Aug 14, 2025
Maintenance of the Recording Chamber in Non-Human Primates (Cleaning and Dura Scraping)
- Jack Kettering1,
- Moya Carrier1,
- Machiko Ohbayashi1
- 1Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh
Protocol Citation: Jack Kettering, Moya Carrier, Machiko Ohbayashi 2025. Maintenance of the Recording Chamber in Non-Human Primates (Cleaning and Dura Scraping). protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx496ol8j/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: August 12, 2025
Last Modified: August 14, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 224580
Keywords: Non-human primate, Chamber cleaning, Electrophysiology, craniotomy, recording chamber, dura scraping, procedure, maintenance, maintenance of the recording chamber, routine chamber cleaning, implanted recording chamber, using sterile technique, sterile technique, craniotomy, regular cleaning, occasional dura scraping, cleaning, recording chamber, dura scraping, infection, procedure, human primate, maintenance
Funders Acknowledgements:
NIH
Grant ID: R01NS129551
NIH
Grant ID: R21NS101499
The Brain Sciences Project of the CNSI & NINS
Grant ID: BS291006
Abstract
Following a craniotomy with an implanted recording chamber, regular cleaning (1-3 times per week) using sterile technique is essential to prevent infection. This protocol describes two procedures for maintaining the chamber in a healthy condition: (1) routine chamber cleaning and (2) occasional dura scraping.
Materials
Chamber cleaning kit:
All items (1-8) should be wrapped in the sterilization wrap (9) and sterilized in the EO gas.
| Item | Specification | Vendor | Reference number | Quantity | |
| Beaker | 150 mL | Fisher Scientific | FB100150 | 1 | |
| Beaker | 100 mL | Fisher Scientific | FB100100 | 1 | |
| Q Tip | Pointed | McKesson | 207841 | 5 | |
| Q Tip | Rounded | McKesson | 508716 | 5 | |
| Gauze | 2x2 inch | McKesson | 446034 | 3 | |
| Forceps | Straight | World Precision Instruments | 15914 | 1 | |
| Forceps | Curved | World Precision Instruments | 504478 | 1 | |
| Syringe for Suction | 1 mL | 2 | |||
| Sterilization Wrap | McKesson | 11156117 | 1 |
Consumable items:
| Item | Specification | Vendor | Reference number | |
| Vacuum Canister | 800 ml | McKesson | 544102 | |
| Fluid Solidifier | 1500 cc | McKesson | 1152097 | |
| Suction Tubing | McKesson | 649126 | ||
| Sodium Chloride Irrigation Solution | 0.9% | McKesson | 733255 | |
| Dakin’s Wound Cleanser Solution | 16 oz, Full Strength | McKesson | 479746 | |
| Betadine Prep Pads | McKesson | 632679 | ||
| Alcohol Prep Pads | McKesson | 191089 |
Devices:
| Item | Vendor | Model | |
| EO Gas Sterilizer | Anderson | ||
| Vacuum Pump | McKesson | Suction Pump DeVilbiss |
Tools for dura scraping kit:
| Item | Specifications | Vendor | Reference number | |
| König Woodson Neurosurgical Elevators | Medline | MDG1134118 | ||
| Excavator Spoon | #1 and #153-154 | Nordent Instruments | ||
| Adson-Brown Forceps | Fine Science Tools | 11627-12 | ||
| Dumont Forceps | #7 | Fine Science Tools | 11252-20 | |
| Vannas Tubingen Scissors | 3’’ | World Precision Instruments | 504499 |
Items for skin margin cleaning:
| Item | Vendor | Reference Number | |
| Chlorhexidine | Patterson | 11584915 | |
| Betadine | McKesson | 911740 | |
| Gauze | McKesson | 446034 |
Troubleshooting
Before start
This protocol requires prior approval from the users' Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or an equivalent ethics committee.
Routine Maintenance of the Implanted Chamber
Prepare the workplace: Disinfect the work surface using disposable disinfecting wipes. Prepare the following items: alcohol pads, Betadine pads, sterile saline, Dakin’s or Betadine solution, and a sterile pack containing gauze, pointed and rounded Q-tips, two suction syringes, 100 mL beaker, 150 mL beaker, straight and curved forceps.
Chair the animal: Securing the animal in the chair, ensuring the arms and head are properly stabilized.
Set up sterile field: Open the chamber cleaning kit, handling the outside of the sterilization wrap. Once laid flat, the top side of the wrap serves as the sterile field. Non-sterile gloves may be used to handle the outside of beakers and forceps, but all other sterile items must be picked up with sterile forceps.
Prepare solutions: Pour sterile saline and either Dakin’s solution or diluted Betadine into sterile beakers.
Clean the surface of the implant: Wipe the surface of the implanted chamber and the head cap first with Betadine wipes, followed by alcohol pads.
Remove the chamber cap: Carefully release internal pressure by removing the screw from the small hole at the center of the cap before opening it.
Remove fluids: Suction out any existing fluid from inside of the chamber, then rinse thoroughly with saline.
Clean inside of the chamber: Wipe inside of the chamber with Q-tips or sterile gauze and gently remove the granulation tissue if there is any.
Apply antiseptic solution: Fill the chamber with Dakin’s solution or diluted Betadine. Do not overfill to avoid overflow.
Clean inner walls: Use Q-tips soaked in Dakin’s solution or dilute betadine to wipe areas, especially in areas not reached by the liquid.
Disinfect outer surface: While the Dakin’s solution or dilute betadine sits (~ 5 min), clean the external surface of the chamber using alcohol pads and pointed Q-tips.
Rinse chamber: Suction out the solution and rinse the chamber with saline more than twice to ensure Dakin’s/betadine solution is removed.
Replace chamber cap: Place a sterile chamber cap on the chamber. Place by tightening the side screws first, followed by the top screw at the center of the cap.
Clean the skin margin as needed: Clean the margin of the skin with the aseptic solution such as Clohexidine or betadine and treat the area using Triple antibiotic ointment as needed.
Occasional Maintenance of the Implanted Chamber (Dura scraping)
Light sedation: Lightly sedate the animal as needed.
Standard cleaning: Perform the routine chamber cleaning steps outlined above.
Prepare dura scraping tools: Open the dura scraping instruments using sterile technique.
Scrape dura under microscope: Under the microscope, carefully remove fibrous tissue from the dura surface using an excavator, taking care not to damage the dura.
Rinse chamber: Thoroughly rinse inside of the chamber with sterile saline to remove debris and flush away minor bleeding.
Close the chamber: Replace the cap as described above.
Post-procedure care: Administer appropriate pain management medication to the animal (e.g., ketofen, IM).