Mouse-Head-Fixation

Part files and drawings for the mouse head-bars/holders used during IOS & 2P Imaging

https://kl-turner.github.io/Mouse-Head-Fixation/

This repository contains numerous SolidWorks part files, drawing files, and PDFs of those drawing files for numerous head-bar sizes, as well some of the different holders for those head-bars used during imaging. The head-bars are implanted during surgery (See https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-017-0007-y and https://www.jove.com/video/3742/a-polished-reinforced-thinned-skull-window-for-long-term-imaging for more details) with the headbar being secured in the holder during data acquisition.

Repository Contents

For quick inspection, simply download the PDF of the desired part. The following images include just a few of the part files, as well as some images of them after fabrication.

Sample part drawings

Sample Head-bar Running wheel holder Resting imaging holder

A few finished products

Sample Head-bar Resting imaging holder

The head-bars are CNC machined from a Titanium sheet (Commerically Pure [CP] Grade 2) of desired thickness due to its biocompatibility, anti-corrosion properties, and overall strength. Titanium is also resistant to acetone, which is used to dissolve the various adhesives to secure the head-bar, thinned-skull windows, electrodes, cannula, and other components during surgery. These bars are designed to be cleaned and re-used indefinitely.

Headbar holders are CNC machined from an Aluminum sheet (6061-T6511) of desired thickness due to it being easily machinable, light-weight, anti-corrosion properties, and having sufficient strength (there’s no significant stresses applied to any part) for the desired applications.

If any of the individual part files have a listed material, disregard it in favor of the aforementioned

Holders assembled to Thorlabs equipment for imaging

Running wheel holder Resting imaging holder
Resting imaging holder in a two-photon imaging set-up
Resting imaging holder in an IOS imaging set-up

Acknowledgements

The various part files were originally designed and repeatedly revisioned by numerous members of the Drew Lab (Including, but certainly not limited to:)

This is only a small sample set of the head-bars and holders used in the Drew Lab. If you are interested in other specific files, such as those used during neonate experiments or others not mentioned, contact klt8@psu.edu.