Miniaturized lens implantation device and method based on brain imaging

Abstract

The invention discloses a miniaturized lens implantation device and method based on brain imaging. The implantation device is composed of a gradient index lens (GRIN lens), a micropipette tip 1, a micropipette tip 2, an injector, a vacuum tube and a suction filtration pump. The aperture of the tip part 1 of the micro pipette is slightly larger than that of the GRIN lens, and the aperture of the micro pipette 2 is slightly smaller than that of the GRIN lens. The two pipettes are connected with the injector after being nested and fixed, and are communicated to the suction filtration pump through the vacuum pipe. The GRIN lens is placed in the tip part 1 of the micropipette, the suction filtration pump is started, the GRIN lens is fixed on the device due to negative pressure, and when the GRIN lens is moved to a proper implantation position, the suction filtration pump is closed, so that implantation is completed. According to the device designed in the scheme, implantation of the miniaturized microscope lens in the head of the experimental animal is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for miniaturized lens implantation, and more particularly to a device and method for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging. Currently, GRIN lens is commonly used as an objective lens in miniaturized fluorescence microscopes, which has the advantages of small size and light weight, and can image the brain neurons of experimental animals within the range of their free movement. However, how to accurately and non-destructively implant GRIN lens into the head of an animal is a problem that needs to be solved. Background Art

[0002] Modern technology understands that miniaturization is a key advancement that facilitates low-cost production, often leading to improved performance and unexpected applications. This impact has been demonstrated in fields as diverse as telecommunications, computing, and genomics. In neuroscience, microscopy has been widely used in live animals, but the limitations of conventional microscopes, such as their large size, have hampered the scope and scale of brain imaging experiments. To improve the feasibility, quality, and throughput of brain imaging studies in freely behaving animals, miniaturized integrated fluorescence microscopes have emerged, with designs that allow for mass production and high-speed tracking of neural dynamics. Miniaturized microscopes are based on micro-optics and semiconductor optoelectronics, both of which are easy to mass-produce and integrate all optical components in a tiny package that is easily handheld. Compared to high-resolution fiber-optic microscopes, miniaturized microscopes have advantages in optical sensitivity, field of view, resolution, animal mechanical dexterity, cost, and portability.

[0003] With the development of precision manufacturing, optical components and micro-electromechanical components can maintain the same performance as conventional components while reducing their size, which significantly improves the effect of miniaturized microscopic imaging systems; the objective lens, as the most important component in a microscope, directly determines the imaging effect of the entire microscope. For conventional objective lenses, when the incident light enters the lens surface, it is refracted due to the sudden change in refractive index from air to uniform material. The light propagates in a straight line in the uniform material until it is refracted again when it passes through the exit surface of the lens. A carefully designed surface can make the light converge at a point to achieve imaging. The high precision required for traditional lens surface processing has increased the difficulty of miniaturized lens manufacturing and increased production costs. GRIN lens is an effective alternative. Its performance depends on the continuous change of the refractive index in the lens material. The complex shape surface is replaced by a flat optical surface. The light is continuously bent in the lens until it is finally focused on a point. The diameter of the lens can be as small as 0.2 mm. Due to the special manufacturing mechanism of GRIN lens, lens parameters such as focal length and working distance can be adjusted to a great extent by simply changing the lens length. At the same time, GRIN lens is usually a cylinder or a cuboid with flat ends, making it more suitable for assembly, further meeting the requirements of miniaturized lenses and simplifying the optical path. In addition, the advancement of surgical technology has also enabled the miniaturized microscopic imaging system to avoid damage to brain tissue to the greatest extent when implanted below the skull; at the same time, the miniaturized microscopic imaging system is completely within the tolerance of animals due to its light weight and small size. Through reasonable design and the application of components of appropriate size, such as using GRIN lens instead of normal-sized lens imaging, designing and using small-sized filters, etc., and assembling it into a 3D-printed shell for fixed integration, a small-sized and low-quality head-mounted microscope can be obtained. Due to its small and light characteristics, this microscope can image the brain of mice without affecting their normal behavioral activities, thereby obtaining the most realistic and credible brain neural images.

[0004] However, due to its small size, the operator will face great challenges when implanting the GRIN lens in the head, which requires both vertical implantation stability and moderate clamping force to avoid damaging the lens. This requires the design of a device that can ensure that the GRIN lens is accurately implanted in the target position of the mouse's head without damaging the objective lens to ensure that the miniaturized microscope can achieve basic imaging functions. Summary of the invention

[0005] 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.

[0006] In view of this, in order to overcome the above technical problems, the present invention provides a device and method for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging, which realizes the stable, vertical and non-destructive implantation of the GRIN lens into the target position of the head of the test animal, ensuring the smooth progress of the entire imaging process.

[0007] Solution 1: The present invention provides a device and method for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging, wherein the device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging comprises: a GRIN lens, a micropipette tip 1, a micropipette tip 2, a syringe, a vacuum tube, and a filtration pump;

[0008] Further: the GRIN lens is a 1 / 4 pitch lens with a diameter of 2 mm.

[0009] Furthermore: the caliber of the micropipette tip 1 is slightly larger than the diameter of the GRIN lens, and the caliber of the micropipette tip 2 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the GRIN lens.

[0010] Further: the micropipette tip 2 is to be nested in the micropipette tip 1, and the gap is blocked with glue.

[0011] Further: When the micropipette tip 2 and the micropipette tip 1 are nested, it is necessary to ensure that the surfaces of both are flat and there is enough space to place the lens.

[0012] Further: glue needs to be applied around the syringe head to facilitate stable bonding with the micropipette tip 2 and isolate it from air when nested.

[0013] Further: the length of the vacuum tube ranges from 60 to 80 cm.

[0014] Further: The entire system must remain sealed during the connection process.

[0015] Furthermore: the device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging has the following usage method, which is characterized by: firstly, the GRIN lens is fitted with the micropipette tip 1 and the micropipette tip 2, and then the suction pump is turned on to achieve negative pressure at the port, and after the GRIN lens is moved to a suitable position, the lens is quickly fixed with glue, and the suction pump is turned off, the negative pressure disappears, the GRIN lens is separated from the device, and the implantation is successful.

[0016] Beneficial Effects

[0017] The present invention provides a solution for the implantation of GRIN lens in animal head experiments based on miniaturized microscopes. The movement of GRIN lens is achieved by sealing negative pressure. When the GRIN lens is moved to the ideal position on the animal's head, it is fixed with quick-drying glue, and then the negative pressure is removed to complete the implantation. This method can ensure that the GRIN lens reaches the desired position vertically and stably without damage, ensuring the smooth progress of the imaging process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging of the present invention.

[0019] In the figure: 1 GRIN lens, 2 micropipette tip 1, 3 micropipette tip 2, 4 syringe, 5 vacuum tube, 6 filtration pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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 solution 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.

[0022] Embodiment 1: As attached Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a device and a method for using a miniaturized lens implant based on brain imaging, which is used to solve the problem of implanting a miniaturized microscope objective lens in the head of an experimental animal.

[0023] The device for implanting the miniaturized lens for brain imaging comprises: a GRIN lens 1, a micropipette tip 12, a micropipette tip 23, a syringe 4, a vacuum tube 5 and a filtration pump 6;

[0024] More specifically: the GRIN lens 1 is a 1 / 4 pitch lens with a diameter of 2 mm.

[0025] More specifically: the diameter of the micropipette tip 12 is slightly larger than the diameter of the GRIN lens 1 , and the diameter of the micropipette tip 23 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the GRIN lens 1 .

[0026] More specifically: the micropipette tip 23 is to be nested in the micropipette tip 12, and the gap is blocked with glue.

[0027] More specifically, when the micropipette tip 23 and the micropipette tip 12 are nested, it is necessary to ensure that the surfaces of both are flat and there is enough space to place the lens.

[0028] More specifically: glue needs to be applied around the head of the syringe 4 to facilitate stable bonding with the tip 23 of the micropipette and to isolate it from air when nesting.

[0029] More specifically: the length of the vacuum tube 5 is in the range of 60-80 cm.

[0030] More specifically: The entire system must remain sealed during the connection process.

[0031] More specifically: the device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging is used as follows, characterized in that: first, the GRIN lens 1 is fitted with the micropipette tip 12 and the micropipette tip 23, and then the suction pump 6 is turned on to achieve negative pressure at the port, and after the GRIN lens 1 is moved to a suitable position, the lens is quickly fixed with glue, and the suction pump 6 is turned off. The negative pressure disappears, the GRIN lens 1 is separated from the device, and the implantation is successful.

[0032] 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 device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging, characterized in that: The brain imaging fixed base of the miniaturized microscope comprises: a gradient refractive index lens (GRIN lens) (1), a micropipette tip 1 (2), a micropipette tip 2 (3), a syringe (4), a vacuum tube (5) and a filtration pump (6).

2. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The GRIN lens (1) is a 1 / 4 pitch lens with a diameter of 2 mm.

3. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The caliber of the micropipette tip 1 (2) is slightly larger than the diameter of the GRIN lens (1), and the caliber of the micropipette tip 2 (3) is slightly smaller than the diameter of the GRIN lens (1).

4. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The micropipette tip 2 (3) is to be nested in the micropipette tip 1 (2), and the gap is blocked with glue.

5. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the micropipette tip 2 (3) and the micropipette tip 1 (2) are nested, it is necessary to ensure that the surfaces of both are flat and there is enough space to place the lens.

6. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: Glue needs to be applied around the head of the syringe (4) to facilitate stable bonding with the tip 2 (3) of the micropipette when nested and to isolate the air.

7. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the vacuum tube (5) is in the range of 60-80 cm.

8. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The entire system must remain sealed during the connection process.

9. The device for miniaturized lens implantation based on brain imaging according to claim 1, wherein the method of use is as follows, characterized in that: First, the GRIN lens (1) is fitted with the micropipette tip 1 (2) and the micropipette tip 2 (3), and then the suction pump (6) is turned on to achieve negative pressure at the port. After the GRIN lens (1) is moved to a suitable position, the lens is quickly fixed with glue, and the suction pump (6) is turned off. The negative pressure disappears, and the GRIN lens (1) is separated from the device, and the implantation is successful.

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