Human physiologic changes with exposure to a new concept conducted electrical weapon

Abstract Axon Enterprise, Inc. has developed a new concept Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW). Instead of the traditional high-voltage, electrically paired 2- or 4-probe design, the new CEW uses a lower-voltage, variable waveform, floating probe polarity, independently targeted 10 probe design. With this design, electrical connections can occur between any probes. With 10 probes independently targeted and deployed, field efficacy should be higher than the traditional CEW designs. Additionally, the new CEW uses an ignitable primer system to propel the probes instead of the compressed gas in prior weapons. This, along with other incremental design changes such as thinner wires and a redesigned probe, should afford better accuracy at longer distances and better probe adherence. With the possibility of up to 10 probes on target (the current firmware limits the total connections between probes to 4), the possibility of anterior-posterior transthoracic connections, probes potentially rapidly alternating polarity, a waveform that can vary with load, and with higher velocity probes, this new CEW presents new areas for safety study. The authors used their previously published human physiology methodology to study 8-second exposures using different numbers of probes (up to 6; maximum 4 connections between probes) and connection locations. In our study, venous blood was drawn pre-exposure, immediately post-exposure, at 1 hour and at 24 hours post-exposure. Blood variables studied included potassium, pH, lactate, troponin, CK and catecholamines. EKGs were done immediately pre and post exposure and continuous spirometry was performed. There were 27 subjects in our study. There were no clinically significant blood marker changes except for modest changes in pH and lactate and catecholamines immediately post-exposure consistent with prior weapons and rises in CK which were similar to prior multi-shot weapons. The spirometry data had mixed results. There were no dysrhythmias, ectopy or ischemic changes on any EKGs.