Fig. 2. Types of the cranial and spinal window. (a) Open-skull cranial window, (b) sealed cranial window, (c) thinned-skull cranial window, (d) a plug type open-close window, (e) threaded retractable cranial window, (f) flexible PDMS-based accessible window, and (g) skull optical clearing window (SOCW). The cranial window thins down or removes a part of the skull and then takes proper steps for safe and long-term observation. The window structure, material, and size can be varied by the research objectives. Open skull preparation, sealed cranial window, and thinned-skull cranial window are the traditional forms of the cranial window. In contrast, variously modified forms have been developed, such as open-close, retractable and accessible windows, to combine with other neuroscience methodologies.
© Exp Neurobiol
