C-BNC-SE

Sleeve Electrode
Also referred to as A-SE-100.

The C-BNC-SE is a stimulating electrode assembly that can be placed on a nerve that is still located within the experimental animal.  The probe, with its two silver wire electrodes, is held on the nerve by a soft plastic sleeve that presses the nerve against the electrodes for improved conductivity.  This type of electrode allows studies involving nerves and muscles to be conducted on sensitive tissue without the need for traumatic removal of the tissue from the specimen

How It Works
The C-BNC-SE sleeve electrode assembly has two main components.  An electrode assembly with a two silver electrodes that ring either end of the probe; and a sleeve that is placed around the nerve to hold the electrodes against the nerve when the sleeve is slid over the electrodes.  The stimulating current easily flows from the electrode connected to the positive stimulator output to the electrode connected to the negative stimulator output.  When the current flowing between the electrodes is high enough to raise the membrane potential of an axon above its threshold voltage, the axon will develop an action potential.  Ultimately, the action potential moves down the axon and causes the release of neurotransmitter that causes a change in the membrane potential of the muscle cell on the other side of the synapse and a muscle fiber contraction. Put together a group of axons stimulated through the A-SE-100 at the same time, and more muscle fibers contract to create a larger muscle contraction