StereoPylot: An Open-Source Raspberry Pi-Based Stereotaxic Apparatus Controller with 3D Printed Components for Fully...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Open-Source Hardware

Background:

• Stereotaxic surgery is crucial for targeted drug delivery and neural circuit research.
• Analog stereotaxic instruments are time-consuming and prone to user error due to manual scale reading.
• Commercially available digital stereotaxic instruments are expensive and lack customization options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an affordable, open-source digital stereotaxic controller for enhanced precision and ease of use.
• To provide a customizable solution for neuroscience laboratories performing complex stereotaxic surgeries.
• To overcome the limitations of analog instruments and the cost barriers of existing digital systems.

Main Methods:

• Developed StereoPylot, an open-source Raspberry Pi-based controller with 3D printed components.
• Integrated motorized control for X, Y, and Z axes with variable speed and programmable buttons.
• Created a custom graphical user interface for coordinate entry and preset file loading.

Main Results:

• StereoPylot enables precise, motorized control of stereotaxic instrument movement.
• Demonstrated practical application by quantifying viral expression in rats, with accuracy and precision measurements.
• The system is designed for retrofitting onto existing analog stereotaxic manipulators.

Conclusions:

• StereoPylot offers a feature-rich, customizable, and cost-effective alternative for stereotaxic surgery.
• The open-source design facilitates user customization to meet specific experimental requirements.
• This apparatus reduces repetitive motions and calculations, minimizing potential errors in neuroscience research.