An affordable implantable vagus nerve stimulator system for use in animal research

Abstract

In this research, a vagus nerve stimulator has been developed and miniaturized for use in epilepsy research. The board contains all the components necessary for its operation during the standard duration of the experiments, being possible to control it once implanted and even being able to reuse it. The VNS system has been designed for rodents since the VNS devices available for human are not only too large for laboratory animals, but also too expensive. With this solution the expenditure on materials made by laboratories is greatly reduced and bioethical considerations were kept in mind. The system was validated in hamsters. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Advanced neurotechnologies: translating innovation for health and well-being’.

Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on the GASH/Sal Audiogenic-Seizure-Prone Hamster

“…From our perspective, the experimental model reported here has advantages over other models of VNS described in the literature [ 38 , 53 ]. First, it is a model that uses an implantable stimulation system [ 54 ], with the rodent moving about freely, thus removing the need for external stimulation and/or sedation. Second, it allows for the use of clinical parameters or the exploration of novel paradigms, as well as intermittent chronic stimulation over time, as performed clinically, not just for a few hours or minutes a day.…”

“…Second, it allows for the use of clinical parameters or the exploration of novel paradigms, as well as intermittent chronic stimulation over time, as performed clinically, not just for a few hours or minutes a day. In addition, it offers the possibility to conduct studies that last for months, given that it is estimated that the autonomy of the designed VNS device is of about a year, and the neurostimulation device, because it is small, is much more tolerable for the animal [ 54 ].…”

“…The hamsters (n = 28) were divided into three groups: the first one involved GASH/Sal treated with chronic VNS using a clinically available neurostimulation device (Group 1, n = 13). The second group involved GASH/Sal that received the same treatment, but the neuromodulation device used was specifically designed for small laboratory animals [ 54 ] (Group 2, n = 8). Finally, the VNS system designed was implanted in a third set of GASH/Sal, but it was switched off (SHAM group, n = 7).…”

“…Surgery was performed using inhalation anesthesia under the surgical microscope, as described previously [ 54 ]. The left cervical vagus nerve was dissected and a sterile micropatch was placed around it.…”

Preface to ‘Advanced neurotechnologies: translating innovation for health and well-being’

“…Ángel Canal-Alonso et al developed a miniaturized vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) for application in epilepsy research for laboratory animals as the available VNS devices for human are not only expensive for animal research but also too large [ 9 ]. The proposed device reduces the expenditure and was validated in hamsters.…”