Mouse simulator for stereotactic surgery training

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouse simulator for stereotactic surgery training, which comprises a head having a hollow skull. The simulator also comprises an electronic detection assembly comprising a sensor located inside the skull and a detecting module located on the outside of the simulator, wherein the detecting module is in electrical communication with the sensor and with a cannula. The detecting module also comprises one or more feedback indicators activated by means of the cannula making contact with an area of the sensor.

Description

MOUSE SIMULATOR FOR STEREOTAXIC SURGERY TRAINING DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is oriented to the field of medical and veterinary devices, particularly to rodent simulators for training in surgical techniques and procedures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Today, research involving living organisms, both at universities and specialized centers, is reviewed and authorized by bioethics committees that oversee the ethical aspects of research using animal models. Part of this oversight involves using the fewest possible animals, refining procedures to minimize their impact on animal welfare, and seeking alternative animal models. Furthermore, an ethical review of procedures involving animals and the number of animals used is now a requirement for applying for research funding or before a study's results are considered for publication in a scientific journal.

[0003] According to the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF), 95% of laboratory animals are rodents. Scientists and researchers rely on these mammals for several reasons. One is convenience: they are small, easy to house, and easy to maintain. They also reproduce rapidly and have short lifespans, so several generations of mice can be observed in a relatively short time. Another reason rodents are used as models in medical studies is that their genetic, biological, and behavioral characteristics are very similar to those of humans, and many symptoms of human conditions are reproducible in mice and rats.

[0004] The use of mice is fundamental to teaching and practicing various techniques in areas such as biology, medicine, and biomedical research. In educational settings, they allow students to acquire practical skills in techniques such as medication administration, surgical procedures, biological sample collection, and behavioral observation. This not only enhances the theoretical understanding of concepts learned in the classroom but also prepares students for future careers in health sciences and biomedical research.

[0005] However, bioethical demands, as well as social pressure to regulate the use of animals in research and teaching, have meant that institutions and companies They need to find ways to replace or at least reduce the use of mice, as well as refine the procedures in which these are used.

[0006] One solution to this challenge has been the use of mouse simulators in research and teaching, which has emerged as an innovative and ethical response to concerns about animal welfare in scientific studies. These simulators allow students and scientists to practice techniques and procedures without involving live animals, thus promoting the bioethical principles of animal replacement and the refinement of procedures in animals. The simulators aim to replicate the anatomy and physiology of mice, striving to offer a realistic and safe educational experience. In addition to reducing the number of animals used in research, these devices contribute to the training of more competent professionals who are aware of the ethical implications of their work.The adoption of simulators also facilitates compliance with ethical regulations and improves public acceptance of scientific research by demonstrating a commitment to animal welfare and ethical responsibility in science.

[0007] An example of a mouse simulator is disclosed in patent publication CN211181381U, which comprises a lower housing and a rear housing connected to the upper end of the lower housing. The head and tail ends of the lower housing are sequentially connected to a head portion and a tail portion, forming a mounting cavity in the lower housing in which a model of internal organs is arranged. This model allows for training in surgical procedures, and after multiple sets of exercises, the viscera model and the rear housing can be replaced.

[0008] There are also other types of simulators on the market, such as the Curvet™ Rat Training Simulator, which consists of a rat model with realistic dermatological skin suitable for injections, head and spine movement for oral administration, and a realistic removable tail with two lateral veins for learning blood sampling techniques, intravenous administration, and catheter insertion. In addition, the model has realistic eyes, whiskers, limbs, anus, and rectum with a limited opening for thermoregulation monitoring with a clinical or digital thermometer, among other features.

[0009] However, the inventors have discovered that state-of-the-art simulators have certain limitations, not being sufficiently suitable for practicing surgical procedures such as stereotactic surgery, widely used in neuroscience, which is a medical procedure that allows surgeons to access precise areas of the brain with great accuracy.

[0010] In mice, the general aim of this technique is to expose the animal's skull to place different types of implants (for example, cannulas for intrathecal injections, electrodes to measure neuronal activity, or semipermeable cannulas for micro-dialysis) or to perform injections of different substances (e.g., neural tracers, peptides, viruses) into specific areas of the brain.

[0011] The objective of the present invention is therefore to replace or reduce the use of animals in training for skills in working with research animals. Specifically, the present invention seeks to provide an anatomically correct mouse simulator suitable for practicing stereotactic surgeries, providing the user with sensations very similar to those of a real mouse, as well as feedback for improving the technique performed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The invention consists of a mouse simulator for stereotactic surgery training, comprising a head with a hollow skull. The simulator further comprises an electronic sensing assembly consisting of a sensor located inside the skull and a detector module located outside the simulator, wherein the detector module is in electrical communication with the sensor and with a cannula. The detector module further comprises one or more feedback indicators activated by contact of the cannula with a region of the sensor.

[0013] The electronic detection system, in combination with the anatomy of the mouse simulator's head, not only allows for stereotactic surgery to be practiced with a high degree of similarity to a real mouse, but also provides the user with real-time feedback on the accuracy of the maneuver performed, thus accelerating their learning process.

[0014] This in turn allows for increased training and teaching of new researchers in procedures with animals, by dispensing with them and the associated bioethical barriers to the use of animals in teaching, allowing the promotion of certification of skills for research with animal models.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the mouse simulator sensor consists of a printed circuit board with multiple detector levels. Preferably, it comprises three detector levels in the form of concentric rings, which allows for the generation of a highly accurate simulation and feedback environment. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the sensor arrangement may have a different geometric configuration, such as multiple contact points randomly distributed on the board.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the one or more feedback indicators are LEDs of different colors, providing the user with easily readable and intuitive feedback. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the feedback indicators could be audible, haptic, or of any other type.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the detector module comprises a battery and is inside a housing, thus providing a compact and safe design.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing may include an output module configured to connect to external equipment and display training data and results via software. For example, the output module may be configured to connect via wired or wireless connection to external equipment such as a computer or portable device.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the skull comprises a brain cavity with an opening facing its upper face for inserting and simulating the brain of a mouse.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor is inserted into a skull device cavity, which comprises an opening facing the back of the skull that allows the passage of wiring connecting the sensor to the detector module.

[0021] According to a preferred modality, the head also comprises a skin covering the skull to simulate mouse tissues and allow suturing to be performed in the head area.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the head further comprises a neck connector that can be articulated to a body, preferably a mouse-shaped body, wherein said neck allows the head to rotate 360° with respect to the body.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the body is molded in silicone and comprises one or more skin patches.

[0024] According to certain models, the body includes limbs, preferably mouse-shaped limbs, as well as a tail, which is preferably a hollow silicone element. All these elements allow for the simulation of specific aspects of routine handling and veterinary procedures in mice. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] As part of the application, the following representative figures of the invention are presented, which show preferred configurations of the same and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting the definition of the claimed subject matter. - Figure 1 illustrates the mouse simulator of the present invention. - Figure 2 illustrates external details of the simulator head of the present invention. - Figure 3 illustrates interior details of the simulator head of the present invention. - Figure 4a illustrates a front view of the electronic detection assembly of the simulator of the present invention. - Figure 4b illustrates a rear view of the electronic detection assembly of the simulator of the present invention. Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the electronic detection assembly components inserted into the skull of the simulator head of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] According to Figure 1, the mouse simulator has a head 10, a body 20 with limbs and a tail 30. The head 10 is articulated to the body 20 allowing the head 10 to rotate 360° with respect to the body 20 to simulate a real movement of the head 10 of a mouse during stereotactic surgeries.

[0027] Body 20 is molded from silicone, providing a feel and flexibility similar to the touch of an animal under deep anesthesia. It also includes skin patches 21 located on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, designed to replicate the texture and properties of mouse skin, as well as to simulate specific aspects of common handling practices, such as incisions, sutures, and subcutaneous injections.

[0028] Tail 30 is attached to body 20 and consists of a hollow silicone element to simulate the texture of a mouse tail and practice techniques such as tail injections or others.

[0029] According to Figure 2, the head 10 consists of a hollow skull and a neck connector 11 made of resin. The neck connector 11 has a protrusion at its free end configured to be press-fitted into a cavity in the simulator's body, thus providing an articulated connection.

[0030] The skull is covered by a silicone skin (Fig. 1) that allows the dorsal surface of the skull to be exposed, and is configured to provide essential anatomical cues for stereotactic surgery such as the anatomical landmarks Bregma (B) and Lambda (L).

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the skull contains a brain cavity 12 with an opening facing its upper surface and a device cavity 13 located below the brain cavity 12. In turn, the device cavity 13 has a sensor compartment 13.1 and a plug compartment 13.2, both of which are open towards the back of the skull through an opening.

[0032] According to Figures 4a and 4b, the electronic detection assembly of the simulator comprises a sensor 40 in electrical communication with a detector module 50.

[0033] The sensor 40 consists of a target printed circuit board with three concentric detector rings: an inner ring 41, an intermediate ring 42, and an outer ring 43, which respectively comprise an electrical ring terminal (41.1, 41.2, 41.3) in electrical communication with the detector module 50. For example, such electrical connection can be by means of a female plug 44 (see Figure 5b) electrically connected to the electrical ring terminals.

[0034] The detector module 50 is electrically powered by a battery 51 and comprises communication terminals (52, 53, 54) that are connected respectively by a connector cable (60, 61, 62) to each of the ring electrical terminals (41.1, 42.1, 43.1), for example, by means of a male plug attachable to the female plug 44 of figure 5b. In turn, each communication terminal (52, 53, 54) is connected to a respective LED light (55, 56, 57) of a different color.

[0035] The detector module 50 further comprises a cannula connector terminal 58 for electrical connection to a cannula 70 for stereotactic surgery. The operation of the mouse simulator of the present invention will thus be described below with reference to Figure 3 and subsequent figures.

[0036] Brain material is disposed within the brain cavity 12 of the skull, as well as a sensor 40 within sensor compartment 13.1 and a plug 44 within plug compartment 13.2 of the device cavity 13 of the skull. The connecting cables (60, 61, 62) extend out of the head 10 through the posterior opening of the device cavity 13.

[0037] For practicing stereotactic surgery, the mouse simulator can be mounted on a conventional rodent stereotactic apparatus. The user then inserts cannula 70 through the brain tissue of the skull until it makes contact with sensor 40 located inside it. This contact closes the electrical circuit between sensor 40 and detector module 50, illuminating the LED corresponding to the ring of sensor 40 that was contacted by cannula 70.

[0038] In this way, the color of the illuminated LED provides the user with real-time feedback on the accuracy of the maneuver performed. The color of the light associated with the inner ring 41 represents high accuracy, the color of the light associated with the middle ring 42 represents intermediate accuracy, and the color of the light associated with the outer ring 43 represents low accuracy. Ultimately, the electronic detection system is able to indicate to the person performing the procedure whether they performed it correctly, that is, whether they were able to place a probe in a specific location.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A mouse simulator for stereotactic surgery training, comprising a head (10) having a hollow skull; the simulator further comprising an electronic sensing assembly comprising a sensor (40) located inside the skull and a detector module (50) located outside the simulator, wherein the detector module (50) is in electrical communication with the sensor (40) and with a cannula (70); and wherein the detector module (50) further comprises one or more feedback indicators actuatable by contact of the cannula (70) with a region of the sensor (40).

2. The mouse simulator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (40) consists of a printed circuit board with different detector levels.

3. The mouse simulator according to claim 2, wherein it comprises three detector levels in the form of concentric rings.

4. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more feedback indicators are LED lights of different colors.

5. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detector module (50) comprises a battery (51) and is inside a housing.

6. The mouse simulator according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises an output module configured to connect to an external device.

7. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the skull comprises a brain cavity (12) with an opening facing its upper face.

8. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (40) is inserted into a device cavity (13) of the skull, which comprises an opening facing the back of the skull.

9. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head (10) further comprises a skin covering the skull.

10. The mouse simulator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head (10) further comprises a neck connector (11) articulated to a body (20).

11. The mouse simulator according to claim 10, wherein the body (20) comprises limbs.

12. The mouse simulator according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the body (20) comprises a tail (30).

13. The mouse simulator according to claim 12, wherein the tail (30) consists of a hollow silicone element.

14. The mouse simulator according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the body (20) is molded in silicone and comprises one or more skin patches (21).

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