About the Research Program

Deepbrain: Development of an ultra-thin 2-photon endoscope system for in-vivo imaging in neuroscience

Over the past few years, optical imaging of neural activity in brain tissue in neuroscience has rapidly gained interest and it has helped to better understand complex brain behavior. However, in-vivo brain imaging has been limited to shallow brain regions, which are relatively easily accessible for optics from the outside. At the same time, investigations of brain activities, e.g. in mice, have required for a fixation of the mice, making investigations more complex and altering the mice response to outside stimulus.

The goal of the Deepbrain project is to develop an ultra-thin two-photon endoscope system for deep brain imaging enabling harmless insertion of the endoscope into the brain of freely moving mice. Menlo Systems is developing an innovative, compact, and easy to use high-power femtosecond fiber laser system enabling two-photon excitation and imaging of brain tissue. CNRS Institut Fresnel develops the imaging instrument, a nonlinear flexible ultra-thin lens-less endoscope allowing harmless imaging of mouse brain activity in deeper, so far inaccessible, brain regions. The compact, portable and easy-to-use nonlinear endoscope imaging system aims to open up new opportunities on the market for brain activity imaging and push the boundaries of currently available technologies.

Related website:
https://www.era-learn.eu/network-information/networks/eurostars-2/eurostars-cut2013off-9/development-of-an-ultra-thin-2-photon-endoscope-system-for-in-vivo-imaging-in-neuroscience

We are grateful for funding provided by Eurostars.