Mightex offers light-weight aluminum fibermounts for coupling the implanted GRIN lens to the imaging fiber bundle, significantly reducing burden on the animal. Our standard fibermounts (~0.7g) are 3x lighter than mini-scopes and include features to provide focusing adjustments, ability to lock focus and orientation, and open design to better visualize the fiber during surgery. MRI-compatible ceramic options are also available. The fibermounts are a mechanical interface and contain no electrical or optical components.

We offer a variety of fibermount options to accommodate a wide-range of experimental needs.

• Compact fibermounts with reduced footprint to accomodate complex studies such as imaging multiple-regions simultaneously; spinal cord experiments; and integration with other implants and techniques (eg. tetrodes in electrophysiology).
• Fibermounts compatible with zero-protrusion fibers.
• Magnetic components to facilitate easy integration of fibers while handling animals.
• Custom fibermount options for unique regions or experiments.

Mightex offers flexible imaging fiber bundles with a wide-range of configurations to accommodate cellular resolution imaging at different depths and field of view as well as the ability to perform multi-region and/or multi-animal imaging experiments. For larger field of view, we provide special fibers that can increase the FOV of our 650um fibers by 3.4X (2.2mm diameter, 10.2um resolution) or 5X (3.2mm diameter, 15um resolution).

Diameter: Our standard imaging fiber bundles have a 3um resolution and a core diameter of 350um (10,000 fiber elements) or 650um (30,000 fiber elements) to accommodate most research needs.

Length: Our standard fiber lengths range from 1-5 meters. Custom lengths are available upon request.

Fiber Interface: Our fiber interfaces come in a variety of formats. For most standard imaging applications, exposed fiber tips with different length protrusions are used to interface with GRIN lens implants. We also provide flexibility for unique experimental requirements and user preferences.

• Standard fibers feature 7mm protrusion, compatible with both standard and compact fibermounts.
• We offer low-profile zero-protrusion fibers compatible with their own head mounts.
• Custom length extended protrusions compatible with Mariana Deep GRIN lens implants are available.
• Ultra-soft imaging fiber options (1mm diameter FOV, 7um resolution) available for unique applications requiring increased mobility.
• We also offer fiber options with directly integrated GRIN optics.

Furcations: For experiments simultaneously investigating multiple animals and/or regions of interest, we provide imaging fibers with upto 7-branches (1,2,4, or 7-furcations).

ROAM Compatibility: All of our imaging fiber bundles are also compatible with our OASIS ROAM platforms.

Our imaging fiber bundles are not considered consumables and engineering to be robust overtime. We can provide services to repair or refinish damaged fiber bundles.

Imaging of deep brain structures requires that light is relayed from the target region to the imaging fiber. Gradient Refractive Index (GRIN) lenses are long and thin, allowing them to be surgically implanted for depth imaging while minimizing tissue damage. Mightex offers a range of GRIN lenses for imaging and stimulation at any depth. All of our standard GRIN lenses have a working distance of 250 µm, 1:1 magnification, and an NA of 0.5. Non-standard GRIN lenses, such as prism-termination lenses, are also compatible with OASIS systems provided they have 1:1 optics or a pitch of 0.45 or 0.95.

Lens length must include an extra 2-5mm to provide a skull bonding interface. Larger diameter increases the FOV at the cost of more tissue damage. Importantly, all GRIN lenses have inherent spherical aberration which blurs the edges of the FOV. Accordingly, our imaging fibers are designed with smaller core diameters relative to GRIN lens diameter.

Standard GRIN Lens Implants – Our naked cylindrical GRIN lenses which are suitable for most rodent/small animal applications. The standard dimensions include:

• 0.5mm GRIN Lens Implant – The ideal choice for brain structures as deep as ~5-7mm from the skull surface and available in 7mm or 10mm lengths. Compatible with our 350µm-core Imaging Fibers.
• 1.0mm GRIN Lens Implant – The ideal choice for more shallow imaging (~2-4mm) and/or larger FOVs. Available in lengths of 3.8mm or 8mm. Compatible with our 650µm-core Imaging Fibers.

Mariana Deep GRIN Lens Implants – All GRIN lenses have inherent optical aberrations which scale with length. For applications involving ultra-deep imaging (e.g. larger animals), Mightex offers Mariana Deep GRIN Lens Implants for high resolution at depths >10mm.

• Length: 9mm, 12mm, 30mm, or custom length.
• 1.0mm GRIN Lens Implant: Stainless steel or MRI-compatible ceramic.

To facilitate smooth and successful surgeries and ot increase yield of high-risk experiments, Mightex provides a number of surgical tools designed with the researcher in mind. These tools provide diverse solutions for GRIN Lens implantation and visualization, as well as focusing and fibermount attachment.

1. GRIN Holders : GRIN lenses must be implanted to specific antero-posterior, medio-lateral and dorso-ventral coordinates at precise angles in order to facilitate successful imaging of cells of interest. Consequently, precise positioning of the GRIN lens requires holders designed with this purpose in mind.

We offer 2 options for GRINs of any length:

• 0.5mm diameter
• 1.0mm diameter

2. GRIN Visualization Tools: In order to interface the imaging fiber bundle above an implanted GRIN lens, one must use a high degree of care and attention. Visualization of the fiber tip within a fibermount relative to the GRIN surface requires precise and consistent visualization. Mightex has developed tools to help scientists with this process.

• HAT Tool – for our zero-protrusion fiber options and compatible fibermounts, we offer a Headmount Attachment Tool (HAT) that includes a small camera mounted on a vertical tube allowing for birds eye view of the GRIN lens relative to the fibermountand fiber tip.
• Videoscope – for 360º visualization of GRIN lens and fiber-tip, we provide a stereotaxically compatible USB videoscope with mirror to allow users to observe hard to reach areas and angles.

3. Fibermount Attachment Tools: Arguably the most challenging, yet important, step the surgical process for one photon cellular resolution imaging is the placement of the fibermount relative to the previously implanted GRIN lens. Mightex offers a wide variety of fibermounts to suit various applications. During the fibermount attachment procedure, independent control of the z-plane position of the fiber tip and fibermount is vital for focal adjustments and to optimize the visualization of cells in real time before affixing the mount to the skull. To address this requirement, Mightex provides 2 fibermount attachments for stereotaxic attachment.

• Vertical Fibermount Stereotaxic Attachment – compatible with various FORK attachments matched to different fibermount types.
• Horizontal Fibermount Stereotaxic Attachment – lateral clearance required is 7 cm.