The mouse brain was implanted with a blue LED incarnation wireless receiver

Use of the energy of the mouse to transmit to the implant device, so that the blue light to stimulate the leg nerve. (photo: Austin Yee)

Combined device for internal energy driven light genetics in first 100% organisms

The energy from the mouse's own energy conversion, driven by a miniature wireless remote control device and its internal blue LED light, the use of light to control the mouse brain nerve cells, spine or limbs. The design was developed by the Bio-X team at the Stanford University, and is the first device to transmit light genetic nerve stimulation in a fully implantable manner.

This is a combination of light genetics - the use of light to control brain activity - as well as the invention of a new wireless implantable device Mini drive. The device has greatly expanded the scope of the research, allowing researchers to allow the implanted device in the open space of free and other biological interaction. The study was published in Nature August 17th Methods.

Inert inspired mouse incarnation wireless receiver

Traditionally, the genetics of light require fiber optic connections to the head of the mouse to give light and control the nerves. The device is limited to allow the mouse to move in the cage, but it is not as free as the mouse without the fiber. And in previous experiments, scientists had to come into contact with mice in order to hold the fibers, which could result in changes in the mice's pressure.

These are not limited to the contribution of light genetics. Scientists have come up with a number of studies, including how to block the hand tremor in Alzheimer's patients, the ability of neurons to transmit pain and the possible treatment of stroke. However, it would be a bit of a headache to experiment with a fiber in a way that might be related to social interaction, such as depression or anxiety, or the need for more complex research, such as the maze.

Poon proficient in the production of miniature implantable wireless power devices. Although this ability appears to be of no use in the field of optical genetics, Poon took part in a neural engineering workshop that combines neurology and electric motors to discover the usefulness of such devices.

We follow up in production of similar devices, before making a tinfoil hat across the network, please recognize: only through the design of optogenetics nerve, and must have a light responsive protein. Some scientists in the laboratory experiments using self breeding, with this kind of mouse nerve protein, or will they try to be injected with this kind of protein of DNA virus into mice on the nerve thickness of dental floss. Generally, the neurons that are not designed can not emit light through optical fiber or wireless devices.

Poon said that the development of such a micro light-emitting device is not difficult. Within a few months of the workshop, she and her colleagues developed the device. The biggest difficulty is how to start a wide range of devices (light-emitting) and not to the effectiveness of compromise.

In the behavior experiment, mice will move around and researchers must be able to track the activities, in order to provide energy. Poon knew that the other lab solution was to put a huge burden on the head of the mouse, and to wound up the coils and sensors to track the mice.

Poon said: "we are too lazy to do, feel it's hard and a thankless task. "

So Poon has a crazy alternative to convert the mouse's own energy into radio frequency energy, and set it to a frequency that resonates with the mouse. Although it sounds crazy, but really effective, Poon will also contribute to the research findings to Physical Review Applied and published in August 4th, co authors are John Ho and Yuji Tanabe.

Implantable wireless power devices that emit light and stimulate the brain, spine, or limbs of a mouse. (photo: Austin Yee)

The success of the conversion of energy to make the mouse glow

Although there is a preliminary concept, but at the beginning do not know how to make the ability to enlarge and store the energy of wireless frequency space. She and Tanabe went to work at the National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) research center to help his father Tanabe. Tanabe's father calls the completed space a kindergarten program, but the kindergarten program does.

Originally in a space, the energy will radiate in all directions. But in the experiment, the researchers used the grid to cover the entire space, and each grid was smaller than the wavelength of the energy, so the energy was separated in the space.

The key lies in the grid with the transfer of HUA space. For example, if the mouse's foot is stretched out, it will be able to access all the energy in the space of the pavilion. And this is precisely the frequency of the mouse can resonate frequency. So the mouse became the conductor, the energy released from this space, into the body, and the body of energy from a mouse device coil of 2 mm size intercept.

No matter how the mouse moves, its body will come into contact with the energy and will be able to import the drive two. Where mice do not touch, there is no energy loss. That is to say, the mouse becomes its own mobile power supply.

This new method of transmitting energy allows the team to use such a small device to drive energy. And in this case, the size is critical. This device is the first to use the principle of wireless light genetics, so that the device can be implanted in a small biological skin, and can drive the muscles or other organs, in the field of light genetics has never seen before.