A platform for innovation in miniature microscopy

微型头戴式荧光显微镜使神经科学家能够在自由运动的动物体内以细胞分辨率纵向记录神经元群。然而，现成的设备目前缺乏许多理想的功能，如易于修改、无线接口和灵活的实时分析软件。该项目将传播一种开源微型显微镜（“迷你显微镜”），以满足这些需求。在微型显微镜中实现的新功能包括3d打印外壳，便于显微镜重新配置，无线遥测和彩色CMOS传感器，用于同时记录多个荧光指示器。除了显微镜，这个项目还传播用于控制显微镜的开源软件。该软件能够实时图像处理和反馈闭环实验，触发刺激或其他事件，以响应记录的神经活动模式。传播策略是双重的。首先，该项目为14个合作实验室提供功能齐全的微型显微镜和相关组件，并提供培训。这些终端用户将使用显微镜来解决表面和深部脑核的广泛问题，重点关注许多不同的细胞类型。这些小组将研究正常脑功能的学习和多种疾病模型的病理活动模式。其次，该项目将创建一个公共网络存储库，其中包含在其他实验室复制显微镜所需的资源和文档。最后，该项目将实现最终用户所要求的许多设计变化。这些设计变化包括视野的变化，专门的显微镜外壳，适应同步电生理，新的彩色成像策略，以及用户定义的实时软件的变化。这些设计变化也将在公共网络资源中描述。该项目的最终目标是为定制微型显微镜的使用提供一个创新平台。

Miniature head-mounted fluorescence microscopes allow neuroscientists to record from populations of neurons longitudinally at cellular resolution in freely moving animals. However, off-the-shelf devices currently lack a number of desirable features such as easy modification, wireless interfacing, and flexible real-time analysis software. This project will disseminate an open-source miniature microscope (“miniscope”) that meets these needs. New features realized in the miniscope include a 3D-printed housing for easy microscope reconfiguration, wireless telemetry, and color CMOS sensors for simultaneous recording of multiple fluorescence indicators. In addition to the microscope, this project disseminates open-source software for controlling the microscope. This software is capable of real-time image processing and feedback for closed-loop experiments that trigger stimulation or other events in response to patterns of recorded neural activity. The strategy for dissemination is two-fold. First, the project provides fully functioning miniscopes and associated components and training for 14 collaborating labs. These end-users will use the microscopes to address a wide range of questions in surface and deep brain nuclei, focused on many distinct cell types. These groups will study learning in normal brain functioning and pathological activity patterns in multiple disease models. Second, the project will create a public web repository containing resources and documentation necessary to reproduce the microscope in other laboratories. Finally, the project will implement a number of design variations requested by end-users. These design variations include changes in the field of view, specialized microscope housings, adaptations for simultaneous electrophysiology, new color imaging strategies, and user-defined changes to the real-time software. These design variations will also be described in the public web resources. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to provide a platform for innovation in the use of customized miniature microscopes.