APPARATUS FOR STEREOTACTIC NEUROSURGERY

摘要

A skull mount (50;150;170;200;300) is described that is attachable to a hole (60) formed in the skull. The skull mount (50;150;170;200;300) comprises an alignment guide (62;152;172;216;306) defining an alignment axis (22;210;312) along which neurosurgical instruments can be passed. The skull mount, when attached to a hole in a skull, is arranged such that it does not substantially protrude from the outermost surface of the skull and does not extend into the brain parenchyma. Also described is a neurosurgical alignment instrument (30,206) for aligning such a skull mount (50;150;170;200;300) that comprises an elongate shaft (32) and an element (34,36) protruding from the distal end of the elongate shaft (32) for engaging and aligning the alignment guide (62;152;172;216;306) of an associated skull mount (50;150;170;200;300). When the alignment instrument is engaged with a skull mount attached to a hole formed in the skull, the protruding element passes through the alignment guide of the skull mount and into the cortex of the subject's brain.