# US 2014/0153153 A1 · Systems And Methods For Electrodes And Coupling Structures For Electronic Weaponry

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- Number: US 2014/0153153 A1
- Document ID: US20140153153A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/176,987
- Filed: 2014-02-10
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-23
- Assignees: TASER International, Inc.
- Applicants: TASER International, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark A. Hanchett; Douglas J. Landers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153153A1

## CPC

- F41H 13/0025: {for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target}
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL

## 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.

## Claims

### 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 comprises
a tip that pierces the target;
a first surface to lodge the electrode in the target; and
a second surface to lodge the electrode in the target; wherein
the first surface is located closer to the tip than the second surface is located from the tip.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the electrode further comprises a shaft; and
the tip, the first surface, and the second surface are integral with the shaft;

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the electrode further comprises a third surface to lodge the electrode in the target; and
the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface are arranged in circular symmetry about an axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the first surface is part of a first barb; and
the second surface is part of a second barb.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The deployment unit of claim 4 wherein:
the electrode further comprises a shaft comprising a surface of the shaft; and
the first barb and the second barb are part of an irregularity of the surface of the shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The deployment unit of claim 4 wherein:
the electrode further comprises a spear comprising a continuous surface; and
the continuous surface includes the first barb and the second barb.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein the electrode further comprises an undulation that increases friction between the second surface and the target.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the electrode comprises a shaft; and
the second surface is assembled onto the shaft.