NIMH Instrumentation Core Facility

NIMH 仪器核心设施

• 批准号: 8158406
• 负责人: George Dold
• 金额: $ 115.91万
• 依托单位: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 至
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8158406
• 关键词: Core Facility; Cues; Drosophila genus; Effectiveness; Electrodes; Electronics; Electrophysiology (science); Engineering; Environment; Equipment; National Institute of Mental Health; Ultrasonics; instrumentation

This past year, our Section had the unique opportunity to support the research from more than 57 different Labs & Sections within NIMH, NINDS and NICHD. During the past twelve months, investigators from these labs and branches requested 513 formal projects from our staff. Each of these requests was documented and the time recorded to complete the job. In addition to the formal requests we are available daily for numerous walk-in, phone call or e-mail requests for assistance. In general, our technical support this past year can be divided into the following research areas: Electrophysiology The Section on Instrumentation staff continuously strives to improve the utility of various components that comprise electrophysiology. Improvements continue for the goal of stabilizing the microelectrode manipulators to enhance precision and repeatability of electrode placement. We also provide engineering and fabrication of multiple-hole grid arrays that allow precise, repeatable placement of a single electrode over a wide area. Extensive experience of our staff allows us to quickly outfit newly arriving scientists with the tools needed to perform their research in the field of electrophysiology. We stock or can quickly fabricate a large variety of custom electrophysiology hardware, and have a diverse knowledge of commercially available systems. It is not unusual for new arriving scientists to be performing experiments in several weeks or less. This short time frame is important to maximize the productive time of researchers who may only be at the NIH for a limited time. fMRI The Section on Instrumentation provides a wide range of support for fMRI-related research. Fabrication of devices for use in MRI environments is a specialized area of expertise, with great attention given to design without ferrous metals and minimization of all metal components. In addition, commercial industrial fiber optic components and systems are evaluated and integrated into many designs and devices we fabricate. This past year we provided extensive support for the human, primate and rodent magnet imaging facilities. Non-Human Primate Our group is responsible for providing a wide range of engineering and fabrication services to support non-human primate research. Many of the mechanical assemblies that are necessary for this type of research are engineered and fabricated in-house. Our group provides a diverse array of custom systems and components to many different investigators, such as custom primate chairs, high-strength restraints, MRI positioning systems, custom head coils, reward systems, data acquisition, analysis and optical response systems, plus a wide range of small mechanical components. We have become experts in many different types of force and load cells and the integration of these into working research tools. An example of a project that presented unique problems was modifying a pair of electrostatic headphones to deliver stimuli for use inside the bore of an MRI. Human Human research requires the creation of many novel devices that are compatible with the high magnetic field environment. When a new magnet is installed, we are consulted with and provide the necessary components for presenting visual stimuli in the bore of the magnet, including image periscopes, screens, and mirrors. These devices are designed and manufactured with specific space and material constraints. This past year we continued development of a novel MRI-based gustatory apparatus to investigate the areas of the brain using fMRI that respond to gustatory stimuli. We performed developmental testing on an fMRI compatible, computer controlled system that delivers small specified volumes of a variety of tastants onto a patient's tongue while the subject is being scanned in the MRI. This past year we continued fabrication and development an fMRI compatible, computer controlled, eight channel linear air driven actuator system that provides selectable site, tactile stimulation to a subject who is undergoing an MRI. This important research tool will aid investigators in understanding the brain's processing of tactile stimulation particularly in studies of "phantom limb pain". The design has also now been implemented for tactile facial studies in the NIH, MEG imaging facility. Due to the substantial work load imposed on Section Staff, many projects must be designed, fabricated, and delivered quickly. We provided several wrist movement measuring systems and pinch force systems to NIH staff for research studies. Behavioral During the previous year we developed two systems that studied the behavior of drosophila for anesthesia studies. One of the systems was designed to determine the hot-cold response of the drosophila under various degrees of anesthesia. This system consisted of alternating channels of hot and cold rectangular water tubes bonded together and insulated by a thin Teflon tape. The top surface was covered with a homogeneous epoxy coating to eliminate any visual cues of the thermal boundaries. The thermal grid was covered by a clear acrylic cover that gave the flies two millimeters of space to crawl around the hot-cold surface at will. The crawl space above the thermal grid was ported to permit the flow of gases through the space. The second system was designed in collaboration with CIT to observe flight initiation of at-rest drosophila using sophisticated image processing techniques from a video camera. The primary area of interest was the effect of light on the initiation of flight. LED light bars were placed above, below, and in front of a container of flies at rest on a sucrose saturated piece of filter paper. The lights were placed behind a diffusing film that spread the light evenly. In addition a set of lights was placed behind the camera shielded by a projection screen to diffuse the light. The intensity of the LED lights was adjustable, and each set of lights could be individually controlled. The entire system was contained in a custom designed light tight chamber the inside surface of which was non-reflective. Imaging We have continued to be involved in a major initiative to oversee the modernization of the system used in PET imaging to produce their radiopharmaceuticals. The current system is a working prototype that is no longer supported by the developer. The existing system (Synthia) has experienced several hardware failures that we have had to either facilitate their repair or functionally circumvent. A significant number of scientific and clinical PET protocols are dependent on the availability of radioisotopes designed to mark specific antigens. We have designed and built a complex system that allows for switching the existing hardware between the old Synthia system and the new AutoRAD system. This facilitates the comprehensive testing that must be done on the new system while still allowing the old system to be used until the new system is brought on-line. We recently designed a needle translation and ultrasonic impulse delivery system into the Synthia radiopharmaceutical Hot-Cell system, interfacing with the existing control system. Clinical Our Section also supports a number of clinical based research requests under the broad areas of surgical, therapeutic and basic research. Technology The Section on Instrumentation (SI) machine shop produces many mechanical assemblies and components to assist in the research goals of the NIH. By using the latest technology in CAD/CAM programming and embracing Rapid Prototyping techniques, SI is able to increase productivity and effectiveness while at the same time decreasing the amount of time needed to engineer and machine the components. 3D printing has opened a completely new methodology for design and development of mechanical components used in research.

去年，我们的部门获得了独特的机会来支持 NIMH、NINDS 和 NICHD 内超过 57 个不同实验室和部门的研究。在过去 12 个月中，这些实验室和分支机构的研究人员向我们的员工索取了 513 个正式项目。每个请求都被记录下来，并记录完成工作的时间。 除了正式请求外，我们每天还可以接受大量上门、电话或电子邮件请求以寻求帮助。 总的来说，我们这一年的技术支持可以分为以下几个研究领域： 电生理学 仪器部门的工作人员不断努力提高构成电生理学的各种组件的实用性。持续改进的目标是稳定微电极操纵器，以提高电极放置的精度和可重复性。 我们还提供多孔网格阵列的工程和制造，允许在大面积上精确、可重复地放置单个电极。 我们员工的丰富经验使我们能够快速为新来的科学家配备在电生理学领域进行研究所需的工具。我们库存或可以快速制造各种定制电生理学硬件，并对商用系统拥有丰富的知识。 对于新来的科学家来说，在几周或更短的时间内进行实验并不罕见。如此短的时间范围对于最大限度地提高研究人员的生产时间非常重要，因为他们可能只在 NIH 工作有限的时间。 功能磁共振成像 仪器部分为功能磁共振成像相关研究提供广泛的支持。 MRI 环境中使用的设备的制造是一个专门的专业领域，非常注重不含黑色金属的设计和最小化所有金属组件。此外，商业工业光纤组件和系统经过评估并集成到我们制造的许多设计和设备中。去年，我们为人类、灵长类动物和啮齿动物磁成像设施提供了广泛的支持。 非人类灵长类动物 我们的团队负责提供广泛的工程和制造服务以支持非人类灵长类动物研究。此类研究所需的许多机械组件都是内部设计和制造的。 我们的团队为许多不同的研究人员提供各种定制系统和组件，例如定制灵长类动物椅子、高强度约束装置、MRI 定位系统、定制头部线圈、奖励系统、数据采集、分析和光学响应系统，以及各种小型机械组件。我们已成为许多不同类型的力和称重传感器以及将这些传感器集成到工作研究工具中的专家。一个存在独特问题的项目示例是修改一对静电耳机以提供在 MRI 孔内使用的刺激。 人类 人类研究需要创造许多与高磁场环境兼容的新颖设备。当安装新磁铁时，我们会咨询并提供必要的组件，以便在磁铁的孔中呈现视觉刺激，包括图像潜望镜、屏幕和镜子。 这些设备的设计和制造受到特定空间和材料的限制。 去年，我们继续开发一种基于 MRI 的新型味觉装置，利用功能磁共振成像来研究大脑对味觉刺激做出反应的区域。我们在兼容 fMRI 的计算机控制系统上进行了发育测试，该系统在 MRI 扫描受试者时将少量指定量的各种促味剂输送到患者的舌头上。 去年，我们继续制造和开发功能磁共振成像兼容、计算机控制、八通道线性气动执行器系统，为正在接受 MRI 的受试者提供可选择部位的触觉刺激。这一重要的研究工具将帮助研究人员了解大脑对触觉刺激的处理，特别是在“幻肢痛”的研究中。该设计现已在 NIH、MEG 成像设施中用于触觉面部研究。 由于部门工作人员的工作量很大，许多项目必须快速设计、制造和交付。 我们向 NIH 工作人员提供了多个手腕运动测量系统和捏力系统进行研究。 行为方面 去年，我们开发了两个系统来研究果蝇的行为以进行麻醉研究。其中一个系统旨在确定果蝇在不同程度的麻醉下的冷热反应。该系统由交替的冷热矩形水管通道组成，这些矩形水管粘合在一起并通过薄聚四氟乙烯胶带绝缘。顶部表面覆盖有均匀的环氧树脂涂层，以消除热边界的任何视觉线索。热网格上覆盖着透明的丙烯酸盖，为苍蝇提供了两毫米的空间，可以随意在冷热表面爬行。热网上方的爬行空间被开孔以允许气体流过该空间。 第二个系统是与 CIT 合作设计的，旨在使用摄像机的复杂图像处理技术观察静止果蝇的飞行启动。主要感兴趣的领域是光对飞行起始的影响。 LED灯条分别放置在装有苍蝇的容器的上方、下方和前面，容器中的苍蝇停在蔗糖饱和的滤纸上。灯放置在漫射膜后面，使光线均匀传播。此外，在相机后面放置了一组灯，并用投影屏幕屏蔽以漫射光线。 LED灯的强度可调，并且每组灯都可以单独控制。整个系统包含在一个定制设计的不透光室中，其内表面是不反射的。 影像学 我们继续参与一项重大举措，监督用于生产放射性药物的 PET 成像系统的现代化。当前系统是一个工作原型，开发人员不再支持。现有系统（Synthia）经历了多次硬件故障，我们必须促进修复或在功能上规避这些故障。大量科学和临床 PET 方案依赖于设计用于标记特定抗原的放射性同位素的可用性。 我们设计并构建了一个复杂的系统，允许在旧的 Synthia 系统和新的 AutoRAD 系统之间切换现有硬件。 这有利于必须在新系统上进行的全面测试，同时仍然允许使用旧系统，直到新系统上线。 我们最近在 Synthia 放射性药物 Hot-Cell 系统中设计了针平移和超声波脉冲输送系统，与现有的控制系统连接。 临床 我们的科室还支持外科、治疗和基础研究等广泛领域内的许多临床研究请求。 技术 仪器部门 (SI) 机械车间生产许多机械组件和部件，以协助 NIH 的研究目标。 通过使用最新的 CAD/CAM 编程技术并采用快速原型技术，SI 能够提高生产率和效率，同时减少设计和加工组件所需的时间。 3D 打印为研究中使用的机械部件的设计和开发开辟了一种全新的方法。