Brain cannula implant
Cost: $117 before Hope Center member subsidy.
Included:
- Procedure.
- MRE tubing.
- Some post-operative care.
- Initial preparation of DCM post surgical cards.
Not included:
- Brain Infusion Kit. Both Alzet and Plastics One offer kits for sale.
- DCM post surgical card completion.
- Post Operative Care. Additional charges apply if you would like surgery core staff to provide care to your animals after the surgical recovery period.
- DCM Housing costs.
Post-operative care
This procedure will cause the rodent to experience a moderate pain level. Your animal will be given buprenorphine SR, which will provide pain relief for 72 hours.
The following is the responsibility of the client and not included in procedure price.
For an additional fee, surgery core personnel will complete the following tasks and fill out the required DCM documentation (surgical record cards).
For manual infusion you will need to clean the cannula with 70% alcohol prior to use. For surgeries where the cannula is connected to an osmotic pump, please follow the osmotic pump guide as well.
Rodent post-surgical monitoring card.
Required for every surgical procedure, is the responsibility of the researcher and must be kept for 2 years.
Card Instructions
- Monitor for 12-24 hours for signs of pain and distress such as shaking, lethargy, chewing of tail, arched back, lack of grooming, etc.
- Check surgical wounds for infection and that the cannula is clean.
- Mark the green card daily for 2 time points and note the date sutures are removed on the front of the card. The card must remain on the cage until the sutures are removed in 7-10 days.
- Keep the card for 2 years.
Special instructions card
Multi-purpose PI instructions to caretaker. Examples include fasting, special feed, special water, single housing, do not change cage, euthanasia, or other request as noted.
Card Instructions
- House individually.
- To minimize strain during eating and drinking, provide moist food and water on the cage floor for the first week.
- Provide a cage with enough height that the cannula can’t touch the top of the cage.
Hazardous materials card
Required if infusing hazardous substances.
Card Instructions
Place the animal in a clean cage after it recovers from surgery.
DCM will not change the cage or directly handle any animals that have been exposed to hazardous materials while the red card is on the cage. They will add food or water as necessary. The experimenter is responsible for changing the cage until the card is removed 3 days after the last administration of the hazardous compound.
Once the red card is removed, change the cage and place soiled cage into an autoclave or biohazard bag. Ask your animal facility staff where they want the cage left for disinfection.