JP2001314387A - Brain electrode fixing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a brain electrode fixing apparatus capable of being detached and attached easily. SOLUTION: The brain electrode fixing apparatus is equipped with a pedestal, which has an electrode guide insertion hole and is placed and fixed on the skull, and the apparatus main body having principle elements and fixed to the pedestal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for fixing a brain electrode, and more particularly, to measuring a potential change in a nerve cell or applying an electrical stimulus to a small animal such as a mouse or a rat. The present invention relates to a brain electrode fixing device that holds an electrode inserted into the brain via a skull.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to measure potential changes in nerve cells of small animals such as mice and rats, and to apply electrical stimulation to nerve cells, a hole is made in the skull of the small animal, and an electrode is formed through the hole through the hole. And the electrode is fixed to the skull with dental cement or the like. As such a brain electrode fixing device, one shown in FIG. 7 is provided. This brain electrode fixing device is a device in which two screw rods 2 and 2 are screwed into an electrode holder 1, and the tip of each of the screw rods 2 and 2 is inserted into a hole a formed in a skull A, and a dental cement 3 or the like is inserted. Fixed rotatably. Next, the connector case 4 is placed on the skull A so as to surround the screw rods 2, 2. The case 4 is also fixed to the skull A with the dental cement 3 or the like, and the upper end of the electrode wire 5 is connected to the connector 6. Connected via lead wire 7. Then, by rotating the screw rods 2 and 2 and lowering the electrode holder 1, the tip (electrode) 5a of the electrode wire 5 is inserted into a predetermined position in the brain.

[0003]

When the behavior of a small animal is measured with a brain electrode fixing device, the behavior may be measured intermittently over a long period of time. In such a case,
Keeping the brain electrode fixing device attached to the small animal places a burden on the small animal.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a brain electrode fixing device that can be easily removed and attached.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brain electrode fixing apparatus having an electrode guide insertion hole, a pedestal mounted on and fixed to a skull, and a main element connected to the pedestal. And a device main body.

According to the brain electrode fixing device of the present invention, when the measurement is temporarily interrupted, most of the device can be removed from the small animal by removing the device main body from the pedestal. The burden on small animals is reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the brain electrode fixing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a lid which covers an upper opening of the pedestal and is detachably attached to the pedestal. Features.

According to the brain electrode fixing device of the present invention, when the measurement is temporarily interrupted, the opening of the pedestal after removing the device main body can be covered with the lid.
Foreign matter can be prevented from entering the brain through a hole formed in the skull.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view conceptually showing one embodiment of a brain electrode fixing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view conceptually showing the device main body, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which installed the brain electrode fixing device in the skull.

The brain electrode fixing device includes a device main body 10 having main components, a pedestal 30 for supporting the device main body on a skull, and a lid 40 for covering an upper opening of the pedestal 30.

The apparatus body 10 has a cylindrical case 11 having a rectangular horizontal section, and the case 11 is formed of a transparent material. This case 11 has a flange 11a that protrudes outward at the lower end. A ring 12 having an L-shaped cross section is loosely fitted to the flange 11a, and a female screw 12a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ring 12.

On the outer surface of the case 11, a socket 13a of a connector 13 is fixedly installed.
A plug 13c is connected to a through a packing 13b. The plug 13c is connected to a measuring device (not shown) via a cord 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, an electrode holder 15 is slidably provided on the inner surface of the case 11. The electrode holder 15 has cutouts 15a, 15b, 15c formed in the center upper surface and a pair of opposing side surfaces, and a female screw hole 15d extends from the center of the upper surface to the lower surface. An upper end of a guide tube 16 extending downward is fixed to the notch 15b. An electrode wire 17 is inserted into the guide tube 16.

The notch 15a, 1 of the electrode holder 15
5c is provided with a flexible cable 18, one end of which extends to the connector 13. One end of the cable 18 a is connected to the socket 13 a of the connector 13, and the other end of the cable 18 a is connected to the upper end of the electrode wire 17.

A screw rod 19 is screwed into the female screw hole 15 d of the electrode holder 15, and the lower end and the upper part of the screw rod 19 are rotatably supported by plates 20, 21 which are installed in the case 11. ing. And, at the upper end of this screw rod 19,
An engaging means 19a for engaging a tool or the like for rotating the screw rod 19 is formed.

Further, in this brain electrode fixing device, a cover 22 is provided so as to cover the flexible cable 18 and the hole 11b for guiding the flexible cable 18 into the case 11.

In this brain electrode fixing device, at least parts constituting the outer shell of the device main body 10, such as the case 11, the connector 13, the plate 20, and the cover 22, are formed of a waterproof material such as a synthetic resin. Are bound to each other by nectar. The screw rod 19
An O-ring (seal member) 23 is interposed between the upper part of the plate 20 and the hole 20a of the plate 20, so that the space between the screw rod 19 and the plate 20 is maintained in a nectar.

On the other hand, the pedestal 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom by a waterproof material such as rubber or synthetic resin, and has an annular rib 31 on the upper surface. Then, the upper surface 31a of the annular rib 31
A groove 32 is formed in the groove 32, and a packing 33 is accommodated in the groove 32. A male screw 31b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular rib 31, and the guide tube 1 is formed on the bottom wall 30a.
Six insertion holes 34 are formed.

The lid 40 is formed of a waterproof material such as rubber, synthetic resin, or the like. A peripheral wall 41 extending downward is formed on the peripheral edge, and a female screw 41a is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. .

The brain electrode fixing device constructed as described above is used for the skull A of a small animal such as a rat as follows.
Attached to

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the pedestal 30 is placed on the skull A so that the hole 34 is aligned with the hole a formed in the skull A. To the skull A. When dental cement B is used as the fixing means, the outer surface of the dental cement B is coated with a waterproof material C. Next, the distal end of the guide tube 16 is
With the flange 11a of the case 11 being placed in the hole a of the skull A, the flange 11a of the case 11 is placed on the annular rib 31 of the pedestal 30, and the female screw 12a of the ring 12 is screwed into the male screw 31b of the annular rib 31 to thereby attach the case 11 to the pedestal 30. To lock. Then
A packing 33 is interposed between the flange 11 a of the case 11 and the upper surface of the rib 31 of the pedestal 30, so that water can be collected between the case 11 and the pedestal 30.

Next, a tool or the like is engaged with the engaging means 19a of the screw rod 19, and the screw rod 19 is rotated by the tool or the like. Then, the electrode holder 15
Is guided by the inner surface of the case 11 and descends, and descends the electrode wire 17 together with the guide tube 16. Then, the tip (electrode) 17a of the electrode wire 17 is inserted into a predetermined position.

When the measurement is interrupted for a relatively long time, the case 11 is removed from the pedestal 30, and the female screw 41a of the lid 40 is screwed into the male screw 31b of the pedestal 30, as shown in FIG. 40 is locked to the pedestal 30. Therefore, the hole a of the skull A is substantially closed by the lid 40. When the measurement is started again, the lid 40 may be removed from the pedestal 30 and the apparatus main body 10 may be attached to the pedestal 30 again.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the brain electrode fixing device according to the present invention. This brain electrode fixing device is provided with a cover 50 for protecting the device main body 10 in a watertight manner, and a connecting means for connecting the cover 50 is attached to the pedestal 30.

In this brain electrode fixing device, the pedestal 30 is provided with an outer peripheral wall 35 for mounting the cover 50 so as to surround the annular rib 31. A groove 35a is formed on the upper surface of the outer peripheral wall 35, a packing 36 is accommodated in the groove 35a, and a female screw 35b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 35. Also, the lid 40
As shown in FIG. 6, is formed to a size that covers the outer peripheral wall 35 of the pedestal 30, has an annular rib 42 on the lower surface, and a male screw 42a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 42. Have been.

The cover 50 is made of a waterproof material such as rubber or synthetic resin and is formed in a tubular shape having an opening at the lower part, and a boss 51 is provided upright on the upper wall. A cord insertion hole 51a is formed at the center of the boss 51, and a male screw 51b is formed on the peripheral surface. The cover 50 includes a cap 52 fitted to the boss 51, and a female screw 52 a screwed to the male screw 51 b of the boss 51 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 52. A cord insertion hole 52b is formed at the center of the cap 52. Further, the cover 50 includes the boss 51 and the cap 5.
2 is provided with an O-ring (seal member) 53 interposed therebetween. Further, a male screw 50a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the side wall of the cover 50, and a flange 54 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the side wall.

The other elements of the apparatus main body according to this embodiment are almost the same as those of the apparatus main body 10 according to the above-described embodiment. .

The cerebral electrode fixing device constructed as described above is used for the skull A of a small animal such as a rat as follows.
Attached to

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the pedestal 30 is placed on the skull A so that the hole 34 is aligned with the hole a formed in the skull A. Fix it. When the dental cement B is used as the fixing means, the dental cement B
Is coated with a waterproof material C. Next, with the distal end of the guide tube 16 inserted into the hole 34 of the pedestal 30 and the hole a of the skull A, the lower portion of the case 11 is fitted to the annular rib 31 of the pedestal 30, and the male screw 31 b of the rib 31 is attached to the ring 12. Of the device body 10
Is fixed to the pedestal 30.

Next, a tool or the like is engaged with the engaging means 19a of the screw rod 19, and the screw rod 19 is rotated by the tool or the like. Then, the electrode holder 15
Is guided by the inner surface of the case 11 and descends, and descends the electrode wire 17 together with the guide tube 16. Then, the tip (electrode) 17a of the electrode wire 17 is inserted into a predetermined position. Meanwhile, the inside can be observed through the transparent case 11.

Next, the cord insertion hole 51 of the cover 50
a, O-ring 53, cord insertion hole 52b of cap 52
The cover 14 is fixed to the pedestal 30 by inserting the male screw 50a of the cover 50 into the female screw 35b of the pedestal 30. Then, packing 36 is interposed between the flange 54 of the cover 50 and the outer peripheral wall 35 of the pedestal 30, whereby the cover 50 and the pedestal 3
Watertightness between 0 can be achieved. Then, the cap 52 is screwed to the boss 51, and the cap 52 is fastened to the boss 51 with an O-ring 53 interposed therebetween.

In the brain electrode fixing device thus installed, the device main body 10 is maintained in a completely watertight state by the cover 50. In addition, in the case of this brain electrode fixing device, since the device main body 10 can be made water-tight by the cover 50, the device main body 10 does not need to have a waterproof structure.

When the measurement is interrupted for a relatively long time, the cover 50 may be removed from the pedestal 30, and the apparatus body 10 may be removed from the pedestal 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the male screw 42a of the lid 40 is screwed into the female screw 35b of the pedestal 30, whereby the lid 40 is
Lock to zero. Therefore, the hole a of the skull A is
Substantially closed. To restart the measurement, the lid 40 may be removed from the pedestal 30, and the apparatus main body 10 may be attached to the pedestal 30 again.

The above-described embodiment merely exemplifies the present invention. For example, means for connecting the pedestal 30 to the apparatus main body 10, means for connecting the pedestal 30 to the lid 40 and the cover 50,
Further, as means for fixing the pedestal 30 to the skull A, various known structures can be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the waterproof structure of the brain electrode fixing device is shown. However, the waterproof structure is not required if the object of the present invention is only achieved.

Further, the shape of the case, the shape of the lid, and the shape of the cover of the device main body in the brain electrode fixing device according to the present invention are not limited to a cylindrical shape, but may be a rectangular tube shape.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brain electrode fixing apparatus having an electrode guide insertion hole, a pedestal mounted on and fixed to a skull, and a main body, the main body being connected to the pedestal. And Therefore, according to the brain electrode fixing device of the present invention, when the measurement is temporarily interrupted,
By removing the device main body from the pedestal, most of the device can be removed from the small animal, and the burden on the small animal during the non-measurement period is reduced.

Further, the brain electrode fixing device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the brain electrode fixing device according to the first aspect, a lid is detachably attached to the pedestal. Therefore, according to the brain electrode fixing device of the present invention, when the measurement is temporarily interrupted, the lid covers the opening of the pedestal during that time, and foreign matter enters the brain through the hole drilled in the skull. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view showing one embodiment of a brain electrode fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual perspective view showing a device main body of the brain electrode fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the brain electrode fixing device shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a skull.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the apparatus main body is removed from the pedestal and a lid is attached to the pedestal in the brain electrode fixing device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the brain electrode fixing device shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the apparatus main body is removed from the pedestal and a lid is attached to the pedestal in the brain electrode fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view showing a usage mode of a conventional brain electrode fixing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Device main body 11 Case 11a Flange 11b Hole 12 Ring 12a Female screw 13 Connector 13a Socket 13b Packing 13c Plug 14 Cord 15 Electrode holder 15a, 15b, 15c Notch 15d Female screw hole 16 Guide tube 17 Electrode wire 17a Tip (electrode) 18 Flexible cable 18a Cable 19 Screw rod 19a Engaging means 20 Plate 20a Hole 21 Plate 22 Cover 23 O-ring 30 Pedestal 30a Bottom wall 31 Peripheral wall (inner peripheral wall) 31a Upper surface 31b Male screw 32 Groove 33 Packing 34 Hole 35 Outer wall 35a Groove 35b Female screw 36 40 lid 41 peripheral wall 41a female screw 42 annular rib 42a male screw 50 cover 50a male screw 51 boss 51a cord insertion hole 51b male screw 52 key Cap 52a Female screw 52b Cord insertion hole 53 O-ring 54 Flange A Skull a Hole B Dental cement C Coating material

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for fixing a brain electrode, comprising: a base having an electrode guide insertion hole, mounted on and fixed to a skull; and a device main body having main components and connected to the base. . 2. The brain electrode fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a lid that covers an upper opening of the pedestal and that is detachably attached to the pedestal.