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A fully implantable bolus injector for biotelemetric studies
Author(s) -
Axelsson Michael,
Pitsillides Koullis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.812.7
Subject(s) - injector , bolus (digestion) , biotelemetry , pressure sensor , biomedical engineering , telemetry , anesthesia , medicine , surgery , computer science , mechanical engineering , engineering , telecommunications
Pharmacological studies in freely moving animals equipped with telemetric systems is hampered by the lack of exteriorized catheters for administrating pharmacological substances or have to rely on slow infusion‐ or mini‐osmotic pumps. To overcome this limitation a fully implantable bolus injector was developed. The injector can be activated remotely when used in conjunction with the EndoGear (Endosomatic Systems Inc, CA, USA) series of implantable biotelemetry systems. The pressure and flow generating capacity of the injector were measured at 4 different output pressures (0, 5, 10 and 15 kPa). Pressure and flow were recorded using a pressure transducer (DPT‐6100, pvb Medizintechnik, Germany) and an in‐line, flow‐through transit time flow probe with an internal diameter of 1 mm (Transonic Systems Inc, USA). The results show that the injection time, here defined as the time between the injector activation time and the time when flow dropped back below 0.5 ml min −1 is pressure sensitive and the injection time at 15 kPa is 3.2 seconds longer than at 0 kPa. The injection time at 15kPa output pressure is still just above 10 sec and well within the specifications for safe and acceptable bolus injection times. The remote control of the injector by the EndoGear implantable biotelemetry system makes this a useful tool for pharmacological studies in freely moving animals, without disturbing the animals.