A platform for innovation in miniature microscopy

微型头戴式荧光显微镜允许神经科学家在自由移动的动物中以细胞分辨率纵向记录神经元群体。然而，现成的设备目前缺乏一些理想的功能，如易于修改，无线接口，灵活的实时分析软件。该项目将传播满足这些需要的开放源码微型显微镜（“微型镜”）。微型显微镜中实现的新功能包括3D打印外壳，用于方便显微镜重新配置，无线遥测和彩色CMOS传感器，用于同时记录多个荧光指示剂。除了显微镜，该项目还传播了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。传播战略有两个方面。首先，该项目为14个合作实验室提供功能齐全的微型望远镜和相关组件和培训。这些最终用户将使用显微镜来解决表面和深层脑核的广泛问题，重点是许多不同的细胞类型。这些小组将研究在多种疾病模型中正常大脑功能和病理活动模式的学习。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，该项目将实施最终用户要求的一些设计变化。这些设计变化包括视野的变化、专用显微镜外壳、同步电生理学的适应、新的彩色成像策略以及用户定义的实时软件变化。这些设计变化也将在公共网络资源中描述。最终，该项目的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.