Abstract:
Optogenetics is a technique for monitoring and controlling neuronal activity with high temporal resolution and high cellular specificity. The Implantable Devices Group at Auckland Bioengineering Institute and Kaha Sciences Ltd have developed an implantable optogenetic stimulator for use in rats. The stimulator is capable of playing static, repetitive patterns. Experiments conducted by Seeger-Armbruster et al., have shown that stimulation using patterns recorded from real neurons are superior to static, repetitive patterns. This research aims to implement bidirectional communication in the stimulator to enable real-time control of the optical stimulation patterns. The stimulator records and transmits EMG, blood pressure and ECG. The real-time stimulation functionality would enable closed-loop control which is highly desired by the collaborating medical laboratories. This thesis discusses the stages of development of the real-time closed-loop optogenetic stimulator system. These include the review of the current rat telemetry system, development of the bidirectional communication functionality, development of the real-time stimulator firmware and the development of an analogue signal acquisition hardware prototype. This research has demonstrated that real-time control of the stimulation pattern is feasible. The completed system has been delivered to researchers at the University of Otago and the University of Melbourne for use in Parkinson’s and anxiety research, respectively.
