Inventors:
Mark A. Hanchett - Phoenix AZ, US
Mark Joseph Phelps - New Brighton MN, US
Patrick W. Smith - Scottsdale AZ, US
Steven N. D. Brundula - Chandler AZ, US
Douglas J. Landers - Phoenix AZ, US
Andrew F. Hinz - Mesa AZ, US
Assignee:
TASER International, Inc. - Scottsdale AZ
International Classification:
H05C 1/04
F41C 9/00
Abstract:
An electronic weapon with an installed deployment unit, from which at least one tethered electrode is launched, provides a stimulus current through a target to inhibit locomotion by the target. The wire tether, also called a filament, conducts the stimulus current. The one or more electrodes, according to various aspects of the present invention, perform one or more of the following functions in any combination: binding the filament to the electrode, deploying the filament from the deployment unit, coupling the electrode to the target, and distributing a current density with respect to a region of target tissue and/or a volume of target tissue. For an electrode that includes a body and a spear, the spear may be implemented with conductive rings or with materials that include integrated conductive and insulative substances (e. g. , conductive fibers in insulative composite material). Relatively high electric field flux density at a tip of the spear may be reduced or avoided by practice of the invention.