Design and use method of brain imaging fixed base based on miniaturized microscopic system

Abstract

The invention discloses a design and use method of a brain imaging fixing base based on a miniaturized microscopic system. The base is composed of a substrate, rare earth magnets and fixing screws. The size of the substrate is equivalent to the size of the bottom of the microscopy system, and meanwhile, two fixing screws are arranged to ensure that the microscopy system and the substrate are firmly fixed. Rare earth magnets are embedded in the four corners of the substrate, have the same magnetic orientation and attract magnets fixed at the same position of the bottom of the microscopy system, so that the microscopy system is ensured to be uniform and horizontal relative to the substrate when being fixed, and the optimal imaging effect is realized. The center of the substrate is provided with a hole of which the size is the same as that of a gradient refractive index lens (GRIN lens), so that the substrate can be used as an objective lens to image a brain structure. The base structure designed in the scheme realizes the fixation of the head miniaturized microscopic system under the condition of free movement of an animal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for fixing a miniaturized microscopic imaging device, and more particularly to a design and use method of a brain imaging fixing base based on a miniaturized microscopic system. The miniaturized fluorescence microscopic system has the advantages of small size and light weight, and can image the brain neurons of the experimental animal within the range of its free movement. However, how to stably fix the miniaturized microscopic imaging device on the animal's head is a problem that needs to be solved. Background Art

[0002] Fluorescence microscopy is an optical microscopy system that uses fluorescence and phosphorescence instead of or in addition to scattering, reflection, attenuation, and absorption to study the properties of organic or inorganic matter. "Fluorescence microscopy" refers to any microscopy system that uses fluorescence to produce images, whether it is a simpler design such as radiofluorescence microscopy or a more complex design such as confocal microscopy.

[0003] Widefield fluorescence microscopy has the advantage of high temporal resolution, which is suitable for imaging rapidly changing processes. In addition, the integration and miniaturization of microscopy systems are an inevitable trend for imaging the brains of freely moving animals such as mice. Among mammals, mice are an excellent and tenacious genetic model for targeted manipulation of cell characteristics, but when using optical microscopy to observe their brains, their limbs and heads still need to be fixed, and the objective lens must be fixed above the head for observation. This restriction on their normal behavior and activities will greatly affect the universality and accuracy of the information obtained. With the development of precision manufacturing, optical components and micro-electromechanical components can be reduced in size while maintaining the same performance as conventional components, which has significantly improved the effect of miniaturized microscopic imaging systems. In addition, advances in surgical techniques have also enabled miniaturized microscopic imaging systems to avoid damage to brain tissue to the greatest extent when implanted below the skull. At the same time, miniaturized microscopic imaging systems are completely within the tolerance range of animals due to their light weight and small size. Through reasonable design and the application of components of appropriate size, such as using gradient refractive index lenses instead of normal-sized lenses for imaging, designing and using small-sized filters, etc., and assembling them into a 3D-printed shell for fixed integration, a small-sized and low-mass head-mounted microscopy system can be obtained. Due to its small and light characteristics, this microscopy system can image the brain of mice without affecting their normal behavioral activities, thereby obtaining the most realistic and credible brain neural images.

[0004] In summary, the miniaturized microscopic imaging system can ensure that animals can image their brain neurons under the premise of free will and free activities, such as pathological changes, recovery, and social behavior, and analyze the working status of neurons and the entire nervous tissue. Due to its small size and high integration, the miniaturized microscopic system can complete the measurement work under special circumstances. Therefore, in life sciences and industrial testing, the miniaturized microscopic system is of great significance.

[0005] However, the miniaturized microscope system cannot be directly connected to the mouse's head because of its complex structure and small size, which makes it difficult to fix. Even if it is barely fixed, the violent shaking will affect the imaging effect. This requires a device that can ensure a stable connection with the mouse's head to fix the miniaturized microscope system to assist in normal and stable imaging. Summary of the invention

[0006] A brief overview of the present invention is provided below in order to provide a basic understanding of certain aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that this overview is not an exhaustive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify key or important parts of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Its purpose is merely to present certain concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description discussed later.

[0007] In view of this, in order to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a design and use method of a brain imaging fixing base based on a miniaturized microscope system, which realizes a device that can firmly fix the miniaturized microscope system on the head of an experimental animal, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of the entire imaging process.

[0008] Solution 1: The present invention provides a design method for a brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscopic system, wherein the brain imaging fixed base of the miniaturized microscopic system comprises: a substrate, a rare earth magnet, a fixing screw 1, a fixing screw 2 and a GRIN lens;

[0009] Furthermore: there is a hole with a diameter of 2 mm in the center of the substrate, which is convenient for a GRIN lens with a diameter of 2 mm to pass through and thus form an image.

[0010] Furthermore: the substrate has a rectangular groove with a size of 10mm×6mm×5mm, a groove depth of 4mm and a wall thickness of 2mm.

[0011] Furthermore: the fixing screw 1 and the fixing screw 2 are both self-tapping screws with a diameter of 2 mm.

[0012] Furthermore: the magnets are all rare earth magnets with the same magnetic orientation, evenly distributed at the four corners of the substrate, and just coincide with the position of the magnets at the bottom of the designed miniaturized microscope system.

[0013] Further: when the substrate is fixed to the head of the test animal, it is necessary to scratch some marks on the bottom with a sharp object to make the bond between it and the glue more firm and tight.

[0014] Further: when the hollow slide rail is fixed to the head of the test animal, it is necessary to scratch some marks on its bottom with a sharp object to make the combination between it and the glue more firm and tight.

[0015] Furthermore: the substrate is made of photosensitive resin using a 3D printer.

[0016] Solution 2: The present invention proposes a method for using a brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscope system. This method is implemented based on the design method of the brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscope system described in Solution 1. The method of use is divided into two parts, namely a fixing step and a microscope system installation step.

[0017] Fixing steps:

[0018] After craniotomy, place the baseplate in the appropriate position and use a sharp object to gently scrape the animal's skull and the bottom of the baseplate to make the connection with the glue tighter.

[0019] Microscope system installation steps:

[0020] The miniaturized microscope is gently placed on the substrate, and the rare earth magnet at the bottom of the microscope fits with the magnet with opposite magnetic properties at the bottom of the microscope, thereby ensuring the level of the microscope to avoid affecting the imaging effect. Then, the microscope is tightly fixed on the substrate by rotating the fixing screws 1 and 2.

[0021] Beneficial Effects

[0022] The present invention provides a solution for fixing a miniaturized microscopic system during a freely moving mouse head experiment. Two screws at the base plate ensure that the microscopic system can be tightly fixed. In addition, four magnets are introduced on the base plate, which cooperate with four magnets with the same position and opposite magnetic properties on the microscopic system to ensure uniformity and levelness during the installation of the microscopic system, thereby ensuring the normal progress of the imaging process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a brain imaging fixing base based on a miniaturized microscope system of the present invention.

[0024] In the figure: 1 substrate, 2 rare earth magnet, 3 fixing screw 1, 4 fixing screw 2, 5 GRIN lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, not all features of the actual implementation are described in the specification. However, it should be understood that many implementation-specific decisions must be made in the process of developing any such actual implementation in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as meeting those constraints related to the system and business, and these constraints may vary from implementation to implementation. In addition, it should be understood that although the development work may be very complex and time-consuming, it is only a routine task for those skilled in the art who benefit from the disclosure of the present invention.

[0026] It is also necessary to explain here that, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention due to unnecessary details, only the device structure and / or processing steps closely related to the scheme according to the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the present invention are omitted.

[0027] Embodiment 1: As attached Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a design method for a brain imaging fixing base based on a miniaturized microscope system, which is used to solve the problem of fixing the miniaturized microscope system on the head of a freely moving mouse.

[0028] The brain imaging fixed base of the miniaturized microscopic system comprises: a base plate 1, a rare earth magnet 2, a fixing screw 13, a fixing screw 24 and a GRIN lens 5;

[0029] More specifically: the substrate 1 has a hole with a diameter of 2 mm in the center, which is convenient for a GRIN lens with a diameter of 2 mm to pass through and thus form an image.

[0030] More specifically: the substrate 1 has a rectangular groove with a size of 10 mm×6 mm×5 mm, a groove depth of 4 mm, and a wall thickness of 2 mm.

[0031] The fixing screws 13 and 24 are both self-tapping screws with a diameter of 2 mm.

[0032] More specifically: the magnets 2 are all rare earth magnets with the same magnetic orientation, evenly distributed at the four corners of the substrate, and just coincide with the position of the magnets at the bottom of the designed miniaturized microscope system.

[0033] More specifically: when the substrate 1 is fixed to the head of the test animal, it is necessary to scratch some marks on the bottom thereof with a sharp object to make the bonding between it and the glue more firm and tight.

[0034] More specifically: the substrate 1 is made of photosensitive resin using a 3D printer.

[0035] A method for using a brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscopic system, which is implemented based on the design method of the brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscopic system described in Example 1, and specifically comprises the following steps:

[0036] Fixing steps:

[0037] After the craniotomy, the base plate 1 is placed in a suitable position, and the animal skull and the bottom of the base plate are lightly scraped with a sharp object to make the connection with the glue more firm.

[0038] Microscope system installation steps:

[0039] The miniaturized microscope system is gently placed on the substrate 1, and the rare earth magnet 2 at the bottom thereof fits with the magnet with opposite magnetic properties at the bottom of the microscope system, thereby ensuring the level of the microscope system to avoid affecting the imaging effect. The microscope system is then tightly fixed on the substrate by rotating the fixing screws 13 and 24.

[0040] Although the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are as above, the contents are only embodiments adopted for facilitating understanding of the technical solution of the present invention, and are not used to limit the present invention. Any technician in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make any modifications and changes in the form and details of the implementation without departing from the core technical solution disclosed in the present invention, but the protection scope defined by the present invention shall still be subject to the scope defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscopic system, characterized in that: The brain imaging fixed base of the miniaturized microscope system comprises: a base plate (1), a rare earth magnet (2), a fixing screw 1 (3), a fixing screw 2 (4) and a gradient refractive index lens (GRIN lens) (5).

2. The brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The substrate (1) has a hole with a diameter of 2 mm in the center, which facilitates the passage of a GRIN lens with a diameter of 2 mm, thereby forming an image.

3. The brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base plate (1) has a rectangular groove with a size of 10 mm×6 mm×5 mm, a groove depth of 4 mm and a wall thickness of 2 mm.

4. The brain imaging fixed base based on a miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing screw 1 (3) and the fixing screw 2 (4) are both self-tapping screws with a diameter of 2 mm.

5. The brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The magnets (2) are all rare earth magnets with the same magnetic orientation, and are evenly distributed at the four corners of the substrate, exactly coinciding with the position of the magnets at the bottom of the designed miniaturized microscope system.

6. The brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the base plate (1) is fixed to the head of the test animal, it is necessary to scratch some marks on the bottom of the base plate (1) with a sharp object to make the connection between the base plate (1) and the glue more firm and tight.

7. The brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The substrate (1) is made of photosensitive resin using a 3D printer.

8. According to claim 1, the method for using the brain imaging fixed base based on the miniaturized microscopic system is divided into two parts, namely, a fixing step and a microscopic system installation step, characterized in that: Fixing steps: After the craniotomy, the base plate (1) is placed in a suitable position, and the animal skull and the bottom of the base plate are lightly scraped with a sharp object to make the connection with the glue more secure. Microscope system installation steps: The miniaturized microscope system is gently placed on the substrate (1), and the rare earth magnet (2) at the bottom thereof is fitted with the magnet with opposite magnetic properties at the bottom of the microscope system, thereby ensuring the level of the microscope system to avoid affecting the imaging effect. The microscope system is then tightly fixed on the substrate by rotating the fixing screw 1 (3) and the fixing screw 2 (4).

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