U.S. patent application number 11/510755 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for systems and methods for halting locomotion.
Invention is credited to Patrick W. Smith.
Application Number | 20070130815 11/510755 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36644129 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070130815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Patrick W. |
June 14, 2007 |
Systems and methods for halting locomotion
Abstract
A weapon halts locomotion by a human or animal target, for
example, for arresting the target. The device includes a charging
circuit and a discharging circuit. The charging circuit charges a
capacitance of the device. The discharging circuit overwhelms
voluntary use by the target of the skeletal muscles of the target
when passing a current through tissue of the target. Each pulse has
a pulse width greater than 9 microseconds. The current may include
a plurality of substantially equally spaced apart pulses of from 2
to 40 pulses per second.
Inventors: |
Smith; Patrick W.;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
17800 N. 85TH STREET
SCOTTSDALE
AZ
85255-9603
US
|
Family ID: |
36644129 |
Appl. No.: |
11/510755 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
11164764 |
Dec 5, 2005 |
7158362 |
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|
11510755 |
Aug 25, 2006 |
|
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|
10673901 |
Sep 28, 2003 |
7075770 |
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|
11164764 |
Dec 5, 2005 |
|
|
|
10016082 |
Dec 12, 2001 |
6636412 |
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10673901 |
Sep 28, 2003 |
|
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09398388 |
Sep 17, 1999 |
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10016082 |
Dec 12, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.08 ;
361/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/36 20130101;
F41H 13/0025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/001.08 ;
361/232 |
International
Class: |
F41B 15/04 20060101
F41B015/04 |
Claims
1. A weapon that halts locomotion by a human or animal target, the
weapon comprising: an energy storing circuit; and an energy
discharging circuit that overwhelms voluntary use by the target of
ambulatory skeletal muscles of the target when passing a current a
distance of at least about 6 inches through any tissue of the
target, the current comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse of
the plurality having a pulse width greater than 9 microseconds,
wherein voluntary use is overwhelmed whether or not the target
feels pain.
2. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pulses has a rate
of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.
3. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the pulse width is from 9 to 100
microseconds measured into a load of about 1000 ohms in place of
the target.
4. The weapon of claim 1 wherein each pulse of the plurality has a
width of about 13 microseconds.
5. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pulses has an
average of about 162 milliamps RMS for one second.
6. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the discharging circuit comprises
a transformer that generates the current in a secondary of the
transformer.
7. A weapon that halts locomotion by a human or animal target, the
weapon comprising: an energy storing circuit; and an energy
discharging circuit that overwhelms voluntary use by the target of
ambulatory skeletal muscles of the target when passing a current a
distance of at least about 6 inches through any tissue of the
target, the current comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse of
the plurality having a pulse width of about 13 microseconds
measured into a load of about 1000 ohms in place of the target,
wherein voluntary use is overwhelmed whether or not the target
feels pain.
8. The weapon of claim 7 wherein the plurality of pulses has a rate
of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.
9. The weapon of claim 7 wherein plurality of pulses has an average
of about 162 milliamps RMS for one second.
10. The weapon of claim 7 wherein the discharging circuit comprises
a transformer that generates the current in a secondary of the
transformer.
11. A method for halting locomotion by a human or animal target to
arrest the target, the method comprising passing a current a
distance of at least about 6 inches through any tissue of the
target, the current comprising from 2 to 40 pulses per second, each
pulse having a pulse width greater than 9 microseconds, wherein
voluntary use is overwhelmed whether or not the target feels pain,
and wherein voluntary use is overwhelmed whether or not the
distance traverses any ambulatory skeletal muscle.
12. The weapon of claim 1I1 wherein the plurality of pulses has a
rate of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.
13. The method of claim 1I1 wherein the pulse width is from 9 to
100 microseconds measured into a load of about 1000 ohms in place
of the target.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein each pulse of the plurality has
a pulse width of about 13 microseconds.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of pulses has an
average of about 162 milliamps RMS for one second.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprises generating the
plurality of pulses in a secondary of a transformer.
17. A method for halting locomotion by a human or animal target to
arrest the target, the method comprising passing a current a
distance of at least about 6 inches through any tissue of the
target, the current comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse of
the plurality having a pulse width of about 13 microseconds
measured into a load of about 1000 ohms in place of the target,
wherein voluntary use is overwhelmed whether or not the target
feels pain.
18. The weapon of claim 17 wherein the plurality of pulses has a
rate of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of pulses has an
average of about 162 milliamps RMS for one second.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising discharging energy
through a transformer to generate the current in a secondary of the
transformer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of co-pending
application Ser. No. 11/164,764, filed Dec. 5, 2005 which is a
continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/673,901, filed
Sep. 28, 2003 which is a continuation of application Ser. No.
10/016,082, filed Dec. 12, 2001 now U.S. Pat. 6,636,412, which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 09/398,388, filed Sep. 17,
1999, now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to apparatus and methods for
preventing the locomotion of a human being or animal. More
particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for
assuring, with a high degree of certainty, that a police officer or
other law enforcement agent can prevent an attacker or other
violent individual from reaching and inflicting bodily harm on the
police officer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of electricity to disable human beings and other
living targets is well known. In the middle 1800's, electricity was
directed through a harpoon to electrocute a whale. Electrocution
also came into use as a method of carrying out a death sentence
resulting from the commission by a prisoner of a serious crime.
Various methods of applying lethal electrical pulses are well
documented. A weapon for applying non-lethal electrical pulses to
disable an attacker is also known. The conventional weapon launches
a first dart and a second dart. Each dart remains connected to the
weapon by an electrically conductive guide wire. The darts strike
an individual. Electrical pulses from the weapon travel to the
first dart, from the first dart through the individual's body, into
the second dart, and return to the weapon via the electrically
conductive wire attached to the second dart. The electrical pulses
occur at a rate of from 2 to 10 pulses per second, are each about
20 kilovolts, and each deliver from 0.01 to 0.5 joule. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,253,132 issued in 1981 describes such a dart weapon. That
patent also suggests that pulses in the range of 0.01 to 0.5 joule
induce involuntary muscular contractions.
[0004] Since about 1981, it has also been known that a certain
minor percentage of individuals struck with a conventional dart
weapon are not immobilized and can "walk through" the electrical
pulses and continue an attack, despite being struck with darts from
the weapon. The ability of some individuals to "walk through" the
electrical pulses was thought to be an anomaly and usually was not
taken seriously because the weapon was effective with and stopped
most individuals, and because the weapon when used appeared to
"knock down" an individual or animal or appeared to cause the
individual or animal to fall. The weapon would also sometimes
appear to cause the skin of a human being or animal to twitch.
Consequently, it was assumed that the human being or animal was
truly physically incapacitated.
[0005] I have discovered that an individual can be readily trained
to "walk through" 0.01 to 0.5 joule pulses delivered by a
conventional dart weapon. I have been involved in training over 20
individuals. In each case the individual was, by focusing on a
goal, able to ignore and overcome any discomfort from the dart
weapon and to continue to walk, run, or attack. The individual did
not lose his or her locomotion. In addition, several cases have
been reported where the failure of a conventional dart weapon led
to the death of an individual because police officers had to resort
to lethal force when the dart weapon failed to stop the individual.
It appears that conventional dart weapons cause an individual to
fall down by activating sensory neurons and by producing in an
individual a psychological reaction which strongly suggests to the
individual that he or she is being incapacitated. The discovery
that an individual can overcome a conventional dart weapon and
continue his or her locomotion suggests possible dire consequences
because many police officers in possession of conventional dart
weapons mistakenly assume that these weapons are effective against
most or many individuals.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an
improved apparatus and method which would, with a high degree of
certainty, enable a police officer or other individual to
incapacitate an attacker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A device, according to various aspects of the present
invention, halts locomotion by a human or animal target. The device
includes a charging circuit and a discharging circuit. The charging
circuit charges a capacitance of the device. The discharging
circuit overwhelms voluntary use by the target of the skeletal
muscles of the target when passing a current through tissue of the
target. The current consists essentially of a plurality of
substantially equally spaced apart pulses of from 2 to 40 pulses
per second. Each pulse has a pulse width of from 9 to 100
microseconds.
[0008] A method, according to various aspects of the present
invention, halts locomotion by a human or animal target. The method
includes passing a current through tissue of the target that
overwhelms voluntary use by the target of the skeletal muscles of
the target. The current consists essentially of a plurality of
substantially equally spaced apart pulses of from 2 to 40 pulses
per second. Each pulse having a pulse width of from 9 to 100
microseconds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will now be further
described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations
denote like elements, and:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a dart weapon constructed in accordance
with various aspects of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block flow diagram of components of the dart
weapon of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a chart comparing prior art weapons to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are block flow diagrams illustrating
other embodiments of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a block flow diagram of a prior art weapon;
and
[0015] FIG. 6A and 6B are block flow diagrams according to various
aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The drawing shows presently preferred embodiments of the
invention for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not by
way of limitation of the scope of the appended claims to the
invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a dart weapon 30 constructed in
accordance with the principles of the invention that includes
housing 31, trigger 34 mounted in housing 31, microprocessor 32
mounted in housing 31, safety 33 mounted in housing 31, battery or
batteries 35 mounted in housing 31, laser sight 36 mounted in
housing 31, and cartridge 37 removably mounted to housing 31.
[0017] Cartridge 37 includes at least a first electrically
conductive dart 18 and a second electrically conductive dart 20.
Each dart 18 (20) is connected to cartridge 37 by an elongate
electrically conductive wire 16 (21). Each wire 16 (21) typically
is coiled in cartridge 37 and unwinds and straightens as dart 18
(20) travels through the air in the direction of arrow A toward a
target. The length of each wire 16 (21) can vary but is typically
20 to 30 feet. Two or more cartridges 37 can be mounted on weapon
30.
[0018] Cartridge 37 also includes a powder charge 25, compressed
air, or other motive power means for firing each dart 18 (20)
through the air in the direction of arrow A toward a target. The
powder charge, compressed air, or other motive power means utilized
to fire a dart is well known in the art and will not be discussed
in detail herein. Cartridge 37 is activated and the darts 18 and 20
are fired by manually sliding safety 33 in a selected direction to
release safety 33 and then squeezing trigger 34. As will be
described, the means for generating the electrical pulses which
travel into wires 16 and 21 and darts 18 and 20 are also activated
by squeezing trigger 34. Releasing safety 33 also activates or
turns "on" laser sight 36 such that at least one laser beam
projects outwardly in the direction of arrow A and impinges on the
desired target.
[0019] Microprocessor 32 preferably includes memory and includes a
sensor attached to trigger 34 or to some other desired portion of
dart weapon 30 to generate for the memory in microprocessor 32 a
signal each time trigger 34 is squeezed and weapon 30 is fired.
Each time trigger 34 is squeezed and weapon 30 is fired, the memory
in microprocessor 32 retains a record of the date and time the
weapon was fired.
[0020] In FIG. 2, power 11 is provided by nine-volt battery 35.
Power 11 can be provided by any desired apparatus or means. Switch
12 ordinarily is "off". When trigger 34 is squeezed to fire weapon
30, a signal is generated which is received by microprocessor 32.
Microprocessor 32 sends a signal to switch 12 to turn switch 12
"on" for about 7 seconds. Any mechanical or other means can be
utilized in place of microprocessor 32 to operate switch 12. Switch
12 can be mechanical, constructed from semiconductor materials, or
constructed from any other desired materials. When switch 12 is
turned "on", it allows power 11 to travel to transformer 13.
[0021] Transformer 13 receives electricity from power 11 and
produces a signal which causes 2,000 volts to be transmitted to
capacitor 15. Once the voltage across capacitor 15 reaches 2,000
volts, it is able to discharge an electrical pulse into transformer
14. The pulse from capacitor 15 is a 0.80 to 10 joule pulse, and
has a pulse width of 9 to 100 microseconds. Capacitor 15 produces 2
to 40, preferably about 5 to 15, pulses per second. A 0.88
microfarad capacitor is presently preferred, although the size of
capacitor 15 can vary as desired. The voltage across capacitor 15
can vary as desired as long as the capacitor produces a pulse
having 0.90 to 10 joules, preferably 1.5 to 5.0 joules.
[0022] Transformer 14 receives each pulse from capacitor 15 and
produces a 50,000 volt pulse. The voltage of the pulse from
transformer 14 can vary as desired as long as each pulse from
transformer 14 has from 0.75 to 9 joules, preferably 1.0 to 3.0
joules, of energy, has a pulse width in the range of 10 to 100
microseconds, and has a current I.sub.RMS calculated as follows:
I.sub.RMS= {square root over ((I.sup.PEAK).sup.2Pulse
WidthRate)}
[0023] This current is in the range of 100 to 500 milliamps. The
pulse widths and currents of conventional dart weapons and non-dart
electric weapons (commonly referred to as "stun guns") and of a
dart weapon of the present invention are set forth in FIG. 3.
[0024] In the practice of the invention, it is critical to produce
contractions of skeletal muscles sufficient to prevent the
voluntary use of the muscles for normal locomotion of an
individual's body. Twitching of the skin does not, as earlier
noted, necessarily indicate that contractions of the skeletal
muscles necessary to prevent locomotion are taking place. Producing
contractions of smooth muscle is not sufficient in the practice of
the invention. Contractions must instead be produced in striated
skeletal muscles. Further, the contractions in the skeletal muscles
must be sufficient to prevent voluntary use of the skeletal muscles
by the individual (i.e., the muscles must lock up and not be
operable). The electrical pulses produced by prior art dart weapons
do not prevent the use of the skeletal muscles and do not prevent
locomotion of an individual. It is not the object of the invention
to cause all the skeletal muscles of an individual to lock up, but
only some portion of the skeletal muscles.
[0025] Based on tests to date, the discomfort and loss of
locomotion caused when skeletal muscles lock up in response to
pulses produced by the apparatus of the invention is almost always
sufficient to halt the locomotion of an individual. In actual
tests, over 20 volunteers were each given the task of advancing to
a target at least 5 feet away and of simulating an attack. Each
test was repeated using the invention described herein. After being
hit with darts from the weapon of the invention, each volunteer was
immediately immobilized and dropped to the ground. None of the
volunteers was able to advance toward or reach the target.
[0026] The profile of pulses used in prior art electric weapons is
deficient in several respects. First, the energy produced by the
pulses is in the range of 0.01 to 0.5 joule. This is outside the
range of 0.9 to 10 joules required in each pulse produced in the
apparatus of the invention. Second, the width of each pulse in
prior art apparatus is about 1 to 7.5 microseconds. The pulse width
in the apparatus of the invention must be 9 to 100 microseconds.
Third, the current in each pulse produced by prior art apparatus is
in the range of about 20 to 65 milliamps. The current in each pulse
produced in the apparatus of the invention must be in the range of
100 to 500 milliamps. The pulses delivered to a target produce
actual contractions of skeletal muscles sufficient to prevent use
of the muscles by the individual subjected to the pulses.
[0027] If contractions of skeletal muscles are not produced, the
apparatus of the invention is not functioning in the manner
desired. If there are no contractions of the skeletal muscles, the
individual can "walk through", or be trained to "walk through",
being hit with darts which conduct electricity through the
individual's body. If contractions of skeletal muscles are
produced, but do not prevent voluntary use of the muscles by the
individual subjected to the pulses, then the invention is not
functioning as desired. If contractions of the skeletal muscles do
not prevent voluntary use of the muscles by the individual, then
the individual can "walk through", or be trained to "walk through",
being hit with darts which conduct electricity through the
individual's body.
[0028] In operation, again referring to FIG. 2, trigger 34 is
pressed to send a signal to microprocessor 32. Microprocessor 32
turns "on" switch 12. Power 11 flows through transformer 13,
capacitor 15, and transformer 14 in the manner discussed. The
output from transformer 14 goes into wire 16 and dart 18. Once the
current flow reaches dart 18, current from dart 18 is directed to
motive power means 25 (i.e., black powder) to activate motive power
means 25 to propel darts 18 and 20 through the air in the direction
of arrow A to the individual who is the target. Darts 18 and 20 are
fired simultaneously. When darts 18 and 20 contact the clothing of
the individual near the individual's body or contact the
individual's body, pulses from dart 18 travel into tissue 19 of the
individual's body, from tissue 19 into dart 20, from dart 20 into
wire 21, and through wire 21 to transformer 14. Pulses are
delivered from dart 18 into tissue 19 for about 6 to 7 seconds. The
pulses cause contraction of skeletal muscles and make the muscles
inoperable, preventing use of the muscles in locomotion of the
individual's skeleton.
[0029] In various embodiments of the invention, a dart weapon
includes at least two cartridges. In the embodiment of FIG. 4A,
dart weapon 30' includes cartridges 80 and 81. Cartridge 80
includes transformer 50, capacitor 52, transformer 54, wire 56
connected to transformer 54, first dart 58 connected to wire 56,
wire 60, and dart 62 operatively associated with wire 56 and dart
58 and electrically coupled to transformer 54. Darts 58 and 62 are
fired simultaneously. Dart 58 delivers electrical pulses to tissue
(not shown) of an individual's body. Dart 62 receives electricity
from the tissue and returns the electricity to the weapon via wire
60. Dart 58 is connected to motive power means (not shown) in
cartridge 80 in much the same manner that dart 18 is connected to
motive power means 25 in FIG. 2.
[0030] Cartridge 81 includes transformer 51, capacitor 53,
transformer 55, wire 57 connected to transformer 55, dart 59
connected to wire 57, wire 64, and dart 66, operatively associated
with wire 57 and dart 59, and electrically coupled to transformer
55. Darts 59 and 66 are fired simultaneously. Dart 59 delivers
electrical pulses to tissue (not shown) of an individual's body.
Dart 66 receives electricity from the tissue and returns the
electricity to the weapon 30' via wire 64. Dart 59 is connected to
motive power means in cartridge 81 in much the same manner that
dart 18 is connected to motive power means 25 in FIG. 2.
[0031] When trigger 34 is depressed a first time, microprocessor 32
sends out a signal which causes switch 12 to route power to
transformer 50 such that darts 58 and 62 are fired simultaneously
into contact with a target individual's body and pulses are
delivered into the target individual's body through dart 58. When
trigger 34 is depressed a second time, microprocessor 32 sends out
a signal which causes switch 12 to route power to transformer 51
such that darts 59 and 66 are fired simultaneously into contact
with a target individual's body and pulses are delivered into the
target individual's body through dart 59.
[0032] If desired, microprocessor 32 can be programmed such that
switch 12 permits power 11 to flow simultaneously both to
transformer 50 and to transformer 51 such that darts 58, 62, 59,
and 66 are fired simultaneously. Consequently, another embodiment
of the invention of FIG. 4A enables both pairs of darts to be fired
either sequentially or simultaneously.
[0033] In the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 4B, one
transformer 68 is utilized and switch 12 is coupled between
transformer 68 and capacitors 52 and 53. In this embodiment,
microprocessor 32 (or any other desired mechanical or other means)
controls switch 12 so that when trigger 34 is squeezed to fire
weapon 30", power 11 flowing through transformer 68 is directed by
switch 12: (a) to capacitor 52 to fire darts 58 and 62; (b) to
capacitor 53 to fire darts 59 and 66; or (c) simultaneously to
capacitors 52 and 53 to fire darts 58, 62, 59, and 66
simultaneously.
[0034] In the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 4C, one
transformer 68 and one capacitor 70 are utilized, and switch 12 is
coupled between capacitor 70 and transformers 54 and 55. In this
embodiment, microprocessor 32 controls switch 12 so that when
trigger 34 is squeezed to fire weapon 30"''', power 11 flowing
through transformer 68 and through capacitor 70 is directed by
switch 12: (a) to transformer 54 to fire darts 58 and 62; (b) to
transformer 55 to fire darts 59 and 66; or (c) simultaneously to
transformers 54 and 55 to fire darts 58, 62, 59, and 66
simultaneously.
[0035] A particular advantage of the switching arrangements just
discussed with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C is that the
voltage being switched is much less than in prior art dart weapons.
In a prior art dart weapon 90 of FIG. 5 transformer 86 and switch
88 are used. Switch 88 routes output from transformer 86 either to
a first dart pair 92 or a second dart pair 94. Routing 50,000 volts
is difficult, and in some cases both dart pairs 92 and 94 fire at
the same time even though the 50,000 volts is routed to only one of
the dart pairs.
[0036] An apparatus according to various aspects of the present
invention is used for preventing locomotion by a living target by
causing repeated involuntary contractions of skeletal muscles of
the target. Referring to FIG. 6A, the apparatus includes: a
housing; a first conducting unit; a second conducting unit; a power
supply; and a delivery system 28. The first conducting unit
transmits electrical energy in pulses from the first conducting
unit to the target. The second conducting unit transmits electrical
energy from the target to the apparatus. The power supply generates
energy and includes capacitor 15 and transformer 14. Capacitor 15
delivers energy in pulses from capacitor 15 to transformer 14.
Capacitor 15 produces and delivers (at K) to transformer 14 from
0.75 to 10 joules in each pulse from capacitor 15. Transformer 14
delivers electrical energy in pulses to the first conducting unit.
Delivery system 28 contacts the target with at least a portion of
each of the first and second conducting units such that pulses
delivered from the first conducting unit to the target travel
through at least a portion of the skeletal muscles to the second
conducting unit, and produce contractions in the portion of the
skeletal muscles which prevents the use by the target of the
portion of the skeletal muscles.
[0037] An apparatus according to various aspects of the present
invention is used for preventing locomotion by a living target by
causing repeated involuntary contractions of skeletal muscles of
the target. Referring to FIG. 6B, the apparatus includes: a
housing; a first conducting unit; a second conducting unit; a power
supply, and a delivery system 28. The first conducting unit
transmits electrical energy in pulses from the first conducting
unit to the target. The second conducting unit transmits electrical
energy from the target to the apparatus. The power supply produces
electrical pulses which, if passed through a 1000 ohm resistor 27,
each would have a pulse width (at M) greater than about 10
microseconds and a current in excess of 100 milliamps. The delivery
system 28 contacts the target with at least a portion of each of
the first and second conducting units such that pulses delivered
from the first conducting unit to the target travel through at
least a portion of the skeletal muscles to the second conducting
unit and produce contractions in the portion of the skeletal
muscles which prevents the use by the target of the portion of the
skeletal muscles.
[0038] A method, according to various aspects of the present
invention, is used for preventing locomotion by a living target by
causing repeated involuntary contractions of skeletal muscles of
the target. The method includes providing an apparatus and
operating the activation system of the apparatus. The apparatus
includes the apparatus discussed above with reference to FIG. 6A
and further includes an activation system operable to activate the
power supply, the first conducting unit, the second conducting
unit, and the delivery system. The activation system is operated to
contact the target with the first conducting unit and the second
conducting unit, to deliver from the capacitor 15 to the
transformer 14 pulses (at K) each containing 0.75 to 10 joules, and
to deliver from the transformer to the first conducting unit
electrical energy in pulses.
[0039] The foregoing description discusses preferred embodiments of
the present invention which may be changed or modified without
departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the
claims. While for the sake of clarity of description, several
specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the
scope of the invention is intended to be measured by the claims as
set forth below.
* * * * *