Laser micromachining of tapered optical fibers for spatially selective control of neural activity

Tapered and micro-structured optical fibers (TFs) recently emerged as a versatile tool to obtain dynamically addressable light delivery for optogenetic control of neural activity in the mammalian brain. Small apertures along a metal-coated and low-angle taper allow for controlling light delivery sit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microelectronic engineering 2018-05, Vol.192, p.88-95
Main Authors: Rizzo, Alessandro, Lemma, Enrico Domenico, Pisano, Filippo, Pisanello, Marco, Sileo, Leonardo, De Vittorio, Massimo, Pisanello, Ferruccio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ablation
Apertures
Brain
Control systems
Coupling angle
Direct laser writing
Fiber optics
Ion beams
Laser machining
Laser micromachining
Lasers
Light emission
Micromachining
Neurobiology
Optical fibers
Piezoelectricity
Tapered fiber
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Summary:Tapered and micro-structured optical fibers (TFs) recently emerged as a versatile tool to obtain dynamically addressable light delivery for optogenetic control of neural activity in the mammalian brain. Small apertures along a metal-coated and low-angle taper allow for controlling light delivery sites in the neural tissue by acting on the coupling angle of the light launched into the fiber. However, their realization is typically based on focused ion beam (FIB) milling, a high-resolution but time-consuming technique. In this work we describe a laser micromachining approach to pattern TFs edge in a faster, more versatile and cost-effective fashion. A four-axis piezoelectric stage is implemented to move and rotate the fiber during processing to realize micropatterns all-around the taper, enabling for complex light emission geometries with TFs. [Display omitted] •Laser micromachining used to realize micropatterns on metal-coated tapered optical fibers.•A four-axis piezoelectric stage was used to realize patterns all-around the taper.•Micropatterns allowed complex light emission geometries from tapered fibers.•Site-selective light delivery was obtained by mode-division demultiplexing.•Laser micromachining allowed faster patterning with respect to FIB milling.
ISSN:0167-9317
1873-5568
DOI:10.1016/j.mee.2018.02.010