Columbia Technology Ventures

Wireless implantable device for optical brain imaging in freely moving animals

This technology is a wireless, implantable, high resolution device for optical brain imaging in freely behaving animals.

Unmet Need: Multifunctional brain imaging in freely behaving animals

The ability to observe and record individual action potentials across a large area of the brain will greatly contribute to systems neuroscience and functional brain mapping studies. Miniscopes are miniaturized fluorescence detectors which can be mounted on the heads of lab animals. Current state-of-the art miniscopes are fairly large, have a relatively small field-of-view, and most are not wireless, requiring an electronic lead to provide power, program control, and data acquisition.

The Technology: Wireless high-resolution imaging probe for freely moving animals

This technology is a fully wireless implantable probe capable of both fluorescence imaging and optogenetic interrogation in freely behaving lab animals. The device has an excellent resolution (<30 micrometers) over a large field of view (centimeters) with deep penetration (> 250 micrometers), which is achieved through a custom image processing algorithm. Importantly, the device has an extremely small form factor in a flexible package, which allows it to be implanted underneath the skull and directly onto the cortex. This implanted device communicates wirelessly with an external head-mounted transceiver, which provides it with wireless power and controls all aspects of recording and optogenetic interrogation, and in turn communicates with another external wireless controller. Overall, this device will advance the neural imaging field, allowing for high resolution fluorescence imaging of genetically-encoded sensors with simultaneous optogenetic control of deep-brain structures in a freely-behaving animal.

Applications:

  • Optical reconstruction of brain structures
  • Optical recording of brain activity using functional indicators (voltage, calcium, pH sensors)
  • Optogenetic interrogation

Advantages:

  • Implantable and wireless device for use in freely behaving animals
  • High resolution over a large field of view
  • Allows optical interrogation and imaging of deeper brain structures
  • Enables simultaneous optogenetic interrogation and imaging
  • Capable of time-gated fluorescence imaging, eliminating the need for optical filters
  • Low power consumption
  • Flexible and biocompatible, minimizing surgical complications

Lead Inventor:

Kenneth Shepard, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

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