A low-cost, novel endoscopic repeated-access port for small animal research

Repeated endoscopic access to the abdominal cavity of animal models is useful for a variety of research applications. However, repeated surgical access may affect the welfare of the animal and compromise results. We present the design and benchtop manufacturing process for a self-sealing endoscopic port requiring surgical incision only at implantation. It can be used for repeated body cavity access over a long time period. This device reduces costs, animals required for a given study, and potential suffering for each animal. This novel endoscopic port is designed for low-cost benchtop manufacturing without expensive equipment such as injection molding facilities. Devices manufactured using the method described in this work have been implanted successfully in hen models for investigation of ovarian cancer for over two years. All work followed Texas A&M University institutional guidelines and was covered under Animal Use Protocol 2017-0172, approved by TAMU Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This method can be translated to produce similar devices for use in other small animal models besides the galline model used in this work. This method can be used to produce devices for slightly different purposes than repeated endoscopic access, such as production of an entry port for surgical tools.