Simple plastic stereotactic unit for use in the computed tomographic scanner

The marriage of computed tomography (CT) and stereotactic surgery offers an opportunity to provide sophisticated and effective treatment to discrete areas of the brain. An important part of this capability is the development of stereotactic frames that are compatible with the CT scanner, i.e., that do not degrade the CT image. A number of technically elegant and ingenious stereotactic frames have been reported. However, they have the drawback of technical complexity and, particularly, great exposure. We are reporting a simple ball and socket skull-mounted stereotactic device that allows solid fixation of probes for use in brain needle biopsies, ventricular catheterization, and similar activities.