TITLE: Maintenance of the recording chamber for non-human primate (Chamber cleaning and dura scraping)
AUTHORS: Devin R Harsch, Daisuke Kase, Witold J Lipski, Robert S Turner

[DESCRIPTION]
Once a craniotomy has been done in the chamber, the inside of the chamber must be cleaned regularly (2-3 times per week) to prevent infection. This protocol explains two procedures to maintain the recording chamber in a healthy condition:(1) chamber cleaning and (2) dura scraping.





[STEPS]
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
1. Wipe the desk with disposable disinfection wipes, then check if you have all items.
  

SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
2. Open the chamber cleaning kit as instructed in the sub-steps below, and arrange the tools on the sterilization wrap.

 

  

SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
3. Chair the animal and secure the head.

 

SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
4. Clean the surface of the implants and chambers with disinfecting wipes.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
5. Open the chamber cap, and place it in the hydrogen peroxide.


 


SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
7. Rinse inside the chamber with saline.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
8. Wipe the inner wall of the chamber with Q-tips.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
10. Fill the chamber with Dakin’s solution or Betadine.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
11. Wipe the inner wall and top of the chamber using the Q-tips, especially the part where the filled Dakin’s solution or Betadine does not reach (This happens regularly when the chamber is tilted).



SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
12. Suction the Dakin’s solution or Betadine from the chamber, fill the chamber with Dakin or Betadine once again.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
13. If the chamber can be sterilized in a bead sterilizer, wipe the chamber cap in the hydrogen peroxide and put it in the bead sterilizer.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
14. Wait for at least 5 minutes.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
15. Suction the Dakin’s solution or Betadine from chamber, rinse the chamber with Saline twice
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
16. If the chamber cap is hot in the bead sterilizer, transfer the cap from the sterilizer to the saline beaker.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
17. Put an O-ring on the chamber.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
18. Put the sterile chamber cap back on the chamber and tighten the screws on the cap.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
2.1. Carefully make a sterile surface with the sterilization wrap and arrange the tools (see an image above).
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
2.2. Pour saline and Dakin’s solution or Betadine into the sterile beakers.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
2.3. Pour hydrogen peroxide into a non-sterile beaker.
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
19. Clean the chamber as described above.



SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
20. Fill the chamber with saline to prevent the surface tissue from drying.
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
21. Cover the edge of the chamber with sterile drape to reduce the reflection of light from surgical microscope.

 

SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
24. Start scraping the tissue from the inner edge of the chamber with the excavator spoon. This should be done slowly and carefully. The vascularized tissue tends to bleed profusely.

 

SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
25. Rinse with saline as needed to flush the blood.
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
26. Stop before the lowest layer of dura is observed (slightly shiny and resembles the fascia of a chicken). If you use a piercing guide in the recording, you don't need to scrape the tissue until you see the lower layer.
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
28. Treat the animal with pain medication. We use ketofen (2 mg/kg, IM).
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
23. Sedate the animal.

 

SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
27. Rinse with saline, then put the O-ring and cap.
SECTION: Occasional maintenance of recording chamber (Dura scraping)
22. Open the dura scraping kit on the table.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
9. Wipe the outer wall of the chamber with disinfectant wipes.
SECTION: Daily maintenance of recording chamber (Chamber cleaning)
6. If the chamber cap can be sterilized in the beads sterilizer, put it in the beads sterilizer.