High-density microfiber interfaces for deep brain optical recording and stimulation

项目摘要 本项目旨在开发一种高密度、微创的光学微纤维阵列，用于长期记录 和操控大脑活动光学方法已成为现代脑科学的基石， 动物模型，并为未来的人类假肢设备拥有巨大的潜力。然而，光散射严重 限制了用于脑深部记录和刺激的光学方法。当前植入的光度测量方法 进入大脑深部区域的光纤与为通信行业设计的相对较大的光纤一起工作 (125μm）。该项目建立了一个光学微纤维阵列，以记录和刺激大脑深部区域。的 器件实现了高通道数，亚蜂窝（7 μm）光纤分布在三个- 大脑的三维体积。为了植入该装置，单独的微纤维光导被捆绑在一起， 通过相互支持来加强每一根纤维。在插入大脑的过程中，微纤维束 每根微纤维都沿着一条独特的路径进入大脑，因为它被组织的不均匀性所识别。这 假设该过程保留了单根7 μm纤维的微创特性。原型设计 显示健康的神经元非常接近植入的微纤维， 体外该项目建立在初步数据的基础上，以测试高通道数设备的记录和 刺激.为了推进这项技术，该项目涉及一系列目标，以表征组织对 高通道数植入物，开发旋转荧光显微镜以与阵列接口，以及 对用于记录和刺激遗传编码结构的装置的性能进行基准测试 大脑深部区域

Project Summary This project seeks to develop a high density, minimally invasive optical microfiber array for long-term recording and manipulation of brain activity. Optical methods have become a cornerstone of modern brain science in animal models, and hold great potential for future human prosthetic devices. However, light scattering severely limits optical approaches for deep brain recording and stimulation. Current photometry methods of implanting optical fibers into deep brain areas work with relatively large fibers designed for the communications industry (125 μm). This project builds an optical microfiber array to record from and stimulate deep brain areas. The device achieves a high channel count with sub-cellular (7 μm) optical microfibers distributed in three- dimensional volumes of the brain. To implant the device, individual microfiber light guides are bundled together, strengthening each fiber through mutual support. During insertion into the brain, the bundle of microfibers splays and each microfiber follows a distinct path into the brain as it is deflected by tissue inhomogeneity. This process is hypothesized to preserve the minimally invasive properties of a single 7 μm fiber. Prototype designs reveal healthy neurons in close proximity to the implanted microfibers, and high signal to noise recordings in vitro. The project builds on preliminary data to test high channel count devices for both recording and stimulation. To advance this technology, the project involves a series of aims to characterize tissue response to high channel count implants, develop a rotary fluorescence microscope to interface with the array, and benchmark the performance of the device for both recording and stimulation of genetically encoded constructs in deep brain regions.