High throughput wavelength-multiplexed electro-opto-mechanic neural probes

了解大脑功能的神经基础仍然是难以捉摸的，主要是由于缺乏高通量，高分辨率记录大脑的工具和技术。许多单个神经元协调大脑不同区域的信息处理和传输，因此有必要以高时间和空间分辨率记录神经元活动。外科植入的神经探针被广泛用于记录脑内的电生理活动。在这个项目中，研究人员试图设计一种新型的神经探针，其中使用电光机械传感器将神经信号转换为光信号。该探头中的单个光学互连可以承载来自许多不同通道的波长复用数据，而不需要许多电线来传输来自不同通道的信号。这种方法将能够扩大通道的数量，而不必增加神经探针的大小。这个多方面的项目将展示如何光子学，机电，纳米技术和神经工程可以结合起来，带来新的设计概念。因此，本项目将为在这些领域寻求就业机会的本科生和研究生研究人员提供丰富的教育和培训机会。这个多学科项目的目标是利用光子学和机电系统的进步，设计一个全新的植入式神经接口平台，基于电光机械检测和神经信号的波长域复用传输。高密度神经探针的需求量很大且不断增长。这种装置必须是紧凑的、高密度的、可批量生产的和可靠的。这项研究引入了一个记录神经活动的新平台，可以同时记录多个通道的神经活动，以更好地了解大脑功能和功能障碍的神经基础。在这种设计中，神经信号的电生理活动将被转换为机械信号，然后转换为光学信号，该光学信号将被路由到位于大脑外部的光学检测系统。通过这种方式，可以以非常高的信噪比（SNR）记录神经信号。不同的信道被编码成不同波长的光，并且聚合数据在没有干扰的情况下通过单个光信道传输。这个新的神经记录平台可以在未来的不同神经科学和临床应用中使用。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Understanding the neural basis of brain function remains elusive mainly due to the lack of tools and techniques for high throughput, high resolution recording from the brain. Many individual neurons orchestrate the processing and transmission of information across different areas of the brain, so it is necessary to record neuronal activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. Surgically implanted neural probes are widely used to record the electrophysiology activity in the brain. In this project, the investigators seek to design a novel neural probe, in which the neural signals are transduced to an optical signal using an electro-opto-mechanic sensor. The single optical interconnect in this probe can carry the wavelength-multiplexed data from many different channels, rather than requiring many wires to transmit the signals from different channels. This approach will enable scaling up the number of channels without having to increase the size of the neural probes. This multifaceted project will showcase how photonics, electro-mechanics, nanotechnology and neural engineering can be combined to bring about novel design concepts. Therefore, this project will provide a rich educational and training opportunity for undergraduate and graduate researchers seeking career opportunities in these fields.The goal of this multidisciplinary project is to leverage advancements in photonics and electromechanical systems to design a radically new implantable neural interface platform based on electro-opto-mechanical detection and wavelength-domain multiplexed transmission of neural signals. High-density neural probes are in high and growing demand. Such devices must be compact, high-density, mass-producible and reliable. The proposed research introduces a new platform for recording neural activity that enables simultaneous recording from many channels to better understand the neural basis of brain function and dysfunction. In this design, the electrophysiological activity of neural signals will be converted to a mechanical signal and then to an optical signal that will be routed to an optical detection system located outside the brain. This way, the neural signals can be recorded with a very high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Different channels are encoded into different wavelengths of light and the aggregate data is transmitted over a single optical channel with no interference. This new platform for neural recording can be used in different neuroscience and clinical applications in future.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.