Editing Cranial Implant (section)

==Cardassian Cranial Implant==

Highly classified Cardassian biotechnological device used by the Obsidian Order. The implants, which were placed into the skulls of the order's operatives, were designed to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain. This would release large quantities of endorphins, making the operative impervious to pain in the event the operative were tortured by an enemy.

Garak created a control for his implant and used it to relieve the pain of being exiled to Deep Space 9. After continuous use over a two-year period, his body became dependent on the higher level of endorphins, so that when the implant malfunctioned in late 2370, it nearly killed him. In particular, the malfuctioning of the implant damaged his leukocytes (a type of white blood cell) and caused a build up of toxins in his lymphatic system. Doctor Julian Bashir was able to synthesize Cardassian-compatible leukocytes to replace Garak's damaged ones after receiving information on Cardassian biochemistry with assistance from Enabran Tain, who had been the head of the Obsidian Order at the time Garak received his implant. (DS9: "The Wire")