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）功能的技术组合，已成为神经心理学和神经科学的首选研究工具，并迅速扩大市场，数十亿美元投资于世界各地的主要脑相关项目和研究所。Doric lens是该领域的主要参与者之一，在过去的5年里，每年的销售额增长25%。Doric的旗舰产品之一是一种可穿戴的小型化荧光显微镜，可以观察自由运动的动物（如老鼠）的神经回路。该显微镜的关键部件之一是插入脑组织中的GRIN（梯度指数）中继透镜。这种镜片是由离子交换技术制造的，耗时长，难以控制，目前多立克镜片还无法实现。在这个ENGAGE Plus项目中，我们将继续开发和测试一种基于溶胶-凝胶化学的新制造工艺，以提供具有更平滑指数曲线的grinpreform。Doric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，它将提高当前激光二极管准直片的性能，并为用于神经元活动钙成像的微型荧光显微镜提供高质量镜头，从而加强Doric在快速增长的神经科学相关行业中的竞争地位。

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.