Minnesota Wire and Cable Company shipped a special batch of its medical ultraflex stim leads to Key West, Florida earlier this year after several whales had washed ashore with back problems.

When beached, the whales' spines stiffen into an S-curve, making it impossible for them to swim and escape from sharks.

The firm's specially made, 10-foot medical grade wires were attached to 1,400-pound whales and used by Electro-Med Health Industries and Seaquarium of Miami to send electronic impulses to the whales' back muscles.

"The stimulation affects the spine," said Minnesota Wire's Vice President of Administration Joan Thompson. "They do the same thing in sports medicine on humans." However this is the first time the firm has shipped medical-grade wire for use on whales, she said.

Apparently the procedure was successful. On July 19, two of the whales were returned to their ocean home.
(From Minneapolis/St. Paul City Business.)