Custom-fit radiolucent cranial implants for neurophysiological recording and stimulation
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Desimone_Custom-fit.pdf
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Author(s)
Mulliken, Grant H.
Bichot, Narcisse Pascal
Ghadooshahy, Azriel Sion
Sharma, Jitendra
Kornblith, Simon John
Philcock, Michael
Desimone, Robert
Date Issued
December 2014
Journal
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Mulliken, Grant H., Narcisse P. Bichot, Azriel Ghadooshahy, Jitendra Sharma, Simon Kornblith, Michael Philcock, and Robert Desimone. “Custom-Fit Radiolucent Cranial Implants for Neurophysiological Recording and Stimulation.” Journal of Neuroscience Methods 241 (February 2015): 146-154.
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Background:
Recording and manipulating neural activity in awake behaving animal models requires long-term implantation of cranial implants that must address a variety of design considerations, which include preventing infection, minimizing tissue damage, mechanical strength of the implant, and MRI compatibility.
New method:
Here we address these issues by designing legless, custom-fit cranial implants using structural MRI-based reconstruction of the skull and that are made from carbon-reinforced PEEK.
Results:
We report several novel custom-fit radiolucent implant designs, which include a legless recording chamber, a legless stimulation chamber, a multi-channel microdrive and a head post. The fit to the skull was excellent in all cases, with no visible gaps between the base of the implants and the skull. The wound margin was minimal in size and showed no sign of infection or skin recession.
Comparison with existing methods:
Cranial implants used for neurophysiological investigation in awake behaving animals often employ methyl methacrylate (MMA) to serve as a bonding agent to secure the implant to the skull. Other designs rely on radially extending legs to secure the implant. Both of these methods have significant drawbacks. MMA is toxic to bone and frequently leads to infection while radially extending legs cause the skin to recede away from the implant, ultimately exposing bone and proliferating granulation tissue.
Conclusions:
These radiolucent implants constitute a set of technologies suitable for reliable long-term recording, which minimize infection and tissue damage.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.12.011
