TDT RZ2 Manual page 543

System 3
Step 10 – Post‐surgery care.
Two days after the surgery, inject a sterile saline solution inside the microdrive
through the "cleaning holes" under the removable cup to remove any traces of ECF.
Pump in a clean solution through one needle and suck out the dirty solution using
the other. After absorbing all the dirty solution, inject an antibiotic. Repeat this
procedure again after another two days and then four days. Continue with this
process until the ECF leakage stops. Clean again anytime you notice ECF leakage.
Depending on animal behavior, this cleaning process could be performed while the
animal is awake.
Caution: Don't insert the needle more than 14 mm.
Caution: Insert the needle in the drive with care. Don't apply force to avoid moving
the array holder inside the drive. Stop the penetration of the needle as soon as you
face resistance.
Caution: Neural recordings immediately after the cleaning could be noisier. Wait until
the saline solution is absorbed or evaporated.
Caution: ECF leakage could dirty the ZIF-Clip® connector. Clean it very carefully
with a needle and eventually demineralized water; pay attention to not bend any
connection wires.
Caution: Not properly cleaning the microdrive could cause serious damage to the
drive.
Electrode Movement Procedure
The best way to move the electrodes is to follow the procedure below with two
people:
Step 1 – Researcher A.
Hold the implanted animal in your arms and give it some water using a pipette.
Procedure for zDrive Implantation and Maintenance
13-25