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Recent refinements to cranial implants for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Lab Animal volume 45, pages 180–186 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

The advent of cranial implants revolutionized primate neurophysiological research because they allow researchers to stably record neural activity from monkeys during active behavior. Cranial implants have improved over the years since their introduction, but chronic implants still increase the risk for medical complications including bacterial contamination and resultant infection, chronic inflammation, bone and tissue loss and complications related to the use of dental acrylic. These complications can lead to implant failure and early termination of study protocols. In an effort to reduce complications, we describe several refinements that have helped us improve cranial implants and the wellbeing of implanted primates.

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Figure 1: MRI-based 3D images for implants.
Figure 2: Example 3D-printed model, made from MRI images of a macaque's skull and used for realistic surgical planning.
Figure 3: Fiducial marker array mounted to a dental imprint platform (Rogue Research, Montreal, Canada).
Figure 4: Adjustable surgical chair (Rogue Research, Montreal, Canada) that provides accessibility for the surgeon and for anesthesiology equipment.
Figure 5: C-clamp (Rogue Research, Montreal, Canada) used to fix the head in position for MRI-guided surgery without a stereotaxic frame.
Figure 6: Example of a custom-fitted titanium recording chamber (Rogue Research, Montreal, Canada).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Jessica M. Johnston

  2. University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Jessica M. Johnston & Christin L. Veeder

  3. Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Neuroscience, and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Yale E. Cohen

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Harry Shirley, Joji Tsunada & Sharath Bennur

  5. Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Kate Christison-Lagay

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Correspondence to Christin L. Veeder.

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Johnston, J., Cohen, Y., Shirley, H. et al. Recent refinements to cranial implants for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Lab Anim 45, 180–186 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.997

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