Method and apparatus for directed device placement in the cerebral ventricles or other intracranial targets

A method for placing a device at an intracranial site, comprising:

• providing apparatus including a guidepiece and a receptacle, wherein:
• the receptacle comprises a lower part and an upper part, the lower receptacle part having a rim and a base and a hollow stem at the base adapted to be mounted in a hole in the skull, the upper receptacle part having a rim and an opening at the top, each part of the receptacle having an interior spherical surface, wherein the upper and lower receptacle parts can be joined at the rims to form an inner surface enclosing a generally spherical interior;
• and
• the guidepiece comprises a body having a spherical outer surface and a lumen through the center thereof, defining an alignment axis, the guidepiece being dimensioned to fit rotatably within the receptacle interior, the lumen being configured and dimensioned to accept an imaging device therein;
• providing an adaptor insertable within the guidepiece lumen, the adaptor having an adaptor bore, configured and dimensioned to accept a device to be placed at the site;
• forming a hole in the skull;
• assembling the apparatus and mounting the apparatus in the skull;
• inserting an imaging device into the guidepiece lumen and activating imaging apparatus associated with the imaging device to generate an image of the intracranial contents;
• swiveling the guidepiece, containing the imaging device therein, until the image shows that the alignment axis is aligned along an optimal trajectory to the site, and, while the alignment axis is aligned along the optimal trajectory to the site, tightening the receptacle to lock the guidepiece and establish the trajectory;
• determining the distance along the trajectory to the site with reference to the image;
• while the guidepiece remains locked in place, withdrawing the imaging device from the guidepiece lumen;
• while the guidepiece remains locked in place, the imaging device having been removed therefrom, inserting the adaptor into the guidepiece lumen;
• while the guidepiece remains locked in place with the adaptor in the lumen thereof, inserting the device to be placed at the site through the adaptor bore over the determined distance along the established trajectory to the site;
• and withdrawing adaptor and the apparatus, leaving the device in place at the site.