Stun device testing apparatus and methods

Abstract

A method of testing an electric discharge stun device includes the steps of identifying a stun device to be tested and absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester. The discharge is characterized by a discharge characteristic that is then compared automatically to information such as (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device or (b) a corresponding characteristic associated with a prior discharge of at least one other stun device. The characteristic can be a waveform, a peak voltage, duration, current, joule, and temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of testing an electric discharge stun device, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying a stun device to be tested;   absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester, the discharge comprising a discharge characteristic; and   comparing automatically the discharge characteristic to information comprising at least one of (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device and (b) a known corresponding characteristic associated with a discharge of at least one other stun device,   wherein the discharge characteristic, the previous corresponding characteristic, and the known corresponding characteristic each comprise at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step comprises the step of accessing the information from a storage medium remote from the tester. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step comprises the step of accessing the information from a storage medium associated with the tester. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of reading an identifier associated with the stun device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification step comprises identifying the stun device based on an analysis of the discharge characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other stun device comprises a plurality of stun devices. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying at least one of an individual associated with the stun device and an individual conducting the test. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing information comprising the characteristic of the discharge. 
     
     
         9 . A method of ensuring proper operation of a stun device prior to a subsequent discharge against a mammalian target, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying a stun device to be tested;   absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester; and   authorizing the subsequent discharge based at least in part on a successful comparison of a discharge characteristic associated with the discharge to information comprising at least one of (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device and (b) a known corresponding characteristic associated with a discharge of at least one stun device,   wherein the discharge characteristic, the previous corresponding characteristic, and the known corresponding characteristic each comprise at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the authorizing step comprises enabling the stun device to provide the subsequent discharge. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of storing information comprising the characteristic of the discharge in a storage medium. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the storage medium is remote from the tester. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the storage medium is associated with the tester. 
     
     
         14 . A tester for testing an electric discharge stun device, the tester comprising:
 a stun device contact element for receiving a discharge from a stun device;   a circuit connected to the contact element;   a first storage medium for storing information corresponding to at least one of the stun device and the discharge from the stun device;   a second storage medium for storing information regarding a known electrical discharge, wherein the information in the first storage medium and the second storage medium comprises at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature;   a processor connected to the circuit for comparing information in the first storage medium to information in the second storage medium; and   a stun device identification element connected to the processor.   
     
     
         15 . The tester of  claim 14 , wherein the first storage medium includes the second storage medium. 
     
     
         16 . A method of determining a biological response to an electrical discharge from a stun device, the method comprising the steps of:
 absorbing the electrical discharge from the stun device into a tester, the discharge comprising a discharge characteristic;   comparing automatically the discharge characteristic to a corresponding discharge characteristic associated with a known electrical discharge, wherein the discharge characteristic comprises at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature; and   determining automatically an expected biological response based at least in part on the comparison.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the determining step comprises obtaining information regarding a biological response to the known electrical discharge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biological response is selected from the group consisting of no response, partial tetany, substantially complete tetany, tetany, and cellular damage.