Chinese researchers have developed the Airscope, a wireless mesoscopic microscope weighing only 1 gram. The device enables single-cell resolution observation within a 6-millimeter field of view. It allows for the simultaneous recording of over 8,500 neurons in a single mouse, which is 25 times the capacity of existing similar equipment.
The project was led by Dai Qionghai from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Tsinghua University, in collaboration with Dai Pu from the PLA General Hospital. The system uses four aspherical lenses to achieve a resolution of 4 to 6 micrometers. The device features a 2-megapixel image sensor with edge-side compression to facilitate wireless data transmission.
Unlike conventional head-mounted microscopes that typically weigh over 3 grams and require cables, the Airscope allows mice to move freely. The research team utilized the device to monitor brain activity in mice within a 5-square-meter habitat and during long-term exploration in a 32-terminal maze. The study results were published in the journal Nature.
The development of this wearable technology aims to advance optical brain-computer interfaces. Researchers anticipate that the tool will move beyond neuroscience to applications in immunology and oncology, potentially allowing for the tracking of disease progression in real-time.
