Patent ID: 6716220
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A stereotaxic holder for holding a body at a position in three-dimensional space, comprising:a frame to which a body-holding component, configured to contact a body, can be attached such that the body-holding component extends from the frame to contact the body and hold the body relative to the frame; an X-axis shift mechanism to which the frame is attached, the X-axis shift mechanism being configured to move the frame, with body-holding component, along an X-axis; a Y-axis shift mechanism to which the frame is attached, the Y-axis shift mechanism being configured to move the frame, with body-holding component, along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis, the movement along the Y-axis being independent of the movement along the X-axis; a Z-axis shift mechanism to which the frame is attached, the Z-axis shift mechanism being configured to move the frame, with body-holding component, along a Z-axis that is orthogonal to both the X-axis and the Y-axis, the movement along the Z-axis being independent of the movement along the X-axis or along the Y-axis and at least one tilting mechanism selected from the group consisting of X-axis tilting mechanisms, Y-axis tilting mechanisms, and Z-axis tilting mechanisms; the X-axis shift mechanism, Y-axis shift mechanism, and Z-axis shift mechanism being configured relative to each other so as to define a reference X-axis, a reference Y-axis, and a reference Z-axis, respectively, that are orthogonal relative to each other and that mutually intersect at a 0,0,0 point in three-dimensional space, wherein the X-axis shift mechanism, Y-axis shift mechanism, and Z-axis shift mechanism are configured to move a body, mounted to the frame by the body-holding component, as required to place a selected point on or in the body at the 0,0,0 point, and wherein the at least one tilting mechanism is configured to tilt the body, being held by the frame, about the respective reference axis and relative to the 0,0,0 point.