An open-source head-fixation and implant-protection system for mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Laboratory Animal Science

Background:

• Mice are essential models in neuroscience research.
• Head-fixation and skull-mounted hardware are frequently required for experiments.
• Maintaining hardware integrity during long-term studies, especially in group-housed settings, presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the inefficiency of custom head-fixation system development.
• To overcome challenges in group housing, specifically preventing cage mates from damaging implanted hardware.
• To provide an open-source, adaptable head-fixation solution for neuroscience research.

Main Methods:

• Designed and iterated on several head-fixation components.
• Developed a standard mounting headbar compatible with various skull-mounted hardware.
• Created a snap-on protective mouse hat (headhat) to prevent chewing.
• Engineered a head-fixation station for experimental procedures.
• Provided 3D-printing files, vendor information, software details, and editable design files.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed a robust head-fixation system that mitigates hardware damage from cage mates.
• The system includes a universal headbar, a protective headhat, and a head-fixation station.
• Open-source availability of all design files and supporting information allows for customization and widespread adoption.

Conclusions:

• The presented open-source head-fixation system effectively solves the problem of hardware damage in group-housed mice.
• This solution enhances the feasibility of long-term neuroscience experiments by ensuring hardware integrity.
• The adaptable designs promote efficient and flexible implementation across different laboratory settings.