Systems, methods and computer-accessible medium for visual stimulation and optogenetics

Inventors

HORMIGO, RICHARD • BEHNIA, RUDY • MOUSAVI, SEYED NAVID • Peterka, Darcy • Tabachnik, Tanya

Assignees

Columbia University

Abstract

Exemplary systems, method and compute-accessible medium can be provided, e.g., for a visual stimulation or an optogenetic activation during a scan of at an object. For example, it is possible to utilize a controller which can be configured to receive signal information regarding the scan, and to precisely control a light engine. The exemplary control of the light engine can be used to activate and deactivate a light source or a plurality of light sources (e.g., one or more at least one light emitting diodes). using the signal information. For example, a digital micromirror device can be utilized through which the light engine is precisely controlled for a full field projection, or patterned projection, wherein the light engine can comprise up to eight high power light sources.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to systems, methods, and a computer-readable medium for visual stimulation and optogenetic activation during a scan of at least one object. A controller receives signal information regarding the scan and precisely controls a light engine that activates and deactivates a light source using the scan signal information. The controller synchronizes light activation with microscope scan timing so that stimulation is enabled only during selected scan periods.

The light engine includes a multispectral controller that drives a plurality of high power LED sources, including full field projection and patterned projection using a digital micromirror device. The controller independently controls LED outputs with milliamp precision and uses external analog signals for modulation. The activation is coordinated with scan timing to support strobing behavior during line-reversals/flyback and to prevent unwanted illumination during other scan phases.

The system uses blanking mechanics derived from scan waveforms, including generation of a blanking waveform from a horizontal scanning waveform and generation of blanking signals to shut off the LEDs. This is used to minimize light bleed-through and crosstalk that could interfere with functional imaging measurements, including indicators such as GCaMP. Circuit-level modulation and blanking are described, including fast switch-off behavior during blanking to reduce interference, and synchronization is described with microsecond accuracy timing.

Documented performance and application examples report improved signal-to-noise and functional use for reconstructing color gamut in fruit fly using dreye while driving mouse retina optogenetic activation with ChR2. The documented examples further describe isolating photoreceptor versus optogenetic contributions by using the synchronized stimulation and interference minimization approach.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims include one system claim, one method claim, and one computer-readable medium claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on receiving scan signal information and precisely controlling activation/deactivation of a light source synchronized to scan timing, for visual stimulation or optogenetic activation.

The independent claim set is directed to scan-synchronized visual stimulation and optogenetic activation, where scan signal information is used to precisely switch a light engine/light source on and off to stimulate an object, implemented as a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications