Researchers Develop Ultralight Head-Mounted Microscope for Enhanced Brain Imaging

A team of scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China, the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, and the Shenzhen Institute of Technology have collaborated to create TINIscope, the world's lightest head-mounted fluorescence microscope, weighing a mere 0.43 grams.

Traditional head-mounted devices weigh around 2 grams, and implanting four of them on a small animal like a mouse would significantly impede its movement due to the significant weight.

To overcome this challenge, the researchers utilized a smaller image sensor chip with serial output capabilities, minimizing the additional circuitry in the head-mounted portion of TINIscope while addressing signal transmission issues.

In the optical design, the fluorescence excitation path (LED side) and the acquisition path (CMOS side) of head-mounted devices are typically arranged perpendicularly, with the larger CMOS side positioned vertically in traditional devices.

However, the limited space on a mouse's head made it impossible to accommodate four such devices simultaneously. In this study, the researchers modified the optical design of TINIscope to facilitate more efficient placement on the head.

TINIscope offers greater flexibility in angle adjustment during installation, enabling synchronous imaging of two brain regions with a minimum spacing of 1.2 millimeters, essentially allowing simultaneous recording of any four target brain regions.

Additionally, the researchers addressed the issue of cable entanglement during animal movement by employing commutators and a comprehensive data acquisition system.

（举报）