Optical Fiber Bundle Cannula Manufacturing for Entanglement-Free Photometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber photometry systems face challenges in simultaneously recording neural activities from multiple brain regions due to their large size, weight, and entanglement issues, which hinder long-term recordings and distort signals.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber bundle cannula with freely settable spatial positions and a multi-channel fiber photometry system that includes a lightweight optical fiber detection device and a commutating device to prevent entanglement, using a curing material to maintain fiber alignment and a tubular portion to form an umbrella-shaped structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fiber photometry system is used to record neural activities from multiple brain regions, then the recording capability is achieved, but the system becomes large in size and heavy in weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical fibers into a single bundled structure with a common support and fixation mechanism. The optical fibers are arranged in parallel and fixed together using a curing material, creating a compact unit that reduces overall system weight while maintaining the ability to record from multiple brain regions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber bundle cannula serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for multiple optical fibers, enables simultaneous recording from different brain regions, and offers a lightweight alternative to traditional separate fiber arrangements. The unified structure performs both mechanical support and recording functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical fibers are used to record from different brain regions, then the recording flexibility is improved, but the fibers become entangled and distorted during animal movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical fibers into a unified bundled structure where the fibers are held in a fixed relative arrangement by a curing material. This merging prevents the fibers from moving independently and becoming entangled during animal movement, while still allowing the bundle to be inserted into multiple brain regions for flexible recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fibers are pre-positioned and fixed in their relative arrangements using a curing material before insertion into the brain. This preliminary fixation ensures that the fibers maintain their spatial relationships during subsequent implantation and recording operations, preventing entanglement and signal distortion.
3Manufacturing precision
If the optical fiber positioning mold is used to fix the optical fibers, then the relative position of optical fibers is maintained, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber positioning mold is used in the preliminary stage to establish and fix the relative positions of optical fibers before the actual implantation. The mold provides a structured framework that guides fiber placement, and the curing material locks this arrangement in place, ensuring precise position control without requiring complex ongoing adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber positioning mold acts as an intermediary tool during the manufacturing process. It provides a temporary structure that enables precise fiber arrangement and positioning, and is removed after the curing material has set. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall process by using a removable mold rather than a permanent complex fixation structure.
4Weight of moving object
If the optical fiber bundle cannula is made lightweight and compact, then the size and weight are reduced, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curing material with appropriate mechanical properties to fix the optical fibers in place. This curing material provides structural stability to the lightweight cannula assembly, maintaining the relative positions of fibers while keeping the overall structure compact and light. The curing material acts as a bonding agent that combines the lightweight cannula with the fiber arrangement into a stable unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high flexibility in recording from different brain regions with reduced size and weight, allowing continuous and distortion-free signal acquisition, even during animal movement.
Implementation Method 1
fixing exposed portions of the plurality of optical fibers close to the optical fiber positioning mold to the optical fiber positioning mold by using a curing material
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber bundle cannula and a multi-channel fiber photometry system based on the optical fiber bundle cannula are provided. The method includes: manufacturing an optical fiber positioning mold and forming positioning holes on the mold; inserting first ends of optical fibers into the positioning holes respectively; fixing exposed portions of the optical fibers close to the mold to the mold using a curing material so that a relative position of ends of the optical fibers inserted into the mold remains unchanged; inserting second ends of the optical fibers into a tubular portion so that the optical fibers located between the tubular portion and the mold form an umbrella-shaped portion; fixing the umbrella-shaped portion and part of the tubular portion using a curing material, so as to form a fixing portion; and extracting the optical fibers from the mold.