Over-Penetration Risk of TASER 10 Conducted Electrical Weapon Darts in Humans

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Law Enforcement Technology

Background:

• The TASER™ T10® (T10) is a novel conducted electrical weapon (CEW) introduced in 2023.
• The T10 features advanced deployed darts with thin-diameter, low-profile projectiles.
• These darts utilize primer-ignited black-powder propulsion, differing from previous compressed nitrogen systems, and are launched at higher muzzle velocities for improved target adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety of the new TASER™ T10® (T10) conducted electrical weapon (CEW) darts.
• To assess the risk of human tissue over-penetration at various velocities.
• To determine the safety margin of T10 darts when fired into human tissue.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of digital images of human tissue subjected to 40 T10 dart impacts.
• Projectile velocities were measured between 186 and 273 feet per second (56.7- 83.2m/s) using a ballistic chronograph.
• Target sites included bare skin on the lower abdomen, mid-thigh, and buttocks.

Main Results:

• No instances of over-penetration were observed in any of the human tissue samples.
• The T10 darts were fired at velocities within the tested range, simulating intended use.
• The study confirmed that even at the highest tested velocities, tissue penetration was not excessive.

Conclusions:

• The new T10 CEW darts demonstrate a significant margin of safety regarding muzzle velocity.
• The risk of human tissue over-penetration is low when T10 darts are fired as intended into recommended target areas.
• The T10 system's dart technology appears safe for law enforcement applications within specified parameters.