• Norbert Leitgeb, Florian Niedermayr, Gerhart Loos, and Robert Neubauer.
• Institute of Health Care Engineering with European Notified Body of Medical Devices, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria. norbert.leitgeb@tugraz.at
• Wien Med Wochenschr. 2011 Dec 1;161(23-24):571-7.

AbstractIn view of reported fatalities there are still controversial discussions on whether electronic stun law enforcement weapons can cause cardiac fibrillation. Experimental data are contradictory. Simplified theoretical estimations led to a negligible low risk of 8.10(-7). With a detailed numerical-anatomical model of an adult man (NORMAN) cardiac exposure to Taser X26 high-tension pulses was quantitatively assessed and the fibrillation risk estimated by accounting for its dependence on excited volume based on 3D cardiac exposure patterns. For distance mode and worst case dart hits it could be demonstrated that cardiac exposure can reach the 30% fibrillation risk level. Risk reduces considerably if direct current flow across the heart is prevented. The overall fibrillation risk of Taser application is further reduced by the limited probability of critical hits. However, in agreement with experimental findings it is demonstrated that cardiac fibrillation risk of Taser X26 dart mode application is small, however, not negligible.

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