Customizable cap implants for neurophysiological experimentation

Jackson D Blonde; Megan Roussy; Rogelio Luna; Borna Mahmoudian; Roberto A Gulli; Kevin C Barker; Jonathan C Lau; Julio C Martinez-Trujillo

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.04.016

Customizable cap implants for neurophysiological experimentation

J Neurosci Methods. 2018 Jul 1:304:103-117. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.04.016. Epub 2018 Apr 22.

Authors

Jackson D Blonde¹, Megan Roussy², Rogelio Luna³, Borna Mahmoudian⁴, Roberto A Gulli⁵, Kevin C Barker⁶, Jonathan C Lau⁷, Julio C Martinez-Trujillo⁸

Affiliations

¹ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada; Neuronitek, 5846 William St., Lucan, ON, NOM 2J0, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, University Hospital, Western University, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., Room 7239, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 29694848
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.04.016

Abstract

Background: Several primate neurophysiology laboratories have adopted acrylic-free, custom-fit cranial implants. These implants are often comprised of titanium or plastic polymers, such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Titanium is favored for its mechanical strength and osseointegrative properties whereas PEEK is notable for its lightweight, machinability, and MRI compatibility. Recent titanium/PEEK implants have proven to be effective in minimizing infection and implant failure, thereby prolonging experiments and optimizing the scientific contribution of a single primate.

New method: We created novel, customizable PEEK 'cap' implants that contour to the primate's skull. The implants were created using MRI and/or CT data, SolidWorks software and CNC-machining.

Results: Three rhesus macaques were implanted with a PEEK cap implant. Head fixation and chronic recordings were successfully performed. Improvements in design and surgical technique solved issues of granulation tissue formation and headpost screw breakage.

Comparison with existing methods: Primate cranial implants have traditionally been fastened to the skull using acrylic and anchor screws. This technique is prone to skin recession, infection, and implant failure. More recent methods have used imaging data to create custom-fit titanium/PEEK implants with radially extending feet or vertical columns. Compared to our design, these implants are more surgically invasive over time, have less force distribution, and/or do not optimize the utilizable surface area of the skull.

Conclusions: Our PEEK cap implants served as an effective and affordable means to perform electrophysiological experimentation while reducing surgical invasiveness, providing increased strength, and optimizing useful surface area.

Keywords: Cranial; Customizable; Electrophysiology; Implant; Macaque; PEEK.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biocompatible Materials*
Brain / physiology*
Macaca mulatta
Neurophysiology / instrumentation*
Neurophysiology / methods*
Prostheses and Implants*
Skull

Substances

Biocompatible Materials

Grants and funding

CIHR/Canada