Putamen grid
AssigneeUniversity of South Florida
InventorsThomas B. Freeman, James P. O'Connor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention makes a grid array, for use in the transplantation of materials into the brain, in the shape of a predetermined structure, such as the putamen, based on anatomic analysis the structure. Alternatively, a smaller grid array is used which only includes the putamen target and not the caudate target, and also has two windows within the grid array. Because of the smaller size of this grid array as well as the two cutouts in the middle, it is possible for the first time to observe the brain as the needle enters the brain through the grid array. The previous solid and larger grid array made the passage of the needle into the brain a blind maneuver. Therefore if there was cortical bleeding at the time of needle insertion, it would not be known until after the transplant was done.
Claims16
A neural transplantation alignment apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a needle guide having a puck-like shape rotatably secured within the base, such that the needle guide rotates 360 degrees along the needle guide's circumference;
- the needle guide further having a plurality of needle tracts adapted to receive at least one needle, the plurality of needle tracts forming a grid array, the grid array being focused around a “zero point” forming an axis of rotation for the needle guide, the furthest-most needle tract in the array being no more than 20 mm away from the “zero point”;
- at least one viewing cut-out integral to the needle guide and adjacent to the array whereby the user can observe the progress and movement of the needle passing through said needle tracts and into a brain.
A neural transplantation alignment apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a needle guide having a puck-like shape rotatably secured within the base, such that the needle guide rotates 360 degrees along the needle guide's circumference;
- the needle guide further having a plurality of needle tracts adapted to receive at least one needle, the plurality of needle tracts forming a grid array, the grid array being focused around a “zero point” forming an axis of rotation for the needle guide, the furthest-most needle tract in the array being no more than 20 mm away from the “zero point”;
- at least one viewing cut-out integral to the needle guide and adjacent to the array whereby the user can observe the progress and movement of the needle passing through said needle tracts and into a brain;
- wherein the grid array is configured to substantially mirror the shape of a target within the brain;
- a series of holes within the grid which are spaced apart about twice the distance of the radius of the sphere of influence of the material being injected;
- wherein the grid array is configured to be substantially the same size as the target within the brain;
- wherein the grid array is capable of being flipped for matching regions of anatomy on opposite sides of the brain;
- wherein the grid array is attached to a stereotactic frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.