Wireless optical genetic system based on radio frequency

Abstract

The utility model provides a radio frequency-based wireless optical genetic system, which solves the problems that in the existing optical genetic stimulation system, most flexible implants depend on an external battery module to supply power, the service time is limited and the like, and the main scheme is that the radio frequency-based wireless optical genetic system comprises a radio frequency emission source, a radio frequency switch, an impedance coupling adjusting circuit, the flexible implants, a touch screen and a case, the radio frequency emission source can generate a radio frequency signal with a specific frequency; the radio frequency switch is electrically connected with the radio frequency emission source so as to control the on-off of the radio frequency emission source; the impedance coupling adjusting circuit is used for adjusting impedance matching with the radio frequency emission source according to different coil sizes; the whole flexible implant is made of a flexible circuit board; the touch screen is used for being matched with control software to set optical genetic parameters; and the case integrates the radio frequency emission source and the radio frequency switch into a whole machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of optogenetics, in particular to a wireless optogenetics system based on radio frequency. Background Art

[0002] As a neuron-specific regulation tool, the optogenetic stimulation system has been widely used in every field of nervous system research. Commonly used optogenetic stimulation also requires the optical fiber to be led out of the animal's head. The animal's activities sometimes cause the optical fiber to tangle, forcing the experiment to be terminated or even damaging the connection; the animal cannot move naturally, and is dragged or entangled, affecting the behavioral test results; the behavioral software will make incorrect judgments or counts of the animal's behavior because of the harness on the animal's head; the harness is often bitten by small animals, especially in the case of long-term unattended recording, such as sleep experiments; some special experimental designs, such as drilling holes, closed spaces, and recording several interacting animals at the same time, the head connection will cause great obstacles to the experiment; the shaking and friction of the cable will cause large motion noise, causing instability in the recording baseline.

[0003] In the existing wireless optogenetics technology, it is more common to modulate the optogenetics light source through infrared technology, Bluetooth technology or 2.4G technology. The light source implanted in the animal brain also needs to be powered by an external battery module. This solution increases the weight of the implant, and the battery has a certain usage time limit, which creates some obstacles to the experimental design. Therefore, we propose a radio frequency-based wireless optogenetics system to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to overcome the defects of the prior art. The utility model proposes a wireless optogenetics system based on radio frequency, in which wires are wound around the outside of a behavior box, a changing magnetic field is formed in the behavior box through an impedance coupling adjustment circuit, and an implant's own coil generates an induced voltage to power the implant's light source.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is: a radio frequency-based wireless optogenetics system, comprising: an RF transmitter, an RF switch, an impedance coupling adjustment circuit, a flexible implant, a touch screen and a chassis, wherein the RF transmitter can generate an RF signal of a specific frequency; the RF switch is electrically connected to the RF transmitter to control the on and off of the RF transmitter; the impedance coupling adjustment circuit is used to adjust the impedance matching with the RF transmitter according to different coil sizes; the flexible implant is made of a flexible circuit board as a whole; the touch screen is used to cooperate with the control software to realize the setting of optogenetic parameters; the chassis integrates the RF transmitter and the RF switch into a complete machine.

[0006] Further, the impedance coupling adjustment circuit includes two adjustable capacitors, an SWR standing wave meter, and a variable inductor. One end of the variable inductor is electrically connected to the radio frequency transmitter, and the other end is connected in parallel with the two adjustable capacitors in sequence. The flexible implant is electrically connected to the adjustable capacitor through the SWR standing wave meter.

[0007] Further, the flexible implant is a hollow disc structure formed by winding a wire, and an LED light source is integrated at its end. The LED light source realizes power supply through electromagnetic induction of the coil.

[0008] Further, the radio frequency transmitter generates a frequency of 13.56 MHz.

[0009] Further, the control software includes a PC host, a single-chip microcomputer, or a mobile phone APP program.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include:

[0011] 1. The entire system is powered by radio frequency induction, without a battery, and can achieve long-term wireless optogenetic stimulation or inhibition.

[0012] 2. It can realize various ways of adjusting the power and frequency of the flexible implant.

[0013] 3. The flexible implant configured in the system is made of a flexible circuit board, has extremely light weight, and has good biocompatibility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The disclosure of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components. Among them:

[0015] Figure 1 Schematically shows a schematic diagram of the flexible implant structure proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 Schematically shows a schematic diagram of the impedance coupling adjustment circuit principle proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 Schematically shows a schematic diagram of the flexible implant circuit principle proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals in the figure: 1, adjustable capacitor; 2, adjustable inductor; 3, SWR standing wave meter; 4, radio frequency transmitter; 5, flexible implant; 6, LED light source DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] It is easy to understand that according to the technical solution of the present utility model, without changing the essential spirit of the present utility model, those of ordinary skill in the art can propose various interchangeable structural forms and implementation methods. Therefore, the following specific embodiments and drawings are only exemplary illustrations of the technical solution of the present utility model, and should not be regarded as the whole of the present utility model or as a limitation or restriction on the technical solution of the present utility model.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present utility model in combination with Figure 1 shown.

[0021] In the traditional optogenetic system, the fiber optic ferrule is buried in the brain of experimental animals. Although most optogenetic experiments do not have particularly high requirements for the stability of light intensity, the fiber optic rotary joint can meet the requirements of most behavioral experiments. However, in many experimental scenarios, the use of wires makes the experiment difficult to control well. Therefore, wireless optogenetic systems have also been adopted by many laboratories. Currently, several wireless technologies can be used to achieve wireless optogenetic stimulation.

[0022] Compared with other wireless optogenetic systems with batteries, a radio frequency-based wireless optogenetic system in this application realizes continuous power supply to the implanted light source through induced voltage. The flexible implant 5 does not need to be equipped with a battery, and long-term wireless optogenetic experiments can be realized; the system is also equipped with a radio frequency switch to realize modulation of different frequencies of optogenetic signals; the impedance coupling adjustment circuit can perform matching adjustment for behavioral chamber coils of different sizes, so as to meet the needs of most combinations of optogenetic experiments and behavioral experiments. This system integrates the radio frequency transmitter 4 and the radio frequency switch, and is controlled by an internal single-chip microcomputer, and can realize touch screen adjustment of optogenetic parameters, computer software control and mobile phone APP control.

[0023] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, it specifically includes a radio frequency transmitter 4, a radio frequency switch, an impedance coupling adjustment circuit, a flexible implant 5, a touch screen, a chassis and control software, etc. Among them, the radio frequency transmitter 4 can generate a radio frequency signal with a frequency of 13.56 MHz; the radio frequency switch can control the on and off of the radio frequency transmitter 4, so as to realize the frequency setting of optogenetic signals; the impedance coupling adjustment circuit can adjust the impedance matching with the radio frequency transmitter 4 according to the size of different coils, so as to make the energy induced by the flexible implant 5 the strongest; the flexible implant 5 does not require a battery structure, is simple, is made of a flexible circuit board as a whole, has extremely light weight, has good biocompatibility, and can realize long-term optogenetic experiments; the touch screen can realize the setting of optogenetic parameters; the chassis integrates the radio frequency transmitter 4 and the radio frequency switch into a whole machine; the control software runs on a computer and can also realize the setting of optogenetic parameters.

[0024] As Figure 2As shown, the impedance coupling adjustment circuit includes two adjustable capacitors 1, an SWR standing wave meter 3, and a variable inductor. One end of the variable inductor is electrically connected to the radio frequency transmitter 4, and the other end is connected in parallel with the two adjustable capacitors 1 in sequence. The flexible implant 5 is electrically connected to the adjustable capacitor 1 through the SWR standing wave meter 3.

[0025] To some extent, the SWR standing wave meter 3 is also a kind of power meter, which can measure the input power and the reflected power. By measuring the forward power and the reverse power, the standing wave ratio can be calculated. Generally speaking, the ideal state of this circuit is that as much input power as possible can be transmitted through antenna matching, and then induced with the LED coil (i.e., the flexible implant 5) in this application. Matching means maximizing the signal transmission efficiency and avoiding signal reflection between components. Therefore, the standing wave ratio is generally acceptable within the range of 1.13:1 - 1.38:1. Finally, the change in the SWR reading is achieved by adjusting the values of the two capacitors in the circuit.

[0026] Furthermore, after subsequent integration with the chassis, a capacitance adjustment knob can be electrically equipped at the same time. When adjusting the capacitance knob, the corresponding voltage value is detected through the impedance detection circuit, and compared with the set high and low voltage thresholds. A comparison result is generated through the comparison circuit, thereby controlling the on and off of the indicator LED, and achieving adjusting the capacitance knob to a suitable value according to the on and off situation of the LED.

[0027] Similarly, the above control software can realize the frequency control and intensity control of the wireless optogenetic system on the computer side and the single-chip microcomputer side. In addition, the control software also includes an APP application program on the mobile phone side.

[0028] The technical scope of the present utility model is not limited to the content described above. Those skilled in the art can make various deformations and modifications to the above embodiments without departing from the technical idea of the present utility model, and these deformations and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A radio frequency-based wireless optogenetic system, characterized in that, Including: A radio frequency (RF) transmitter, an RF switch, an impedance coupling adjustment circuit, a flexible implant, a touch screen, and a chassis. Among them, the RF transmitter can generate RF signals of a specific frequency; The RF switch is electrically connected to the RF transmitter to control the on / off of the RF transmitter; the impedance coupling adjustment circuit is used to adjust the impedance matching with the RF transmitter for different coil sizes; the flexible implant is made of a flexible circuit board as a whole; the touch screen is used to cooperate with the control software to realize the setting of optogenetic parameters; the chassis integrates the RF transmitter and the RF switch into a complete machine.

2. The radiofrequency-based wireless optogenetic system according to claim 1, wherein: The impedance coupling adjustment circuit includes two adjustable capacitors, an SWR (standing wave ratio) meter, and a variable inductor. One end of the variable inductor is electrically connected to the RF transmitter, and the other end is connected in parallel with the two adjustable capacitors in sequence. The flexible implant is electrically connected to the adjustable capacitor through the SWR meter.

3. A radio-frequency-based wireless optogenetic system according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible implant is a hollow disc structure formed by winding wires, and an LED light source is integrated at its end. The LED light source realizes power supply through electromagnetic induction of the coil.

4. The radiofrequency-based wireless optogenetic system according to claim 1, wherein: The RF transmitter generates a frequency of 13.56 MHz.

5. The radiofrequency-based wireless optogenetic system according to claim 1, wherein: The control software includes a PC host, a single-chip microcomputer, or a mobile phone APP program.

Images