Carnegie Mellon University robotics researchers have developed an innovative new flexible imager. Hardly any more than that, because this thing is thinner than an eyelash and able to capture remarkable brain activity in real-time! Incredibly, this revolutionary technology makes it possible to non-invasively image functioning neural tissue in real-time. It could unlock opportunities for earlier disease diagnosis and more targeted, impactful treatments.
Research team leader Maysam Chamanzar is in search of an exhilarating ride. They are currently transforming this insight into an imaging device that will empower groundbreaking discoveries into neural dynamics. The flexible imager employs specialized waveguides and high-intensity lasers to illuminate brain tissue. It then uses an array of micromirrors to record the backscattered light. This army of light is then coupled to the individual waveguides and transmitted for future analysis.
The imager’s ability became evident when it was used to take imaging of fluorescent microspheres contained within a highly scattering medium. It successfully used 3D localization of these microspheres. The demonstration proved that the technology has potential to deliver high-resolution, quality imaging. This new capability may prove to be absolutely critical for parsing out complex neural behaviors.
As M. Hassan Malekoshoaraie, a doctoral student on the team, who added that during manufacturing process He explained, “We made the miniaturized endoscope using microscale fabrication techniques similar to those used in microelectronics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).”
Chamanzar’s ultimate goal is to connect neural activity to the transcriptional profiles of specific cell types. This study sheds light on how we can get a fuller picture of population activity. He stated, “With further development, the microimager could be implanted for short- or long-term imaging or attached to catheters to image internal body parts like the gastrointestinal tract or inside blood vessels.”
The impact of this research goes far past the field of neuroscience. Chamanzar explained that in addition to improving diagnostic value, the flexible imager could improve surgical outcomes. “It could be used with surgical tools to provide real-time visual feedback to surgeons to improve the surgical outcome and reduce the chance of adverse effects,” he explained.
The miniaturized form factor of this microimager makes it unique from conventional endoscopes that often have large and unwieldy probes. “As opposed to existing prohibitively large endoscopes made of cameras and optical lenses or bulky fiber optic bundles, our microimager is very compact,” Chamanzar emphasized.
The work has been published in the journal Biomedical Optics Express. These findings represent an important breakthrough in both the fields of neuroscience and medicine, particularly neuroimaging. The article can be accessed through DOI: 10.1364/BOE.558778.