Stereotactic fixation system and calibration phantom

摘要

A stereotactic fixation apparatus provides for accurate and reproducible positioning of a patient's skull during medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. The stereotactic fixation apparatus includes a mouthpiece having an acrylic impression formed as an impression of the patient's upper teeth and hard palate. The mouthpiece is connected to a stereotactic frame, which in turn is releasable connected to an adaptor board on which the patient rests. Vacuum pressure is used to draw the acrylic impression firmly against the patient's hard palate. Vacuum pressure is also used to hold the stereotactic frame on the adaptor board. The stereotactic fixation apparatus additionally includes a patient-activated safety release mechanism which allows the patient to disconnect the vacuum pressure and to dislodge the restraints of the mouthpiece and frame, as well as to disable the medical equipment used with the medical diagnostic or treatment procedure. A calibration phantom desirably is used with the stereotactic fixation apparatus to calibrate the orientation of the mouthpiece relative to the reference axes of the medical treatment device during each stage of the patient's course.