The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is an academic center affiliated with the Division of Toxicological Sciences in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Research Grants 2008-2009

A Closed-Head Recording Device for Neurologic Studies in Laboratory Animals

Lisa Krugner-Higby DVM, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin

The ultimate goal of this research is to produce a fully implantable, wireless, intercranial device that can replace open-chambered head caps in most neurologic research applications in animals. A fully-implantable, wireless device would mean that the implant would not be open to the environment, would be more comfortable for the animal, and the fact that it is wireless would mean that animals would not need to be restrained in order to record electrical activity from the brain. In order to achieve this ultimate goal, it is necessary to achieve many intermediate steps. In the previous year of funding, implants were designed, constructed and tested in terminal experiments in rhesus monkeys. Implants suitable for use in rats were also designed and constructed. In the second year of funding, the implant for use in rhesus will be modified for complete wireless operation. This prototype wireless device will be tested in anesthetized animals given several common pain relief drugs. The recording device for use in rats will be implanted in anesthetized rats and recordings made to test the device prior to designing a smaller wireless system that could be used in the smaller species. All of these preliminary tests will be made in anesthetized animals that will not be allowed to recover. Additional funds from other sources will be sought in order to conduct tests of the wireless implant in animals that were fully awake. Eventually, the wireless form of the device will be made available to the research community.