title: Safety and function of a new clinical intracerebral microinjection instrument for stem cells and therapeutics examined in the Göttingen minipig.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new intracerebral microinjection instrument (IMI) allowing multiple electrophysiologically guided microvolume injections from a single proximal injection path in rats has been adapted to clinical use by coupling the IMI to an FHC microTargeting Manual Drive, designed to be used with standard stereotactic frame-based systems and FHC frameless microTargeting Platforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The function and safety of the device was tested by conducting bilateral electrophysiologically guided microinjections of fluorescent microspheres in the substantia nigra of 4 Göttingen minipigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The device was easy to handle and enabled accurate electrophysiologically guided targeting of the substantia nigra with minimal local tissue damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IMI is suitable for clinical use and may prove useful for various stereotactic procedures that require high levels of precision and/or three-dimensional distribution of therapeutics within the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Carsten R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bjarkam
authors.forename: Andreas N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Glud
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margolin
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reinhart
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deding
authors.forename: Kåre S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ettrup
authors.forename: Lise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fitting
authors.forename: Mette S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Jens-Christian H
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Miles G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008845:Microinjections / Q000295:instrumentation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature