A new fixation device for the Leksell stereotaxic system. Technical note.

A device is presented that permits several applications for the Leksell stereotaxic system. The patient is fixed in this new system by means of a rectangular instrument that connects to the standard Leksell stereotaxic coordinate frame and maintains spatial orientation after the frame itself is removed. Specific uses for this device include stereotaxic radiosurgery and stereotaxic guidance during microsurgery. Other attractive features of this device are its capability of being precisely reapplied, its compatibility with both computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the availability of an accessory device to adapt it for animal stereotaxis.