SBIR-STTR Award

Novel Optrode Devices For Neuroscientists: Packaging And Waveguide Solutions To M
Award last edited on: 10/13/11

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NINDS
Total Award Amount
$175,576
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
John P Seymour

Company Information

NeuroNexus Technologies Inc

655 Fairfield Court Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
   (734) 913-8858
   support@neuronexus.com
   www.neuronexustech.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 12
County: Washtenaw

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R43NS073185-01
Start Date: 3/15/11    Completed: 8/31/11
Phase I year
2011
Phase I Amount
$175,576
The objective of this application is to develop advanced optrode solutions for neuroscientists that fulfill the potential of optogenetic technology-achieving highly specific neural circuit control. Once developed, the neuroscientist's experimental options for optical stimulation will grow to two dimensions with no limits on the recording site placement. Our approach develops (i) practical, yet novel solutions for the packaging issues currently plaguing users, and (ii) custom waveguides capable of region-specific illumination with no electrical artifact, and is modularly integrated onto any existing NeuroNexus recording array. As an alternative to wafer- level integration, we have devised an approach that lowers cost by improving yield while increasing design options. This project will further optogenic techniques, which have shown excellent promise as tools that allow temporally precise, non-invasive control of activity in well- defined neuronal populations. This degree of control over neural firing allows specific monitoring of temporal activity patterns in the context of circuit dynamics, understanding changes due to plasticity, and responses to behavior and external cues, which is critically important for studying disease models as well.

Public Health Relevance:
The objective of this application is to develop advanced optrode solutions for neuroscientists that fulfill the potential of optogenetic technology-achieving highly specific neural circuit control. Once developed, the neuroscientist's experimental options for optical stimulation will grow to two dimensions with no limits on the recording site placement. Our approach develops (i) practical, yet novel solutions for the packaging issues currently plaguing users, and (ii) custom waveguides capable of region-specific illumination with no electrical artifact, and is modularly integrated onto any existing NeuroNexus recording array. As an alternative to wafer- level integration, we have devised an approach that lowers cost by improving yield while increasing design options. This project will further optogenic techniques, which have shown excellent promise as tools that allow temporally precise, non-invasive control of activity in well- defined neuronal populations. This degree of control over neural firing allows specific monitoring of temporal activity patterns in the context of circuit dynamics, understanding changes due to plasticity, and responses to behavior and external cues, which is critically important for studying disease models as well.

Thesaurus Terms:
Abscission;Animals;Articulation;Artifacts;Automobile Driving;Behavior;Behavioral;Body Tissues;Communities;Couples;Cristobalite;Cues;Custom;Devices;Diffusion;Dimensions;Disease Model;Drivings, Automobile;Excision;Extirpation;Face;Financial Support;Future;Hand;Illumination;Investigators;Ion Channel;Ionic Channels;Joints;Laboratories;Lesion;Light;Lighting;Mammals, Mice;Mammals, Rodents;Measures;Membrane Channels;Methods;Methods And Techniques;Methods, Other;Mice;Modeling;Modification;Monitor;Morphologic Artifacts;Murine;Mus;Nih;National Institutes Of Health;National Institutes Of Health (U.S.);Nerve Cells;Nerve Unit;Nervous;Neural Cell;Neurocyte;Neurons;Neurosciences;Neurosciences Research;Operation;Operative Procedures;Operative Surgical Procedures;Optics;Output;Pattern;Photoradiation;Plague;Polymers;Population;Productivity;Protocol;Protocols Documentation;Removal;Research Personnel;Researchers;Rodent;Rodentia;Rodentias;Sand;Science;Silica;Silicon Dioxide;Site;Solutions;Specificity;Surface Properties;Surgical;Surgical Interventions;Surgical Procedure;Surgical Removal;System;System, Loinc Axis 4;Techniques;Technology;Tissues;Translating;Translatings;Tridymite;United States National Institutes Of Health;Work;Yersinia Pestis Disease;Base;Cell Type;Community;Cost;Cost Effective;Cost Effectiveness;Density;Design;Designing;Disorder Model;Driving;Experiment;Experimental Research;Experimental Study;Facial;Improved;Innovate;Innovation;Innovative;Language Translation;Light Intensity;Meetings;Model;Neural;Neural Circuit;Neural Circuitry;Neuronal;Novel;Optical Fiber;Relating To Nervous System;Research Study;Resection;Response;Surface Property;Surgery;Tool

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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