ALZET Accessories
When using ALZET osmotic pumps for intravenous, intra-arterial, intracerebral, or targeted delivery to a tissue or organ, catheter tubing and/or other surgical materials may be needed. A list of potential vendors follows:
Catheter Tubing
When performing intravenous, intra-arterial, or other targeted delivery studies with ALZET osmotic pumps, it will be necessary to obtain catheter tubing. The gauges of polyethylene and vinyl tubing which fit the ALZET osmotic pump flow moderator are listed below. Other types of tubing can also be used.
Polyethylene Tubing
Medical grade polyethylene tubing is available in many sizes from most laboratory supply houses. Two sizes are commonly used with the pumps: PE-50 and PE-60. However, the larger sized (PE-60) is generally preferred. DURECT Corporation sells sterile catheter tubing (PE-60), pre-cut to 15 cm lengths, and individually packaged.
Size I.D. O.D. Supplier Order Number PE-60 0.030 in.
(0.72 mm)
0.048 in.
(1.14 mm)
DURECT Corp
0007750 PE-50 0.023 in.
(0.58 mm)
0.038 in.
(0.99 mm)
Scientific Commodities Inc. BB31695-PE/3
Vinyl Tubing
Medical grade vinyl tubing has superior flexibility and attachment properties, hence may be better suited for some ICV applications. DURECT Corporation sells sterile catheter tubing (PE-60), pre-cut to 15 cm lengths, and individually packaged.
Size I.D. O.D. Supplier Order Number V/3 0.023 in.
(0.58 mm)
0.039 in.
(0.99 mm)
Scientific Commodities Inc. BB31785-V/3 V/3A 0.027 in.
(0.69 mm)
0.045 in.
(1.14 mm)
DURECT Corp
0007760 V/4 0.030 in.
(0.76 mm)
0.048 in.
(1.22 mm)
Scientific Commodities Inc. BB31785-V/4
Intra-arterial / Intravenous Applications
For intra-arterial or intravenous applications in small vessels or for connection to fine cannulae, PE-60 tubing can be drawn out over a heat source to a very small size. Alternatively, very fine polyethylene tubing can be glued inside PE-60 or cemented directly into the flow moderator. One example of such tubing is Intramedic® tubing, available from:
Scientific Commodities Inc.
P.O. Box 2458, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405
(800) 331-7724
(928) 855-0150 (fax)
e-mail: scisomm@ctaz.comFisher Scientific
P.O. Box 58056, Santa Clara, CA 95050
(800) 766-7000
(800) 926-1166 (fax)
(408) 727-4905 (fax)
Size I.D. O.D. SCI Catalog Number Fisher Catalog Number PE-10 0.011 in.
(0.28 mm)
0.025 in.
(0.64 mm)
BB31695-PE/1 14-170-12P
Handbook of Pre-clinical Continuous Intravenous Infusion
Edited by Guy Healing and David Smith, Taylor & Francis, 2000.
This book provides an excellent overview of surgical procedures, equipment, and practical tips for conducting intravenous infusion studies in various laboratory animal species. Researchers across multiple scientific disciplines will find that this handbook contains the information and guidance necessary to conduct more efficient and accurate studies. An entire chapter from this book (Chapter 21) is dedicated to "The use of ALZET mini-pumps in continuous infusion studies". This chapter offers an excellent overview on the use of ALZET mini-pumps in pre-clinical pharmacology and toxicology studies. It also offers detailed surgical procedures and tips for jugular vessel cannulation in rodents. This book is available from Braintree Scientific Inc. and Amazon.com.
Wound Clips or Staples
Wound clips, or staples are frequently used for the closure of surgical incisions and wounds in laboratory animals. Wound clips provide a rapid and convenient method to securely close the surgical incisions made for implantation of ALZET pumps. After the incision is completely healed, the clips can be easily removed with the use of surgical forceps, or clip removers. Convenient wound closing kits, and wound clips are available from the following vendors:
Stoelting Co. (EZ Clip Wound Closing Kit: Product No. 59020)
620 Wheat Lane, Wood Dale, IL 60191
(630) 860-9700
(630) 860-9775 (fax)
e-mail: physiology@stoeltingco.comBraintree Scientific, Inc. (Autoclip Wound Closing System)
(781) 843-2202
e-mail: info@braintreesci.com
Brain Infusion Studies
For brain infusion studies in rats with a body weight of 250-300 grams, DURECT offers the ALZET Brain Infusion Kit. This kit contains infusion cannulae and vinyl catheter tubing for ten brain infusion studies. Additional materials useful in brain infusion studies are available from the following vendors:
Small Parts, Inc.
13980 N.W. 58th Court
P.O. Box 4650, Miami Lakes, FL 33014-0650
(800) 220-4242 (toll free), or (305) 557-8222
(800) 423-9009 (toll free fax), or (305) 558-0509 (fax)
e-mail: smlparts@smallparts.com
Holes in the skull can be drilled with a steel bit (such as part number: O-HSD-56) and a small pin vice (part number: O-PV-5).
Small stainless steel machine screws (size #0-80, 1/8" in length with a fillister head, part number: (MX-0080-02FL) can be used to stabilize the dental cement platform.
Dental Cement
Dental cement can be used to keep the brain infusion cannula in place. Dental cement is available through the following vendors:
Henry Schein, Inc. (Catalog number 125-1613)
Veterinary Division, 135 Duryea Road, Melville, NY 11747
(800) 552-8387, or (516) 843-5325
(516) 843-5676 (fax)
e-mail: kguinn@henryschein.comStoelting Co. (Product number 51458, or 51459)
620 Wheat Lane, Wood Dale, IL 60191
(630) 860-9700
(630) 860-9775 (fax)
e-mail: physiology@stoeltingco.com
Cyanoacrylate
Adhesive (Loctite 454)
Cyanoacrylate gel is an adhesion compound which can be used in lieu of dental cement to keep the brain infusion cannula in place. It is particularly useful for mouse applications. A variety of cyanoacrylate gels can be purchased at local hardware stores or directly from their manufacturers. Loctite Prism¨ 454 is one example of a cyanoacrylate gel that can be used for securing the brain cannulae to the skull of laboratory animals. This product can be purchased directly from:
DURECT Corporation (Product
Number 0008670) Order
Now
PO Box 530 Cupertino, CA 95015-0530
(877) 922-5938
(408) 865-1406 (fax)
e-mail: alzetcs@durect.com
Electrode Holder
To simplify stereotaxic placement, electrode holders can be extremely useful. Heavy duty electrode holders fit the removable cannula tab and facilitate stereotaxic placement.
Stoelting Co. (Cannula holder part No. 51636)
620 Wheat Lane, Wood Dale, IL 60191
(630) 860-9700
(630) 860-9775 (fax)
e-mail: physiology@stoeltingco.comDavid Kopf Instruments (Cannula holder part No. 1766-AP or 1776-P1 bilateral)
7324 Elmo Street, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-3274, or (877) 352-3275 (toll free)
(818) 352-3139 (fax)
e-mail: sales@kopfinstruments.net
Custom Infusion Cannulae
Plastics One manufactures cannulae that can be used with ALZET osmotic pumps. These can be custom ordered to specific lengths and gauges from:
Plastics One
6591 Merriman Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24018
(540) 772-7960 x113
(540) 989-7519 (fax)
e-mail: zbroyles@plastics1.com
Stereotaxic Atlases and Related References
A compilation of references to stereotaxic atlases and related materials is available through the David Kopf Instruments web site. These listings provide investigators reference to a variety of stereotaxic atlases, and other ancillary techniques and methods related to stereataxic surgery in various animal species.
Stereataxic Atlases can also be purchased from:
Braintree
Scientific, Inc.
P.O. Box 850929, Braintree, MA 02185
(781) 843-2202
e-mail: info@braintreesci.com
Neurochemicals
A variety of neurochemicals and signal transduction agents, that can be used in neuroscience and cell signaling research, are supplied by Sigma-Aldrich Research Biochemicals, Inc. which can be reached via:
Sigma-Aldrich
350 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
(800) 325-5832
(800) 325-5052 (fax)
Artificial CSF
For infusions into the brain (either via the cerebral ventricles or into solid tissue), the preferred vehicle is artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A recipe for preparing artificial CSF is available (click here). Commercial source of Artificial CSF Perfusion Fluid: Harvard Apparatus
Blue Dye
ALZET pumps are supplied with a specified volume release rate that has been determined in isotonic saline at 37oC (+/- 0.5oC). In the event that the user finds it necessary to test the pumping rate, DURECT has developed an in vitro testing protocol (link to in vitro protocol file). This protocol requires the use of an indicator solution. One such indicator is FD&C #1 blue dye (catalog #05601), available from:
Sensient Color Group
2526 Baldwin St.,
St. Louis, MO 63106
(800) 325-8110 x7475
Bacterial
Filters 
Bacterial filters that attach to the filling syringe may be used to prevent particulate contamination during loading of test solutions. Suitable filters (i.e., Millex®-GV - 0.22 µM syringe-end filter) are available from Millipore Corporation
Polyethylene
Tubing Vinyl Tubing Intra-arterial
/ Intravenous Applications Handbook of Pre-clinical
Continuous Intravenous Infusion Wound Clips or
Staples Brain Infusion Studies Dental
Cement Loctite 454 Electrode
Holder Custom Infusion Cannulae
Stereotaxic Atlases and Related References
Neurochemicals Artificial
CSF Blue Dye Bacterial Filters
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