Optogenetics is a scientific method (Method of the Year 2010 according to Nature magazine) that enables control of targeted cell functions using light stimulation and genetically encoded light-sensitive proteins. Currently, the most popular method of optical stimulation in optogenetics research is to send the light from a laser or LED source to the brain of a laboratory mouse or of a rat via an optical fibre. Over a short period of time, this straightforward optical link has evolved into complex fibre-to-the-brain (FTTB) network consisting of the fibre coupled light source, rotary joint, beam-splitters, fibre-optic patch cord and variety of fibre-optic cannulas with implantable fibres. Nowadays, the optical fibre is used, not only to send different light stimuli, but to collect laser-induced fluorescence, back-scatter etc from neurons, cells and other tissue. The use of the optogenetics method is no more limited to neurons but is being applied to other cell types, e.g., heart muscle cells.

Due to ever increasing versatility of the product demand and our offering we have outlined the optogenetics product road map (found in the catalogue link below). It states what we could produce and what might be needed by customers. We are trying hard to educate ourselves about those needs and we do invite you, our customers, to suggest or discuss with us further expansions on that road map.

Complete catalogue

Our fibre-optic cannula consists of a fibre-optic ferrule with some sort of fibre-optic connector receptacle on one side and the implantable fibre sticking out from the other side. When the fibre-optic cannula is fixed to the body with the fibre implanted, it can deliver light to the tissue and capture fluorescence or scatter from the tissue.

Stereotaxic Adaptors

To answer the call for having light optical sources attached to the body, we have developed assembly where pigtailed LED mounts directly on fibre-optic cannula or it is integral part of the cannula.

No heat sink is mounted on the assembly, in order to keep it small and light. Besides, we only use medium brightness LEDs to reduce heating. These LEDs are driven with maximum 150mA. It is highly recommended that LEDs be pulsed with a duty cycle lower than 25%, and a maximum high-level duration of 1s.

Fibre-Optic Rotary Joint

Our introductory version is designed for use in visible range with multimode fibre having up to 200 μm core diameter and NA up to 0.37. The joint diameter is 17 mm while the length without FC connectors is 25 mm. The weight is about 10 grams. Typical insertion loss is less than 1.0 dB with less than 0.2 dB variation during rotation. These joints were specifically developed for optogenetics applications to facilitate delivery of the light signal through optical fibres to moving objects. However, any applications that requires optical fiber cable connecting to rotating object can take advantage of this product.