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

了解大脑功能的神经基础仍然难以捉摸，主要是因为缺乏高通量、高分辨率大脑记录的工具和技术。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。手术植入的神经探针被广泛用于记录大脑的电生理活动。在这个项目中，研究人员试图设计一种新的神经探针，其中神经信号通过光电机械传感器转换为光学信号。该探头的单光互连可以承载来自多个不同通道的波长复用数据，而不需要许多导线来传输来自不同通道的信号。这种方法可以在不增加神经探针大小的情况下增加通道的数量。这个多方面的项目将展示如何将光子学、电子力学、纳米技术和神经工程结合起来，带来新颖的设计概念。因此，该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来设计一个全新的植入式神经接口平台，该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，而且还在不断增长。这种装置必须紧凑、高密度、可批量生产和可靠。提出的研究引入了一种新的记录神经活动的平台，可以从多个通道同时记录，从而更好地了解脑功能和功能障碍的神经基础。在这个设计中，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，该信号将被路由到位于大脑外部的光学检测系统。这样，神经信号就能以非常高的信噪比（SNR）记录下来。不同的通道被编码成不同波长的光，聚合的数据在一个单一的光通道上传输，没有干扰。这个新的神经记录平台在未来可用于不同的神经科学和临床应用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.