A SURGICALLY IMPLANTABLE NERVE IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR INTERMITTENT DELIVERY OF DISSOLVED DRUGS - EVALUATION OF LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE AND HISTOCOMPATIBILITY IN RATS

A surgically implantable system designed to facilitate intermittent de livery of solutions of local anesthetic or other pharmacologically act ive substances to a segment of peripheral nerve was developed and its long-term performance and histocompatibility were tested in rats. Twen ty-two systems, each comprising a subcutaneous injection port, a silic one conduit, and a membranous perineural sheath, were implanted in 20 animals. Of the systems, 12 could be used to perform repeated local an esthetic nerve blocks for periods lasting from several weeks to as lon g as 13 months. The system is suitable for use in studies of periphera l nerve pharmacology and, with improvements, could find clinical use i n the management of peripheral neuralgia.