Magnetic implants in the tongue for assistive technologies: Tests of migration; oromotor function; and tissue response in miniature pigs

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Alan J Sokoloff, Emory University; Zhongtao Yang, Georgia Institute of Technology; Saman Sargolzaei, Georgia Institute of Technology; Karen Strait, Emory University; Andrey Krasnopeyev, Emory University; Kirk Easley, Emory University; Sylvie Mimche, Emory University; Maysam Ghovanloo, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-09-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2017.04.034
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Archives of Oral Biology
• ISSN: 0003-9969
• Volume: 81
• Start Page: 81
• End Page: 89
• Grant/Funding Information: The authors thank Histochemistry Core (Grant number iP30 NS05507) for paraffin processing and histology assistance.; Supported by NIH Grant R21EB016662 to AJS and MG.
• Keywords: ORGANIZATION; Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine; Spinal cord injury; Magnet; Science & Technology; VOLUME REDUCTION; MUSCLE; TITANIUM; INTERNAL KINEMATICS; Tongue drive system; Tongue; Life Sciences & Biomedicine
• Research Categories: Biology, Biostatistics; Engineering, Electronics and Electrical; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Objective Uncertain biological consequences of titanium-magnet (Ti-mag) tongue implants constrain application of the Tongue Drive System (TDS), a brain-tongue-computer interface for individuals with severe physical impairment. Here we describe oromotor function and tongue tissue response following Ti-Mag implantation and explantation in the miniature pig, an animal model with a tongue similar in size to humans. Design A 1.8 × 6.2 mm Ti-mag tracer was implanted into the anterior tongue in five Yucatan minipigs. X-rays were taken immediately and >six days after implantation to evaluate tracer migration. In three minipigs, the tracer was explanted?>16 days after implantation. Twenty-five days post-explantation, tongue tissue was harvested and processed for histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of healing. In two minipigs tissue markers of healing were evaluated post-mortem following >12 days implantation. Drink cycle rate (DCR) was characterized to determine the impact of procedures on oromotor function. Results Neither implantation (N = 5) nor explantation (N = 3) changed DCR. X-rays revealed minimal tracer migration (N = 4, 0–4 mm). By histology and IHC a robust capsule was present two weeks post-implantation with limited fibrosis. Explantation produced localized fibrosis and limited muscle remodeling. Conclusions These findings suggest the safety of Ti-mag anterior tongue implants for assistive technologies in humans.