired
circumstance in the design of the Stun Gun since the region of the body
effected by the discharge of the.·puI6es i6 quite l1miteCl and the effect

SECTION IV: p. 5

A on
the body no .atter how long the Gun i6 applied h brief. ~he device
produces a brief period of incapacitation and no significant residual
effect sucb as burning or damage to ti8sue appears to be possible. The
heart is not directly stimulated at all and potentially balardous subtle
or gross rhythm abnormalities of tbe kind associated with accidental
electrocution (from a faulty electrical appliance, for example,) is not
possible. Furtbermore, tbe energy requirement ~rom tbe Stun Gun supply
battery 18 low if tbe sbock pulses are of sbort duration and p'toduced at
a low repetition rate. The Stun Gun produces pUlses of sucb brief
duration tba~.tbe electrical energy contained in each pulse is only
about 0.001 watt-second (Joules). At a pulse repetition rate of 20
pUlses per second wbich is av~ra.ge for the. Stun Gun, tbe amount of
energy delivered in a one second·dhcharge to a buman subject (and the
amount of energy drawn from the battery which should be roughly equal)
would be about 2lwaU-seconds (Joules). A fully charged 8.4 volt NICAD
transistor radio battery such as is used in the Stun Gun will
effectively deliver about 120 Joules.
Tbis would mean the gun can
operate for about 2 minutes continuously or can produce about 30 shock
bursts of four seconds each.

,

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.'

These performance specifications will vary from day to day and from
unit tO,unit depending for the most part on the condition of the
battery. The battery, in turn, is dependent on temperature as well as
its usage history and its state of charge.
The physical and electrical design of the unit is quite straight
forward with perhaps one exception, that being the purposeful placement
of metal studs transversely across the output terminals. The
configuration and spacing of these terminals promotes air breakdown and
arc formation when the device is not under a dissipative load. The
pulse is generated from a -fly back- type transformer similar to that
used in television sets to generate the high electron accelerating
voltage for the picture tube. The Stun Gun employs a much slower
repetition rate ( 20 pulses per second) than a TV (15,000 pulses per
second) and no high voltage rectifier is needed, thereby eliminating
several critical and expensive components required of a TV. Furthermore
TV set designers go to great lengths to prevent arcing and corona
formation into surrounding air - processes which dissipate energy
needlessly and create radio frequency interference in the vicinity. The
Stun Gun on the other hand promotes arcing by the positioning of the
sharp laterally positioned meta~ probes across the output in such a way
that an audible and highly visible air discharge occurs for each pulse
not dissipated into a subject through the forward facing probes. This
-default discharge- is actually necessary for optimum operation of the
device since it stabilizes the output between load and no load
conditions.
question frequently asked is -how is the Stun Gun different from
a cattle prod-. These devices are designed to repel animals through
the means of electrical shocks. The cattle prod differs in several very
important ways other than physical appearance. (See appendix). First
the cattle prod is capable of causing tissue injury since its internal
or source impedance is much lower than the Stun Gun (so is a fence
~

5

SECTION IV: p. 6

~harger

as well as is an electronic automobile ignition) and it can
~ause greater amounts of electric current to flow through the body 1n a
given tillle than can the Stun Gun even though the Stun Gun's voltage lIIay
actually be considerably higher. It is the deep penetration of
electric current into tissue which not only stimulates but is
potentially hazardous due to the thermal effects .entioned earlier. In
addition the duration of the cattle prod's pulses are over 10 times
longer than the Stun Gun's and the repetition rate is 10 tillles faster
.aking it a very effective tissue stimulator as contrasted to the Stun
Gun which, as noted above, is only marginally effective. Purtherlllore
tbe longer duration of the cattle prod pulses bring tbelll into tbe range
of being able to stimulate the beart directly.
Indeed the cattle prod
pulse cbaracteristics render if poteqtiallY ~azardous to heart rhythm.
However, because of the close electrode spacing (about 1 inch) and the
great distance between the prod electrodes and the beart, tbe current
flow pattern in the region of tbe beart is very limited in conventional
usage.
lIIucb larger battery packs required of cattle prods ( 2 amperebour as cOlllpared to tbe Stun Gun's .08 ampere-bour) attest to the major
difference between these devices.
~he

•

6

SECTION IV: p. 7

'('\.oteDtlal lIecUcal Banrasl
~he

Stun Gun is not a medical device. ~he manufacturer makes no
claim of diagnostic or therapeutic efficacy about the device. Since no
such claim is made tbe device does not fall under tbe jurisdiction of
the Device Amendments to tbe Pood and Drug Act - 1976 whicb laws
prescribe detailed testing ~f new medical devices before manufacture.
Also the PDA imposes strict regulations for quality assurance in the
manufacturing process of medical devices.
No detailed performance specifications were provided with tbe
instrument so tbere is no sillple way short of returning the device to
the factory to insure that its~op~rating eb~~~cteristics are being
maintained.
This presents a potential hazard from the standpoint of a
possible performance failure. Although unlikely,.a malfunction might
cause a change in the electrical characteristics and result in the
output becoming substantially more injurious even though the device
appeared to function normally.
As pointed out in the preceding section, the Stun Gun's output when
operating normally and when used in the prescribed manner is not a
significant hazard to normal adults. Impulses delivered to the
sUbject's face and especially near the eyes could affect vision and
possibly cause eye damage. This possibility was not specifically tested
~n this protocol.

I,
i

Electrically sensitive subjects, those whose heart rhythms are
unstable because of being on certain drugs, or on pacemakers, Qr who
have recently had chest surgery, or possibly a recent heart attack are a
special class of individuals in whom lower than normal electrical
currents or possibly even the fright of being shocked with the device
could conceivably induce medical problems. Some of these possibilities
were tested by creating an electrically unstable circumstance in an
/'
anesthetized animal and delivering the full output of the Stun Gun
directly to the heart muscle by means of an intracardiac st_~X9de
_ ~ . Recordings of these trials are included in the appen~i'x. The
.. ~ed nO effect on cardiac rln'thm or pumping and only ami Id and
transient effect on blood pressure with direct stimulation to the inside
of the heart. Surprisingly the surface electro cardiogram only showed a
minor shift in baseline during the application of the shocks and a .
prompt return to normal when the shocks were discontinued. Increased
electrical susceptibility was created in the animals by injection of 1
mg of 1:1000 epinephrine intravenously. A characteristically rapid
heart rate and blood pressure rise ensued but the Stun Gun was still
ineffective in creating heart rhythm disturbances under tbese conditions
of augmented sensitivity. Ordinary pacemaker pulses' delivered under
~
tbese circumstances caused immediate ventricular fibrilation.
P/
Another type of enhanced electrical susceptibility that could
~oncieVablY be encountered is in the SUbject with an implanted cardiac
, pacemaker. Pacemakers themselves have been reported to be susceptible
to certain kinds of electromagnetic interference and even now patients
with pacers are warned about the •potential hazards of close proximity to
,

I
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SECTION IV: p. 8

microwave ovens, mobile radio transmitters and tbe like. Several
reports bave described interaction between ignition systems of
automobiles and even power lawn mowers with cardiac pacers.
In order to test tbe possibility of interference of pacer function
Clue to Stun Gun operation an anestbetized anima! was paced with a
programmable external pacer using body surface sensing electrodes (see
appendix for details). In the ·asynchronous· mode ( no sensing
employed) the pacer was immune to Stun Gun shocks virtually anywhere on
the animals body. Only wben tbe sbocks were delivered directly to tbe
pacer itself did erratic pacing function occur. ~be erratic pacing
caused extra randomly placed pacer pulses to'be emitted. For the most
part, these were only effective in causing extra heart beats limited
to tbe duration of application of the sbock. Following termination of
the shocks the rhythm returned promptly to the preshock regularity.
Neitber the pacer nor tbe heart appeared to suffer any carryover
effects at the conclusion of numerous repetitions of this test sequence.
In the inhibited mode (sensing required) aberrent pacer function was
noted with stimulation sites virtually anywbere on the animal's body.
Altbough this mode of pacer operation is tbe most commonly employed in
practice. the degree of susceptibility noted is unlikely to cause serious
clinical problems because tbe pacer is most likely to be temporarily
~inhibited and therefore produce few if any pulses of its own during this
" . 'I' time.
I.

time of application of the Stun Gun is usually only a fe" seconds,
the cardiac effect of which would probably be unnoticed by the patient and
unimportant to the heart rhythm. Furthermore, the sensing electrodes for
inhibited type pacers are positioned in the heart, (usually they are the
pacer electrodes themselves) not on the body surface in close proximity to
the Stun Gun as was the case in this test. Normally implanted pacers
should be considerably less susceptible to this form of interference than
was exhibited by this test. Finally the chance of encountering a person
with a functioning demand pacer among the population of individuals likely
to be recipients of Stun Gun discharges is probably less than 1 in 10,000
based on the prevalance of pacers in the popUlation. The likelihood that a
serious medical problem would arise in a subject even if be bad a pacer and
if the Stun Gun were employed in the prescribed way is probably less than I
in 100, making the overall probability of serious consequences less than I
in a million, hardly a practical concern when weighing the potential benefit
of such effective devices in tbe hands of law enforcement.
~he

~

"Il
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One hazard of significance which was observed with the frequent use
of the Stun Gun in testing was the phenomenon of operator shock. Under
a variety of common circumstances some small fraction of the Stun Gun's
output is fed back either through the device internally or across the
plastic case externally to the operator's finger on the control switch.
This problem was worse in high humidity or when the operator's hands
were damp as with sweat. It is much worse if the plastic case becomes
contaminated with partially conductive materials, such as salt solutions
and the like.

SECTION IV: p. 9

n

'the baudl h not one of operator incapacity as would be the case
wIth the sUbject but a Wstartle Weffect whIch could cause the operator
to lOBe control of the device and pOBlllbly drop i t at a critical time •
•

'the problem was solved in the laboratory by simply wearing a
surgeon's glove on the operating band. A more practical solution would
appear to relate to the basic construction of the device with a moisture
barrier over the switch and other cracks and crevices to prevent their
becoming an electrical pathway back to the operator's hand.
'the sparks generated by the device are quite capable of igniting
certain flammable materials, such
as gasoline
vapor. Caution should be
. ...
exercised if such vapors are thought, to, be present.

..

~

'the device appears to be relatively immune to direct physical abuse
withstanding numerous edge drops on concrete from a height of 3 feet.
'the device operate'd at once on removal from a freezer chest where it had
been stored for 24 hours. Battery depletion slows the rate of
repetitive discharge. This suggests a handy way to determine quickly
the residual battery charge. It should be emphasized that conventional
transistor batteries are virtually worthless as a power source since
their internal impedance is too high to provide the high current
necessary to properly operate the device. Proper battery conditioning
with the charger according to instructions is imperative.
Finally the device was discharged into the mucous membranes of the
tongue of an anesthetized animal to ascertain the effects on mucous
membranes. Muscle twitching did occur but no visible damage to the
membranes was noted. Again, the effect directly on the eye was not
tested. Until this is more thoroughly evaluated one should be cautious
about the use of this device in the face area.

,

9

SECTION IV: p. 10

~t:O'RICAL
,

CBARAO'IRIS'l'ICSI

following .easurements were aade using e ~echtronic aodel 468
Digital oscilliscope in ASsociation with aodel P 6105 Ilul UpHes Probe's.
A specially constructed attenuator with a 1000 aultiplier was employed to
record open circuit potentials.
~he

a)

Pulse wave form
1.

No load (arcing)
lIIoderately damped
sinusoid- '.
.
,

'

Peak to peak voltage approziaetely

1~0,000

V

Period between pUlses, 50 milliseconds
Pulse decay constant.
2.

0.6 Microseconds

Loaded (20,000 Ohms), no arcing
Heavily damped sinusoid.
" approxi.ately 50,000 V

Peak to Peak Voltage

Period - between pulses, 50 milliseconds

('

Pulse decay constant .. micro seconds•
Instantaneous peak current, 20 amperes, each pulse

•

b)

Repetition rate
1.

c)

Broad spectrum centered about 2 Megahertz on Collins All Band
Receiver

Average over 1 second,1.2 watts

Power consumption from battery
1.

f)

and unloaded

Power production in pulses
1.

e)

pU1lfes~e~second-b6tn-loaded

Electro magnetic radiation
1.

d)

20

average over 1 second 3 watts

Failure modes
1.

Discharged battery to terminal voltage of 6.5 volts or less
results in cessation of pulse generation

2.

Output shorted - no output, little effect on internal operation

3.

Internal spark gap

shor~ed

1.0

- no measurable output

SECTION IV: p. 11

BOMAR!

The SK 5000 Stun Gun was extensively evaluated from the
standpoint of electrical safety by subjecting a stock model of
the device to various physical and biological testing procedures.
The output of the device has been cbaracterized and found to
belong to a class of pulse generators known as relaxation
oscU latou. Tbe design 1& straigbt forward and famU hr. It
takes advantage of some miniaturization tecbniques for tbe size
reduction needed for a band held instrument. The output energy
is very low even though the measured potential under load is in
excess of 50,000 volts. Electrical -skin effect- and certain
physiologic cbaracteristics Qf excita~~e tissues make tbe device
more effective in stimulating. auperficial nerves tban muscles.
Cardiac muscle appears to be completely insensitive to its
effects. This finding greatly reduces tbe concern that the use
of such a device in a wide variety of unknown subjects may result
in untoward cardiac reactions of the kind seen in persons being
shocked from faulty household or industrial appliances.
In addition to tbe lack of significant electrical bazards,
tbe device appears also to be incapable of causing thermal
effects such as burns to the skin or otber tissues. The
exceedingly sensitive tissue of tbe eyes were not tested bowever
and remain as a continuing caution in tbe wide spread use of tbe
device.
Certain potential hazards sucb as in igniting flammable
substances and sbock hazard to the operator were pointed out and
discussed.
The entire subject of efficacy, the suitability of the
device for its intended purpose, was not discussed. These and
related subjects are for the most part, psychological and law
enforcement matters and are not appropriate in this study.
I hope the information presented herein is useful in
decisions relating to the acceptance of devices of this kind into
law enforcement and in the educational process wbich will
maximize effectiveness in the deployment of such devices if tbey
are accepted.

Robert A. Stratbucker, M.D., Ph.D.

SECTION IV: p. 12

APPDDIll

INTERNAL CONSTROCTION

or STON COil

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LABELS REFER TO SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

The device is electronically a relaxation oscillator
producing approximately 20 pulses per second. Tbe pulses are
delivered to a subject from tbe secondary winding of transformer
T 2 • An internal spark gap G1 is an important part of tbe
clrcui try accomplisbing much toe same function as the ingi t.ion
points of an automobile distributor. Tbe output pulses are
exceedingly narrow and contain much less energy than lI'ost
familiar types of spark phenomena including automobile ignitions,
fence chargers and the like.

I i iLL !iii!

~ SECTION IV:

p. 13

APPDDIX

TYPICAL CATTLE PROD

-------------------

In this model the handle assembly is nearly all taken up
with battery storage. The battery capacity is nearly 10 times
that of the Stun Gun. Although the prod end has nearly the same
dimensions as that of the Stun Gun the output voltage is much
lower and no arc develops. The character of the pulses and the
lower source impedance of the output result in a much greater and
more penetrating current flow pattern than is available from the
Stun Gun.

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SECTION IV: p. 14

8CB1KA~IC CIICOI~

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20MA.--

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P"'St' 6w,tt"! SA VolTS

DESCRIPTION
'1'he basic circuit is that of a non-linear relaxation
oscillator consisting of transitor 01' diodes CRl,-4 and tbe dual
primary windings of the oscillator transforller '1'1"
Pulses
produced in the secondary of '1'~ are applied across a small spark
gap
inside tbe unit (see pJioto.) When tbe charge across CI
capac tor reaches the arc potential of the intenal spark gap, the
developing lIIagnetic field in '1'1 collapses suddenly creating a
brief bigh voltage pulse across ~be output terminals of ~2. Onder
unloaded conditions the high output voltage from the secondary of
stepup trans~orller '1'2 causes a spark discharge across the" inner
probes of the Stun Gun's output terminals. When in contact with
a subject's body the output is sufficiently loaded that the arc
potential is not reached although tbe internal spark gap
continues to spark and an effective output voltage continues 0
be delivered. '1'his latter pulsatile voltage is the effective
-incapacitating output- of the device.
"

Gl

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'1'be circuit appears optimized for maximulll voltage output.
It is difficult to imagine any component failures wbich would
result in output parameter changes whicb would cause the unit to
suddenly become electrically dangerous. Most failure 1II0des which
were simulated resulted in the unit failing to function at all.
'1'he inherent battery capacity. being as low as it is effectively
limits dangerous emissions frolll the Stun Cun under 1II0st component
failure acenarios.
.

1

SECTION IV: p.15

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Typical external pacemaker used in these experiments. In
this series 1 mg of epinephrine solution 1:1000 was injected
intravenously and the tracings were done within a minute or so
afterward. The purpose oj the study was to investigate the
possibility of increased. susceptibility of the heart to Stun Gun
impulses in a situation dJ heightened rhythm instability and
lowered VF threshold.
laMa J Li i 2

22

SECTION IV: p. 16

PHYSIOLOGIC UPElUllEHTS

~he first series of experiments were designed to determine
the effect if any of cutaneous stimulation, of an anima~ in the
cbest region using the Stun Gun.

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one notes a regul ar sinus rhythm whicb is encumbered by a small
baseline artifact when the Stun Gun is applied to the left chest
using electrode paste. Note that the QRS rhythm remains
unaltered.

SECTION IV: p. 17

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~he second series of experiDents involved the use of a

paceDaker pulse generator delivering pulses to the right
ventricle by ~eans of a bipolar catheter in the right ventricle.
•••

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STU cU ~"N--f1~t D T t-f ~O() Q

•

t4
R'~HT VEN"TR\CLr:

IN

•

,A: :l

This trace shows the pulse generator artifact on the
baseline at the left. The intensity was adjusted to determine VF
threshold and at the arrow VF was produced. Pulse generator was
set at approximately 50 pulses per second.

•.. ,-

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(s~ e.T ... R£'~o-...\l)

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I':

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SECTION IV: p. 18

~he trace below ahow. the blood pre•• ure r ••ponse to the
oft.et of ventricular fibrillation 8. produced by the pacer.

ARTERIAL BLooD PRFSSU1(E"

T
VF p,2.00uc.c 0

-------- -----------_. _.- _.,.,.• _------ .. _--_

..

In this sequence the stimulator is increased in amplitude
until VP is produced at the arrow in ~raceA. Defibrillation is
accomplished with externa 1 paddles and 100 Joules at the point·
indicaetd in Trace B. In Trace C the post recovery unstable
rhyt\lm is superimposed with Stun Gun activity delivered to the
left chest without significant change in rhythm.

(nfRACf
(
A

-

•

.-

-

...

A'.
~

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.sve.TA \ I\J 1:0 V. r=:.

TRACE"
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...,.,.. I

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. ..

.

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I

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.

•

.

~

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--_.-_ .....
. .• • .
•

.,

-

SECTION IV: p. 19

" 'J'hb ezperbent attempta to demonstrate the lack of effect
of Stun Gun Itimulation luperimposed on an unltable rhythm
1••ediately following defibrillation. 'J'he aequence is
uninterrupted in time.

,

i
I

In trace A a complex rhythm i. hoted Which resulted directly from
tbe epinephrine injection.
A profound tacbycardia and
bypertensive response ensued. 'J'he StUD Gun delivered PUlses to
tbe
left
thorax
at
the
time
indicated
and
no
additional
rhythm
abnormalities developed.

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.

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I

....

-'---.-_ ..... -._, ' ....

:

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.~
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r.

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_.

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-It
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.'to ••I.""i-.'.
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A:v
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.

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- _._-_.,.---:----....
..
-........- - - -..
o----...,..,--,-------,------"
.
'"
._._-........ __ .

.0

••

_ • . • _ _ ••• _

• • • _ •• _ .

-.

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I

~-

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-~,---_._---

(l'fOST E:PI N£p HR I N~
... RtlYTkH

--4,-,'-'-.. .

ON

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~--

--.---- -----

-------",--

-

-

In Trace B the pacer vas adjusted to produce bigemini
with the epinephrine effect still veIl in place. This added
degree
of
instability
vas
not
affected
by
the
Stun
Gun
applied
as
in 'J'race A•

•

TRACE"

_. •

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,

1

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:-

. j"I

.- o.•_.__ .

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,

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.

•

w

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0

I

SECTION IV: p. 20

APPBRDII

1.

of Medical PhY8iology
Sixth Edition 1984
w. B. Saunders' Co., Philadelphia-

~extbook

- -

,0
,

2.

Dalziel, C. F. Study of the
Hazard8 of Iapulse Currents. ~ran8actions of
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
Vol. 72 1953

3.

Dalziel, C. F. Electric S£ock Hazard
IEEE Spectrum, Feb. 1972

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