Fabrication method for miniaturized imaging gradient index lenses

在短短几年内，光遗传学，即利用光来控制活组织中基因修饰的可兴奋细胞(通常是神经元)的功能的技术集合，已经成为神经心理学和神经科学的首选研究工具，也是一个迅速扩大的市场，在世界各地与大脑相关的重大项目和研究所投资了数十亿美元。多利克镜片是这一领域的主要参与者之一，在过去的五年中，其销售额以每年25%的速度增长。多利克的旗舰产品之一是一种可穿戴的微型荧光显微镜，它可以观察老鼠等自由运动动物的神经电路。这台显微镜的关键部件之一是植入脑组织的GRIN(梯度折射率)中继镜。这种镜片是由离子交换技术制造的，这种技术耗时长，难以控制，目前多利克镜片无法达到。在这个Engage Plus项目期间，我们将继续开发和测试基于溶胶-凝胶化学的新制造工艺，以便为GRIN预制棒提供更平滑的折射率分布。多利克将把这种制造方法整合到GRIN透镜的制造过程中。随着时间的推移，它将改善目前激光二极管的准直透镜的性能，并为微型荧光显微镜提供高质量的透镜，用于神经元活动的钙成像，从而加强多利克在快速增长的神经科学相关行业的竞争地位。

In just a few years, optogenetics, i.e., the ensemble of techniques that use light to control the function ofgenetically-modified excitable cells (typically neurons) in living tissue, has become a preferred research tool inneuropsychology and neuroscience, as well as a rapidly expanding market with billions of dollars invested inmajor brain-related projects and institutes worldwide. Doric Lenses is one of the main players in this field, withsales growth of 25% per year during the last 5 years. One of Doric's flagship products is a wearableminiaturized fluorescence microscope that allows observation of neural circuitry within freely moving animalssuch as mice. One of the key components of this microscope is a GRIN (gradient-index) relay lens inserted inthe brain tissue. Such lenses are made by an ion exchange technology that is time consuming, difficult tocontrol and currently out of reach for Doric Lenses. During this ENGAGE Plus project, we will continue ourdevelopment and testing of a new fabrication process based on sol-gel chemistry in order to provide GRINpreforms with smoother index profiles. Doric will integrate this fabrication method into its manufacturingprocess for GRIN lenses. In time, it will allow improving the performance of current collimating lenses forlaser diodes and provide high quality lenses for miniature fluorescence microscopes for calcic imaging ofneuronal activity, thereby strengthening Doric's competitive position in the rapidly growingneuroscience-related industry.