Taser & Heart Pacemakers

[Don]

Reply from St Jude Medical, manufacturer of medical devices:

" Anytime an electrical current is applied to the body, there is a potential for it to have a temporary effect on the pacemaker. Cardiac pacemakers are electronic devices with sensing circuits designed to detect small electrical signals from inside of the heart. Pacemakers have the potential to detect extraneous electrical signals from sources other than the heart and can incorrectly interpret these signals as intrinsic activity of the heart. The effect could be inhibition of the pacemaker, resulting in no output to the patient’s heart, or reversion to asynchronous pacing. This should be a transient effect when the taser is actively shocking. When the shock ends the pacemaker should return to normal function.

Of more concern, however, is the potential for the 3/8” needlepoint of the air taser could potentially make contact with the pulse generator case or the leads upon penetration of the patient’s body. If this occurs, the electrical current could then be transmitted directly from the probes to the pulse generator or leads. We have not evaluated the air taser to see if pacer reprogramming or damage would result. However, we cannot rule out that possibility.

If you need additional information or would like to discuss this subject further, please call Technical Services at 1-800-722-3774. "