Systems and methods for electrodes and coupling structures for electronic weaponry
First Claim
1. A deployment unit for providing a current from a signal generator through tissue of a human or animal target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target, the deployment unit comprising:
- a housing;
an interface that couples the housing to the signal generator, the interface for receiving the current;
a filament that conducts the current, the filament stored in the housing prior to deployment, the filament coupled to the interface for receiving the current;
an electrode stored in the housing prior to deployment; and
a propellant that in operation propels the electrode away from the housing to deploy the filament toward the target;
wherein the electrode comprisesa spear comprising a shaft and a tip wherein a longitudinal axis passes through the shaft; and
a plurality of barbs to lodge in the target, each barb at a respective distance along the axis from the tip, the respective distances forming a plurality of distances wherein at least one distance is greater than the remaining distances of the plurality of distances.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
17 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A deployment unit for providing a current from a signal generator through tissue of a human or animal target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target, the deployment unit comprising:
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a housing; an interface that couples the housing to the signal generator, the interface for receiving the current; a filament that conducts the current, the filament stored in the housing prior to deployment, the filament coupled to the interface for receiving the current; an electrode stored in the housing prior to deployment; and a propellant that in operation propels the electrode away from the housing to deploy the filament toward the target;
wherein the electrode comprisesa spear comprising a shaft and a tip wherein a longitudinal axis passes through the shaft; and a plurality of barbs to lodge in the target, each barb at a respective distance along the axis from the tip, the respective distances forming a plurality of distances wherein at least one distance is greater than the remaining distances of the plurality of distances. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A deployment unit for providing a current from a signal generator through tissue of a human or animal target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target, the deployment unit comprising:
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a housing; an interface that couples the housing to the signal generator, the interface for receiving the current; a filament that conducts the current, the filament stored in the housing prior to deployment, the filament coupled to the interface for receiving the current; an electrode stored in the housing prior to deployment; and a propellant that in operation propels the electrode away from the housing to deploy the filament toward the target;
wherein the electrode comprisesa tip on an axis of the electrode; and a surface extending away from the tip;
whereinthe surface at a first cross section through the axis evidences a first undulation, the first undulation for entering tissue of the target to increase friction between the surface and the tissue of target; and the surface at a second cross section through the axis, further from the tip than the first cross section, evidences a second undulation, the second undulation for entering tissue of the target to increase friction between the surface and the tissue of target. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeTaser International Incorporated
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Original AssigneeTaser International Incorporated
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InventorsHanchett, Mark A., Phelps, Mark Joseph, Smith, Patrick W., Brundula, Steven N. D., Landers, Douglas J., Hinz, Andrew F.
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Primary Examiner(s)Barnie, Rexford
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Assistant Examiner(s)BROOKS, ANGELA D
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Application NumberUS12/979,619Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,232 DaysField of Search361/232US Class Current361/232CPC Class CodesF41H 13/0025 for remote electrical disch...
