Patent ID: 8724287

Claim:
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 spear comprising a shaft and a tip wherein a longitudinal axis passes through the shaft; and a plurality of barbs to lodge in the target, each barb at a respective distance along the axis from the tip, the respective distances forming a plurality of distances wherein at least one distance is greater than the remaining distances of the plurality of distances.