An improved method for carotid artery infusion without vessel occlusion

This is an simple, non-time-consuming and advantageous procedure for catheterization and drug administration in thin arteries of small animals. The cannulation method consists of implanting polyimide-coated silica capillary tubing. To avoid vascular tear during puncture, the tubing tip is beveled. The cannula is stuck to the wall of the artery without artery ligation, using a small drop of a fast cyanoacrylate adhesive. The surgical procedure can be completed in 15 min and has the following properties: 1) it is wise but not indispensable to perfuse a solution continually through the cannula; 2) the dead volume is low and drugs may be injected in a very low solution volume; 3) it is not necessary to close the lumen of the vessel during catheterization; 4) the drug solution may be perfused into a normal bloodstream and thus its kinetic behavior is not modified by undesired cul-de-sac effects presented after artery ligation.