Visualizing brain stereotactic fixation ear bar with endoscope

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of ear rod technology, providing an endoscopic visualization stereotactic brain positioning ear rod, comprising a base plate, an ear rod shell, and an electronic display. The ear rod shell is located on one side of the top of the base plate, and a battery cavity is formed in the side wall of the ear rod shell, containing a button battery. A battery cover is located at the end of the battery cavity. A camera is located at the front end of the ear rod shell, and a magnetic charging connector is located at the rear end. This invention transmits real-time images of the ear canal to the electronic display screen through a camera integrated at the tip of the ear rod and a wireless signal transmitter. The experimenter can clearly observe the internal structure of the ear canal through the display screen, achieving precise positioning. The device has an animal category selection function and can generate virtual positioning auxiliary lines to help the experimenter quickly find the center point of the ear canal. Its wireless connection method is convenient to operate and can replace traditional ear rods in stereotactic brain positioning operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ear rod technology, and in particular to an ear rod with an endoscope for visual stereoscopic brain positioning and fixation. Background Technology

[0002] In neuroscience research, stereotaxic techniques are a key tool for performing brain surgery, drug injections, electrode implantations, and other procedures.

[0003] Traditional stereotaxic devices primarily rely on ear rods to fix the head of experimental animals (such as mice and rats) and establish a three-dimensional coordinate system using laser, infrared, or mechanical positioning methods, combined with anatomical landmarks on the skull surface (such as the anterior and posterior fontanelles), to achieve precise localization of specific areas within the brain. However, existing stereotaxic devices have a critical limitation: the accuracy of the ear canal center point directly affects the accuracy of the entire system. Currently, almost all stereotaxic devices rely on the experimenter locating the ear canal center point through tactile sensation and then fixing it with ear rods. This method presents several problems:

[0004] 1. Large human error: Locating the center point of the ear canal by touch is highly subjective and uncertain, especially for novice experimenters, making it difficult to guarantee the accuracy of each location.

[0005] 2. High dependence on experience: While experienced practitioners can develop standardized procedures through long-term operation and reduce human error, novices, lacking experience, often need to try many times to find a relatively accurate center point of the ear canal. This not only reduces experimental efficiency but also increases the risk of experimental failure.

[0006] 3. Lack of objective reference: Traditional methods lack objective reference standards and rely entirely on the subjective judgment of the experimenter, resulting in significant differences in localization results among different experimenters, which affects the reliability and reproducibility of experimental data. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a visual stereotactic fixation ear rod with an endoscope, which solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a visual stereotactic fixation ear rod with an endoscope, comprising a base plate, an ear rod shell, and an electronic display. The ear rod shell is provided on one side of the top of the base plate. A battery cavity is opened in the side wall of the ear rod shell, and a button battery is provided in the battery cavity. A battery cover is provided at the end of the battery cavity. A camera is provided at the front end of the ear rod shell, and a magnetic charging connector is provided at the rear end of the ear rod shell. A wireless signal transmitting device is provided inside the ear rod shell. An electronic display is provided on the other side of the top of the base plate. An electronic display screen is provided on the top of the electronic display, and a switch is provided at the corner of the top side of the electronic display.

[0009] Preferably, a slide rail is provided below the ear rod shell, the slide rail is fixed to the top of the base plate, a slider is slidably connected to the outside of the slide rail, an outer shell one is fixed to the top of the slider, an outer shell two is provided inside the outer shell one, a support shell is provided inside the outer shell two, and the ear rod shell is placed in the support shell.

[0010] Preferably, a motor is installed on the side wall of the outer shell one, a docking block one is fixed on the inner side wall of the outer shell one, a rotating block one is provided on the outer side wall of the outer shell two, the rotating shaft of the rotating block one is rotatably disposed in the docking block one, a drive rod one is fixed on the rotating shaft of the motor one, and one end of the drive rod one is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating block one.

[0011] Preferably, a motor is installed at the top of the outer shell 2, a docking block 2 is fixed at the upper and lower ends inside the outer shell 2, a rotating block 2 is fixed at the upper and lower ends of the support shell, the rotating shaft of the rotating block 2 is rotatably set in the docking block 2, a drive rod 2 is fixed at the bottom of the motor 2, and the bottom end of the drive rod 2 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft at the top of the rotating block 2.

[0012] Preferably, an external block is fixed to the side wall of the support shell, and a fixing screw is connected to the internal thread of the external block, with one end of the fixing screw protruding into the interior of the support shell.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0014] 1. This utility model provides an endoscope-equipped visual stereotactic brain positioning and fixation ear rod. Through a camera and wireless signal transmitter integrated into the tip of the ear rod, real-time images of the ear canal are transmitted to an electronic display screen. The experimenter can clearly observe the internal structure of the ear canal through the display screen, achieving precise positioning. The device has an animal category selection function and can generate virtual positioning auxiliary lines to help the experimenter quickly find the center point of the ear canal. Its wireless connection method is convenient to operate and can replace traditional ear rods in stereotactic brain positioning operations.

[0015] 2. This utility model provides a visualization stereoscopic brain positioning and fixing ear rod with an endoscope. Through the cooperation of longitudinal and lateral adjustment components, the longitudinal component includes an outer shell, a motor, and a drive rod. Activating the motor allows the ear rod shell to rotate around a pivot, controlling the vertical movement of the camera. Similarly, the lateral component allows the ear rod shell to rotate left and right around a pivot, precisely adjusting the camera's orientation from all directions. Compared to manual adjustment, this significantly improves the accuracy of imaging the ear canal. Furthermore, the sliding slider moves along a rail, smoothly and gradually moving the support shell and ear rod shell into the ear canal as needed, avoiding the risk of ear canal damage from manual insertion. In addition, the ear rod shell and support shell are fixed with screws; simply insert and rotate the screws to secure it, and reverse them to disassemble. This provides greater stability compared to handheld operation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 A partial structural cross-section of this utility model Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 4 A partial structural cross-section of this utility model Figure 2 ;

[0020] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the ear rod structure of this utility model.

[0021] The following are the annotations in the diagram: 1. Base plate; 2. Ear rod shell; 21. Battery cover; 22. Camera; 23. Magnetic charging connector; 24. Battery cavity; 25. Button battery; 26. Wireless signal transmitter; 3. Electronic display; 31. Electronic display screen; 32. Switch; 4. Slide rail; 41. Slider; 42. Outer shell one; 421. Motor one; 422. Drive rod one; 423. Rotating block one; 424. Connecting block one; 43. Outer shell two; 431. Motor two; 432. Drive rod two; 433. Rotating block two; 434. Connecting block two; 44. Support shell; 441. Outer block; 442. Fixing screw. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0023] To further understand the content of this utility model, a detailed description of this utility model will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Combination Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this utility model discloses a visual stereoscopic brain positioning and fixation ear rod with an endoscope, comprising a base plate 1, an ear rod housing 2, and an electronic display 3. The ear rod housing 2 is disposed on one side of the top of the base plate 1. A battery cavity 24 is formed in the side wall of the ear rod housing 2, and a button battery 25 is disposed in the battery cavity 24. A battery cover 21 is disposed at the end of the battery cavity 24. A camera 22 is disposed at the front end of the ear rod housing 2, and a magnetic charging connector 23 is disposed at the rear end of the ear rod housing 2. A wireless signal transmitter 26 is disposed inside the ear rod housing 2. The electronic display 3 is disposed on the other side of the top of the base plate 1. An electronic display screen 31 is disposed on the top of the electronic display 3, and a switch 32 is disposed at the corner of one side of the top of the electronic display 3.

[0025] A slide rail 4 is provided below the ear rod housing 2. The slide rail 4 is fixed to the top of the base plate 1. A slider 41 is slidably connected to the outside of the slide rail 4. An outer shell 42 is fixed to the top of the slider 41. An outer shell 43 is provided inside the outer shell 42. A support shell 44 is provided inside the outer shell 43. The ear rod housing 2 is placed in the support shell 44.

[0026] A motor 421 is installed on the side wall of the outer shell 42. A docking block 424 is fixed on the inner side wall of the outer shell 42. A rotating block 423 is provided on the outer side wall of the outer shell 43. The rotating shaft of the rotating block 423 is rotatably disposed in the docking block 424. A drive rod 422 is fixed on the rotating shaft of the motor 421. One end of the drive rod 422 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating block 423.

[0027] A motor 431 is installed at the top of the outer shell 43. A docking block 434 is fixed at the upper and lower ends inside the outer shell 43. A rotating block 433 is fixed at the upper and lower ends of the support shell 44. The rotating shaft of the rotating block 433 is rotatably set in the docking block 434. A drive rod 432 is fixed at the bottom of the motor 431. The bottom end of the drive rod 432 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft at the top of the rotating block 433.

[0028] An external block 441 is fixed to the side wall of the support shell 44. A fixing screw 442 is threadedly connected to the inside of the external block 441. One end of the fixing screw 442 protrudes into the inside of the support shell 44.

[0029] The ear rod housing 2 is made of high-strength, lightweight materials, such as medical-grade stainless steel or high-strength plastic, to ensure a robust structure without adding weight. Designed according to the ear canal dimensions of laboratory animals, such as mice and rats, its shape should be ergonomic for easy operation. The ear rod housing 2 houses components such as a camera 22, a wireless signal transmitter 26, and a button battery 25. The housing design should ensure the secure installation of these components and provide good electromagnetic shielding.

[0030] Camera 22 is mounted at the tip of the earpiece housing 2, with its lens facing inwards towards the ear canal to ensure clear image capture. Camera 22 specifications include a resolution of at least 720p to ensure image clarity. It uses a wide-angle lens with a field of view of approximately 120° to cover a large area inside the ear canal. The focal length is fixed, and camera 22 is positioned at an appropriate distance from the ear canal wall to avoid pressure on the ear canal.

[0031] The wireless signal transmitter 26 wirelessly transmits the image signal captured by the camera 22 to the electronic display screen 31 of the electronic display 3. Its technical specifications include: using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 5.0 technology for wireless transmission to ensure stable signal and low latency; a transmission distance of at least 10 meters to allow the experimenter to move freely during operation; and security features such as data encryption to prevent signal interception.

[0032] At least two coin cell batteries (25) are required to ensure a stable power supply. Capacity: Each battery should have a capacity of at least 200mAh to provide sufficient battery life, at least 4 hours.

[0033] The magnetic charging connector 23 is located at the rear of the earpiece shell 2 for convenient charging. It uses a magnetic charging interface to ensure safe and convenient charging. Charging is fast, taking no more than two hours.

[0034] The electronic display screen 31 receives video signals transmitted by the wireless signal transmitter 26 and displays real-time images of the inside of the ear canal. It provides an animal category selection function, generating corresponding virtual positioning guide lines based on different animal types. The electronic display screen 31 is 5-7 inches in size, making it easy to carry and observe. Its 1080p resolution ensures clear images. Connection is wireless, such as via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, eliminating the need for a data cable.

[0035] The user interface of the electronic display screen 31 includes: First, animal category selection: different animal categories, such as mice, rats, rabbits, etc., can be selected via the touch screen; Second, virtual auxiliary lines: virtual positioning auxiliary lines are generated based on the real-time images transmitted back by the camera 22 to help the experimenter quickly determine the center point of the ear canal; Finally, error correction: an error correction function is provided to reduce human operation errors.

[0036] Working principle:

[0037] The experimenter turns on the electronic display screen 31 and the ear rod device, and the camera 22 begins to capture images of the inside of the ear canal. The wireless signal transmitter 26 transmits the image signal to the electronic display screen 31;

[0038] The experimenter selects the type of experimental animal, such as a mouse, on the electronic display screen 31, and the system generates a corresponding virtual positioning guideline based on the selected animal type.

[0039] The experimenter observed the real-time image inside the ear canal through the electronic display screen 31 and quickly determined the center point of the ear canal by combining it with the virtual positioning auxiliary line.

[0040] The electronic display screen 31 provides an error correction function, allowing the experimenter to adjust the positioning parameters as needed; after the experimenter completes the positioning, the ear rod device can continue to be used for subsequent stereotactic brain positioning operations.

[0041] This endoscopic visualization stereotactic fixation ear rod integrates a camera 22 at the tip of the ear rod shell 2. The camera 22 transmits real-time images of the inside of the ear canal to an electronic display screen 31 in the hand of the experimenter via a wireless signal transmitter 26. The experimenter can clearly observe the internal structure of the ear canal through the electronic display screen 31, thereby achieving precise positioning of the center point of the ear canal.

[0042] The electronic display screen 31 has an animal category selection function, which generates virtual positioning auxiliary lines based on the ear canal anatomy of different animals to help the experimenter quickly find the center point of the ear canal.

[0043] The wireless connection eliminates the need for data cables, making operation more convenient; the visualization device itself can replace the function of traditional ear rods and participate in stereoscopic brain positioning operations.

[0044] The electronic display screen 31 provides an error correction function, allowing the experimenter to adjust the positioning parameters based on the real-time image and virtual auxiliary lines, thereby reducing human error.

[0045] By using visualization technology and virtual auxiliary lines, experimenters can quickly and accurately locate the center point of the ear canal, thereby improving the accuracy and success rate of the entire stereotaxic system. It is suitable for novice experimenters, helping them to quickly master the ear canal center point location skills, shorten the learning curve, and improve experimental efficiency.

[0046] The longitudinal adjustment assembly consists of an outer shell 42, a motor 421, a drive rod 422, a rotating block 423, and a docking block 424. When the motor 421 is started, it drives the rotating block 423 to rotate, so that the outer shell 43 and the ear rod shell 2 fixed inside the support shell 44 rotate around the rotating block 423 as the axis, thereby allowing the camera 22 at the end of the ear rod shell 2 to move up or down.

[0047] The lateral adjustment assembly consists of an outer shell 2 43, a motor 2 431, a drive rod 2 432, a rotating block 2 433, and a docking block 1 424. When the motor 2 431 is started, it drives the rotating block 2 433 to rotate, so that the ear rod shell 2 fixed inside the support shell 44 rotates around the rotating block 2 433 as the axis, thereby allowing the camera 22 at the end of the ear rod shell 2 to move left and right.

[0048] By using the longitudinal adjustment component and the lateral adjustment component together, the orientation position of the camera 22 can be adjusted so that the camera 22 can be accurately moved to the center position inside the ear canal. Compared with the operator manually moving the ear rod shell 2 to change the shooting angle of the camera 22, the accuracy is higher.

[0049] Start slider 41, slider 41 slides outside slide rail 4, slider 41 drives support shell 44 to move ear rod shell 2 into ear canal gradually. Move the required distance according to actual needs. Compared with the operator manually pushing ear rod shell 2, it can prevent the manual operation from pushing too deep and damaging the ear canal to a certain extent.

[0050] Insert the ear rod housing 2 into the support housing 44, positioning the ear rod housing 2 in a suitable position within the support housing 44. Then, rotate the fixing screw 442 to press firmly against the side wall of the ear rod housing 2, thus fixing the ear rod housing 2 in the support housing 44. Reverse the fixing screw 442 to move it away from the side wall of the ear rod housing 2, and then remove the ear rod housing 2 from the support housing 44 to detach it. Fixing the ear rod housing 2 ensures its stability, providing greater stability compared to holding the ear rod housing 2 by hand.

[0051] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An endoscope-equipped visual stereotactic fixation ear rod for brain positioning, comprising a base plate (1), an ear rod housing (2), and an electronic display (3), characterized in that: A shell (2) for an ear rod is provided on one side of the top of the base plate (1). A battery cavity (24) is provided on the side wall of the shell (2). A button battery (25) is provided in the battery cavity (24). A battery cover (21) is provided at the end of the battery cavity (24). A camera (22) is provided at the front end of the shell (2). A magnetic charging connector (23) is provided at the rear end of the shell (2). A wireless signal transmitter (26) is provided inside the shell (2). An electronic display (3) is provided on the other side of the top of the base plate (1). An electronic display screen (31) is provided on the top of the electronic display (3). A switch (32) is provided at the corner of the top side of the electronic display (3).

2. The endoscopic visualization stereotactic fixation ear rod according to claim 1, characterized in that: A slide rail (4) is provided below the ear rod shell (2). The slide rail (4) is fixed to the top of the base plate (1). A slider (41) is slidably connected to the outside of the slide rail (4). An outer shell one (42) is fixed to the top of the slider (41). An outer shell two (43) is provided inside the outer shell one (42). A support shell (44) is provided inside the outer shell two (43). The ear rod shell (2) is placed in the support shell (44).

3. The endoscopic visualization stereotactic fixation ear rod according to claim 2, characterized in that: A motor (421) is installed on the side wall of the outer shell 1 (42), a docking block 1 (424) is fixed on the inner side wall of the outer shell 1 (42), a rotating block 1 (423) is provided on the outer side wall of the outer shell 2 (43), the rotating shaft of the rotating block 1 (423) is rotatably disposed in the docking block 1 (424), the rotating shaft of the motor 1 (421) is fixed with a drive rod 1 (422), and one end of the drive rod 1 (422) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating block 1 (423).

4. The endoscopic visualization stereotactic fixation ear rod according to claim 3, characterized in that: The top of the outer shell (43) is equipped with a motor (431). The upper and lower ends of the outer shell (43) are fixed with docking blocks (434). The upper and lower ends of the support shell (44) are fixed with rotating blocks (433). The rotating shaft of the rotating blocks (433) is rotatably set in the docking blocks (434). The rotating shaft at the bottom of the motor (431) is fixed with a drive rod (432). The bottom end of the drive rod (432) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft at the top of the rotating blocks (433).

5. The endoscopic visualization stereotactic fixation ear rod according to claim 4, characterized in that: An external block (441) is fixed to the side wall of the support shell (44), and a fixing screw (442) is threaded inside the external block (441). One end of the fixing screw (442) protrudes into the interior of the support shell (44).

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