How to Choose RWD Stereotaxic Instruments and Accessories Tailored to Your Needs?

In brain and neuroscience research, the stereotaxic instrument is a powerful tool for researchers to locate specific brain regions precisely. It can help researchers carry out stereotaxic surgery, stereotaxic brain injection, optogenetics, optic fiber photometry, calcium imaging, in vivo electrophysiology, etc.

RWD has been dedicated to life science for 20 years, animal stereotaxic instruments are what we develope and provide from the very beginning. Today, RWD will provide you with many stereotaxic apparatus and accessories for your lab needs. From the standard to compact type, from the rotational to large animal type, etc., no matter which kind you need, you can find the perfect one.

This guide will help you choose a stereotaxic frame that best suits your needs from multiple dimensions, including experimental scenarios, experimental animals, accuracy, etc. Usually, most of RWD stereotaxic frames are compatible with common brand accessories. Main senarios: Chemogenetics, Optogenetics, Fiber Photometry, Calcium Imaging, etc.

Stereotaxic Instruments

The manual “Standard Stereotaxic Instrument” is the most basic model, applying a universal U-shaped base to ensure a simple design and stable running. The standard model can meet the needs of most rat and mouse brain stereotaxic surgeries. Combined with different types of adaptors and holders, it can be used for cranial injection, optical fiber implantation, lens implantation, etc.

Based on standard stereotaxic instrument, the “Digital Stereotaxic Instrument” adds a digital display module to achieve efficient reading of manipulators’ coordinates, with a display to show the coordinate position in real time and a CLEAR button to easily set Bregma Zero. They are widely used in different researches and has been the pro-choice for researchers.

We also provide the motorized model “Automated Stereotaxic Instrument“, which allows you easily control the operating arm via software to reduce manual errors. It makes automatic craniotomy, tissue removal, and multi-point continuous injection realizable, which will ensure you a precise operation, making your research a better experience.

After the skull is fixed, it is cumbersome to position it in a horizontal position.The “Rotational Stereotaxic Instrument” is designed with a rotary adapter, which can adjust the Bregma point to the axis of the rotation axis to ensure that the three-dimensional position of the Bregma remains unchanged when the skull is leveled, and only the height of the Lambda point needs to be adjusted. At the same time, it can be used to measure the height difference at the same time with two points of the alignment indicator, which can quickly set the Bregma point and adjust the level of the skull. In addition, the rotary adaptor can meet the needs of multi-direction and multi-angle adjustment, especially for small nuclei and special angle adjustment experiments.

If the budget is limited, the portable module is also a good choice. “Portable Rat & Mouse Stereotaxic Frame ” is equipped with a set of adaptors and ear bars for rats and mice. The height of the adapter and ear bars can be adjusted freely to facilitate the skull level adjustment. The Mouse one simplifies the structure of the adapter and ear bar, providing the operator with a larger operating space.

At the same time, pig, dog, monkey, cat and other experimental subject can choose the large animal stereotaxic instrument. The Large Animal Stereotaxic Instrument adopts a slide rail structure, which provides a larger operating range for the brain positioning of large experimental animals. For the MRI detection environment, non-metallic MRI frame and adaptors can be used to fix the animals.

Stereotaxic Accessories

Common accessories for stereotaxic instruments include adaptors for securing the animal’s nose and incisors, ear bars for securing both ears, and holders for implantation or injection procedures. The accessories are suitable for common brand structure on the market.

Stereotaxic Adaptors

According to the anesthesia method, the adaptor can be selected as an ordinary adaptor or an anesthesia mask type adaptor, and the ordinary adaptor can also be upgraded to an anesthesia mask type adaptor by adding an anesthesia mask.

Mouse Adaptors

Rat Adaptors

Multi-function Adaptor

Stereotaxic Ear Bars

Choose a suitable ear bar according to the taper angle of the tip. The sharper the taper of the tip, the firmer the fixation, but the risk of damage to the animal’s ear is relatively high. Therefore, 45° or 60° ear bar is usually recommended for mouse, and 18° ear bar for rat. If you are doing research on hearing related directions, there are also hollow ear rods for you to choose from.

Stereotaxic Holders

The selection of the holder is very simple. According to the actual use scenario, electrode holder, casing holder and multi-function holder can be selected. In addition, each type of holder can be selected according to the size of the gripping part.