Understanding Proper Probe Placement
Orienting the Active and Reference Electrodes
The operation of the Acuscope was designed to mimic the nervous system. In order to achieve this, the Active and Reference Electrodes must be applied correctly.
Generally speaking, our nerves conduct in two directions:
- Sensory signals and other feedback is conducted upward from the body to the brain.
- After analyzing that input, the brain sends instructions and influence that is conducted downward and out to the body.
This back and forth is repeated ceaselessly by our nervous system.
Mimicking the body, the Acuscope also moves current in two directions:
- During Feedback Mode, the Active Electrode has negative polarity, pulling biofeedback from the tissue into the Acuscope, and the Reference has positive polarity, pushing the current towards the Active.
- Once treatment is initiated, the polarity of the Electrodes reverses (the Active becomes positive and the Reference becomes negative) causing the corrective influence to move from the Active, through the tissue, towards the Reference.
The polarity of the Electrodes then continues to switch every 2 seconds during treatment, causing the current to repeatedly change direction, moving back and forth between Probe contact sites, repeatedly acquiring biofeedback, analyzing it, and sending a corrective influence.
When microcurrent will be directed vertically through the body, correct placement of the Active and Reference allows the Acuscope to mimic the nervous system, producing the best results:
- The Active Electrode is correctly placed when it is at the higher of the two locations (closer to the brain).
- The Reference Electrode is correctly placed at the lower of the two locations (farther from the brain, more distal).
With this orientation:
- Feedback moves (from Reference to Active) in the same direction as it does in the body—up and toward the brain.
- The feedback is then analyzed by the Acuscope and a corrective influence is sent (from Active to Reference) in the same direction it travels naturally—down and out to the body.
Understanding this concept, it is a simple matter to discern proper Probe placement. Just follow the path from the brain and through the two points being treated, applying Active and Reference to mimic the body’s natural pattern.
The Myopulse electrodes are placed in the same configuration; however, for different reasons.
When considering this aspect of the Myopulse, it is important to keep in mind that this instrument “expects” to deliver a corrective influence into the connective tissue while the microcurrent moves from muscle origin towards insertion; it is programmed to pick up biofeedback when the current is moving in the opposite direction.
Thus, as with the Acuscope, it is essential that Myopulse electrodes be placed accordingly, regardless of which choice of electrodes are being applied. For example, if a Mini-Plate placement electrode is attached near the origin of the hamstring muscle—up under the buttock—it should be plugged into the Active (red ring) jack; the other electrode may be placed further down, anywhere towards the insertion below, and plugged into the Reference (blue ring) jack.
When electrodes are placed in vertical position – up and down the arms or legs – we place the Active above, i.e., closer to the spine.
We must do this since the current moves out from both sides of the spine and down through the contiguous muscles of the limbs below. Both nerves (from the nerve roots) and muscles (from the origins of the paraspinals all along the spinal column) conduct microcurrents in the same pattern. So, if an electrode is next to the spine at or near the top thoracic vertebra, and another electrode is close to the elbow or wrist, which is plugged into the red “Active” jack?
Of course, the one above. It is closer to the spine, closer to the brain; closer to the muscle origins.
If applying the Acuscope using the two Large Plates (and Junction Box) placed under the two feet, and the other electrode, whatever it may be, is placed above, which is plugged into the blue “Reference” jack? Naturally, the one below—the LPU under the feet. (Note: the Junction Box converges the vast amount of biofeedback picked up from the two large bilateral plates under both feet into what the Acuscope perceives as a single Reference electrode).
When applying the Myopulse using one Large Plate (and Junction Bar) under one foot and the other electrode is placed somewhere above, similarly the Reference below is plugged into the blue, and the Active above into the red.
Feel free to call if this is still not perfectly clear to you. Knowing that the instruments’ programming is identical to the programming of brain and body is a very important factor for Acuscope and Myopulse Operators to understand, enabling the technology to operate efficiently and produce the fastest resolution, the best possible results.
It will still work if you place electrodes “upside down”, but why would you want to compromise its capability to operate most efficiently?
