Transforming Imaging Collection in the Brain

Monitoring brain function of animals to understand their behavior without disturbing their biology is a fundamental challenge in the optical imaging field. This project seeks to find a fundamentally new approach to multiphoton imaging that will transform image collection in the brain by creating a flexible complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor that can be adhered to the intact skull bone. This sensor will enhance the collection of 3-photon generated light using 1300 nm/1700 nm excitation of firing neurons through intact bone over multiple regions of brain activity. This method will dramatically increase the collection angle of emitted fluorescence, which is expected to improve image brightness in scattering media by about two to 20 times.