Systems And Methods For Electrodes And Coupling Structures For Electronic Weaponry

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.   
     
     
         2 . 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; 
 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
 
     
     
         6 . 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. 
 
     
     
         7 . The deployment unit of  claim 1  wherein the electrode further comprises an undulation that increases friction between the second surface and the target. 
     
     
         8 . The deployment unit of  claim 1  wherein:
 the electrode comprises a shaft; and 
 the second surface is assembled onto the shaft.