Brain opening to reveal multiple regions

Human brain with electrophysiology probe

Pinpoint

Interactive 3D visualization and automation tools for neuroscience research and surgery.

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Pinpoint aims to advance large-scale neuroscience research with intuitive browser-based planning and automation tools.

Human brain with 3 electrophysiology probes and multiple regions

Human behavior engages multiple regions of the brain.

Current tools are designed to study individual brain regions, depend on manual input, and require extensive expertise to operate.

Developing tools that help us study the whole brain will help us to understand human behavior and develop cures for neurodegenerative diseases.

Plan Your Next Surgery with
Pinpoint

Simulate your equipment

Pinpoint includes electrophysiology probes, viral injectors, 2-photon lasers, and pipettes.

Custom equipment and craniotomies can be modeled side-by-side, saving time during procedures.

Electrophysiology probe inserted into brain

See the brain in detail

Extract brain surface coordinates for surgical targeting, export brain region information, and explore planar slices in each brain atlas.

Run Your Plan with
Pinpoint Automation

Automated insertion in pinpoint synced with real probe

Automation improves accuracy and efficiency

Robotic manipulators make movements with sub-micrometer precision and perform multiple tasks in parallel, critical improvements for enabling whole-brain neural recording.

Here, a manipulator is controlled by Pinpoint to insert a probe through a craniotomy.

Leave the heavy lifting to the robots

Pinpoint can control robotic rigs to automatically perform your surgery.

Support for platforms can be added through the Ephys Link project.

Sensapex Multiprobe rig

New Scale MPM rig

New Scale MIS rig

Scientifica InVivoStar Micromanipulator

The future is fully automated

In collaboration with the Allen Institute we will develop computer vision assisted systems to enable unattended surgery.

The reduction in human error and increase in efficiency will enable neuroscientists to scale up their work to new heights, unlocking studies and surgeries previously deemed impossible.

Parallax computer vision tracking system. Two electrophysiology probes are tracked and marked with red crosses.

Automation is measurably faster than traditional methods. The median duration of automated insertions (red dot) is significantly faster than the median duration for manual insertions (black dot).

Grow the Community with
Pinpoint

Neuroscience is for everyone

Pinpoint is free software available for everyone to use.

Run Pinpoint from a web browser, a desktop computer, or a handheld gaming console!

Learn about Pinpoint and discover the platform at three workshops and conferences every year:

Dr. Birman teaching Pinpoint to researchers at the Allen Institute 2024 Neuropixels and OpenScope Workshop.

A workshop attendee using Pinpoint through their laptop browser.

Fostering the next generation

Developing Pinpoint has been an opportunity for a diverse group of undergraduates to discover a passion for research, neuroscience, and 3D development.