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Almasri RM, Ladouceur F, Mawad D, Esrafilzadeh D, Firth J, Lehmann T, Poole-Warren LA, Lovell NH, Al Abed A. Emerging trends in the development of flexible optrode arrays for electrophysiology. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:031503. [PMID: 37692375 PMCID: PMC10491464 DOI: 10.1063/5.0153753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Optical-electrode (optrode) arrays use light to modulate excitable biological tissues and/or transduce bioelectrical signals into the optical domain. Light offers several advantages over electrical wiring, including the ability to encode multiple data channels within a single beam. This approach is at the forefront of innovation aimed at increasing spatial resolution and channel count in multichannel electrophysiology systems. This review presents an overview of devices and material systems that utilize light for electrophysiology recording and stimulation. The work focuses on the current and emerging methods and their applications, and provides a detailed discussion of the design and fabrication of flexible arrayed devices. Optrode arrays feature components non-existent in conventional multi-electrode arrays, such as waveguides, optical circuitry, light-emitting diodes, and optoelectronic and light-sensitive functional materials, packaged in planar, penetrating, or endoscopic forms. Often these are combined with dielectric and conductive structures and, less frequently, with multi-functional sensors. While creating flexible optrode arrays is feasible and necessary to minimize tissue-device mechanical mismatch, key factors must be considered for regulatory approval and clinical use. These include the biocompatibility of optical and photonic components. Additionally, material selection should match the operating wavelength of the specific electrophysiology application, minimizing light scattering and optical losses under physiologically induced stresses and strains. Flexible and soft variants of traditionally rigid photonic circuitry for passive optical multiplexing should be developed to advance the field. We evaluate fabrication techniques against these requirements. We foresee a future whereby established telecommunications techniques are engineered into flexible optrode arrays to enable unprecedented large-scale high-resolution electrophysiology systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem M. Almasri
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | - Damia Mawad
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Dorna Esrafilzadeh
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Josiah Firth
- Australian National Fabrication Facility, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Torsten Lehmann
- School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | | | - Amr Al Abed
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Tamai Y, Ito Y, Furuyama T, Horinouchi K, Murashima N, Michimoto I, Hishida R, Shibuki K, Hiryu S, Kobayasi KI. Auditory cortical activity elicited by infrared laser irradiation from the outer ear in Mongolian gerbils. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240227. [PMID: 33057339 PMCID: PMC7561108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infrared neural stimulation has been studied for its potential to replace an electrical stimulation of a cochlear implant. No studies, however, revealed how the technic reliably evoke auditory cortical activities. This research investigated the effects of cochlear laser stimulation from the outer ear on auditory cortex using brain imaging of activity-dependent changes in mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence signal. An optic fiber was inserted into the gerbil’s ear canal to stimulate the lateral side of the cochlea with an infrared laser. Laser stimulation was found to activate the identified primary auditory cortex. In addition, the temporal profile of the laser-evoked responses was comparable to that of the auditory responses. Our results indicate that infrared laser irradiation from the outer ear has the capacity to evoke, and possibly manipulate, the neural activities of the auditory cortex and may substitute for the present cochlear implants in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Tamai
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Ito
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takafumi Furuyama
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Kensuke Horinouchi
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nagomi Murashima
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Itsuki Michimoto
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Hishida
- Department of Neurophysiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Katsuei Shibuki
- Department of Neurophysiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shizuko Hiryu
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kohta I. Kobayasi
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Wang J, Lu J, Li C, Xu L, Li X, Tian L. Pulsed 980 nm short wavelength infrared neural stimulation in cochlea and laser parameter effects on auditory response characteristics. Biomed Eng Online 2015; 14:89. [PMID: 26445884 PMCID: PMC4597400 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-015-0084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Auditory neural stimulation with pulsed infrared radiation has been proposed as an alternative method to activate the auditory nerves in vivo. Infrared wavelengths from 1800–2150 nm with high water absorption were mainly selected in previous studies. However, few researchers have used the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) for auditory nerve stimulation and limited pulse parameters variability has been investigated so far. Methods In this paper, we pioneered to use the 980 nm SWIR laser with adjustable pulse parameter as a stimulus to act on the deafened guinea pigs’ cochlea in vivo. Pulsed laser light was guided through the cochlear round window to irradiate the spiral ganglion cells via a 105 μm optical fiber, and then the laser pulse parameters variability and its influence to auditory response characteristics were studied. Results The results showed that the optically evoked auditory brainstem response (OABR) had a similar waveform to the acoustically induced ABR with click sound stimulus. And the evoked OABR amplitude had a positive correlation, while the OABR latency period showed a negative correlation, with the laser pulse energy increase. However, when holding the laser peak power constant, the pulse width variability ranged from 100 to 800 μs showed little influence on the evoked OABR amplitude and its latency period. Conclusions Our study suggests that 980 nm SWIR laser is an effective stimulus for auditory neurons activation in vivo. The evoked OABR amplitude and latency are highly affected by the laser pulse energy, while not sensitive to the pulse width variability in 100–800 μs range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Wang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 250100, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Jianren Lu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 250100, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Chen Li
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 250100, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lei Xu
- Shandong Artificial Auditory Engineering Centre, 250022, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaofei Li
- Shandong Artificial Auditory Engineering Centre, 250022, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lan Tian
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 250100, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Thompson AC, Stoddart PR, Jansen ED. Optical Stimulation of Neurons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 3:162-177. [PMID: 26322269 PMCID: PMC4541079 DOI: 10.2174/2211555203666141117220611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Our capacity to interface with the nervous system remains overwhelmingly reliant on electrical stimulation devices, such as electrode arrays and cuff electrodes that can stimulate both central and peripheral nervous systems. However, electrical stimulation has to deal with multiple challenges, including selectivity, spatial resolution, mechanical stability, implant-induced injury and the subsequent inflammatory response. Optical stimulation techniques may avoid some of these challenges by providing more selective stimulation, higher spatial resolution and reduced invasiveness of the device, while also avoiding the electrical artefacts that complicate recordings of electrically stimulated neuronal activity. This review explores the current status of optical stimulation techniques, including optogenetic methods, photoactive molecule approaches and infrared neural stimulation, together with emerging techniques such as hybrid optical-electrical stimulation, nanoparticle enhanced stimulation and optoelectric methods. Infrared neural stimulation is particularly emphasised, due to the potential for direct activation of neural tissue by infrared light, as opposed to techniques that rely on the introduction of exogenous light responsive materials. However, infrared neural stimulation remains imperfectly understood, and techniques for accurately delivering light are still under development. While the various techniques reviewed here confirm the overall feasibility of optical stimulation, a number of challenges remain to be overcome before they can deliver their full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Thompson
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Paul R Stoddart
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - E Duco Jansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Abstract
Methods to control neural activity by light have been introduced to the field of neuroscience. During the last decade, several techniques have been established, including optogenetics, thermogenetics, and infrared neural stimulation. The techniques allow investigators to turn-on or turn-off neural activity. This review is an attempt to show the importance of the techniques for the auditory field and provide insight in the similarities, overlap, and differences of the techniques. Discussing the mechanism of each of the techniques will shed light on the abilities and challenges for each of the techniques. The field has been grown tremendously and a review cannot be complete. However, efforts are made to summarize the important points and to refer the reader to excellent papers and reviews to specific topics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled .
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus-Peter Richter
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Searle 12-561, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech E310, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; The Hugh Knowles Center, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
| | - Xiaodong Tan
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Searle 12-561, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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