Standardizing nerve crushes with a non-serrated clamp

Standardized experimental nerve crush attempts should include the number, d uration, and intensity (amount of pressure) of crushes. The authors have de veloped a new crushing device, a clamp with which predetermined forces can be applied to nerves. This allows the exertion of different, standardized f orces to crush a nerve within a scale that produces second-degree injuries. The main advantages of the clamp are that it is small, although very robus t, is purely mechanical, and is easy to handle. The jaws of the clamp are n ot serrated, so that pressure on the nerve is uniformly transmitted. To avo id unintended nerve damage, the edges of the jaws are smoothly rounded off. The closure of the clamp is mechanized by a spring. As the spring is excha ngeable, any number of different preloads are available. The force can be v aried, according to different requirements, and is applicable to variantly thick nerves in any experimental animal, thus enhancing standardization, an d making cross-over comparisons of experimental study results possible.