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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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Abstract
Optical pacing (OP) uses pulsed infrared light to initiate heartbeats in electrically excitable cardiac tissues without employing exogenous agents. OP is an alternative approach to electrical pacing that may overcome some its disadvantages for some applications. In this review, we discuss the initial demonstrations, mechanisms, safety, advantages and applications of OP.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Ford
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Divisions of Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, 11100 Euclid Ave, MS 6010, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States of America
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