Surgical system for image-based stereotaxy in the rat

Abstract

Currently there are no of MRI image-based stereotactic apparatus for target determination in the brain of animals. Until now, the only stereotactic devices for directing problems and electrodes in animal brains for neuroscience are based on dental and ear canal fixation and on skull based features which are at best crudely related to brain anatomy. As a result there is no accurate method or apparatus to place a probe into the brain of a research animal. Proposed here is a surgical system to replace these outmoded techniques. The system consists of a MR compatible head frame and a MR localizer designed specifically for the Norway species of rat. This system allows for accurate targeting of structures within the rodent brain and precision placement of electrodes to these structures. This system utilizes the most current MRI imaging technologies available to provide major improvements to quality and reliability in neuroscience data acquisition.