Application
Tool to precisely and reproducibly implant electrode and other instrumentation into the mouse brain for neurophysiology studies.
Key Benefits
- Inexpensive, rapid and efficient reproduction of headplates.
- Allows consistent and quick surgical implantation.
- Capable of recording or stimulating multiple sites in the mouse brain.
Market Summary
Mouse models are crucial to understanding neurophysiology and neural networks. One of the major limitations using mouse models is the difficulty of instrumenting mice. Surgical procedures for instrumentation are often prolonged, up to several hours. In addition, experimental error resulting from non-concurrent and variable implantations causes poor quality of recoding and difficulties in comparing mice. This technology allows for the rapid and inexpensive implantation of mice with metal electrodes, optical fibers and cannulas for microinjection or dialysis in mice.
Technical Summary
Emory researchers have developed a device and surgical procedure for customized instrumentation of mice. The source code-based high-resolution 3D printed headplate allows reproducible and rapid implantation of EEG, EMG and hippocampal electrodes/optical fibers in mice. The headplate design was based on the cartesian coordinates of an averaged cranial MRI of mice, and the design can be modified to enable friction-fit prior to surgery. In vivo experiment demonstrated that this headplate reduces the surgical time to less than 40 minutes, and the placement of depth electrodes is accurate and collected recordings are in good quality. This device provides inexpensive, rapid, reproducible implantation of mice, and is especially useful for work requiring large cohorts of mice.
Developmental Stage
In vivo experiments have been performed and development of more elaborate headplates is continuing.
Publication: Zhu K. J., et al. (2020). J Neurosci Methods, 333, 108566.