J, T. MORTIMER AND P. H. PECKHAM 
1193 
Figure 4. — Lead wire coils being held open for connection with intramuscular electrode. 
tic Medical Grade A Adhesive is applied to the 
end of the lead wire and electrode junction. The 
insulation of the lead wire is then slid down 
over the connection. The adhesive acts to bond 
j the insulation to the lead and electrode while 
; providing some strain relief for the electrode 
' at the junction. Tying the insulation with 1-0 
silk will secure the insulated tubing while the 
! adhesive is setting. The heavier silk is necessary 
to avoid cutting through the insulation. Two su- 
I tures are then placed in the superficial portion 
j of the muscle to secure the electrode-lead junc- 
tion to the tissue and to prevent accidental dis- 
placement. The incision is then closed by first 
I suturing together the deep fascia over the elec- 
trode and lead with 4-0 to 6-0 gut suture. Clos- 
ing the fascia eliminates most relative move- 
ment of the superficial tissue over the electrode 
minimizing the possibilities of electrode dis- 
j lodgement or breakage. The skin incision is 
then routinely closed. 
Threading the lead wire beneath the skin to 
the interface area is accomplished by pushing a 
small blunt rod or probe (available from Cod- 
man — Surtleff, Inc.) from the muscle incision 
to an incision on the back of the animal through 
the subcutaneous space. Attaching the lead wire 
to the trailing end of the blunt probe allows 
the wire to be drawn easily between incision 
sites. The same procedure is repeated to draw 
the wire from the incision on the back to the 
interface incision. This final incision is approxi- 
mately 2 cm long and is made 1 cm caudal to the 
inion of the skull. Securing the lead wire to 
the masculature of the back with silk sutures 
at the back incision site is advisable as it helps 
to prevent stress on the lead wire which could 
dislodge the electrode from the muscle. The 
anode electrode is usually much larger than the 
stimulating electrode and can be located at any 
point on the back of the animal. Securing the 
anode electrode by silk suture is recommended. 
