A chronic cannula for obtaining CSF from the cisterna magna of awake dogs

We have designed a cannula system that can be chronically implanted to end above the dura of the cisterna magna of the dog. During experiments in the awake dog, a screw cap with stylet is removed from the cannula and a spinal needle inserted for the withdrawal of samples of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or for making continuous measurements of pressure. The system can be used for repeated experiments extending over several weeks.