A window into the brain
A new endoscope the size of a human hair has penetrated the brain of a live mouse for the first time
Biologists still do not have enough precise tools to study the central nervous system. Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a new device for monitoring mammalian brain activity has been invented — an ultrathin endoscope (Ohayon et al., Minimally invasive multimode optical fiber microendoscope for deep brain fluorescence imaging).
Microendoscope circuit / Optical Society of America
According to experts, its size is comparable to a human hair: the thickness is 125 microns, or 0.000125 meters. Because of its size, it can penetrate much deeper into the brain than any other of the existing endoscopes. Its inventor Shai Ohayon spoke about the future use of the tool:
"With further development, this microendoscope will be able to show the activity of neurons in those areas of the brain where previously we could not penetrate: for example, in the visual cortex of primates. It will also help in studying how neurons from different parts of the brain interact with each other."
Specialists conducted tests on an anesthetized mouse: they made a tiny hole in its skull and lowered an endoscope into it. The experiment confirmed that the device is able to show tissues located at a distance of 100 microns from the tip. Ohayon commented on the experience:
"One of the advantages of our endoscope is that its miniature size allows you to go deeper into the brain. You can see all the blood vessels, so it's easier to bypass them without damaging them. Sometimes an endoscope can affect nearby neurons. The distance available to us for observation allows us to consider those neurons that are not affected by the impact."
The main disadvantage of the device is that it works only in a straight position: any bend disrupts the image transmission. The restriction did not affect the experiments in any way, but, as stated in the press release of The Optical Society Ultrathin Endoscope Captures Neurons Firing Deep in the Brain, solving this problem could expand the possibilities of studying the brain.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru