An adaptable, reusable, and light implant for chronic Neuropixels probes

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Implantable Devices

Background:

• Electrophysiology using Neuropixels probes has advanced neural recording capabilities.
• Acute probe implantation limits chronic studies in freely moving animals and neuron tracking.
• Chronic implantation is essential for studying behaviors like navigation, learning, and memory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a chronic implant for stable, reusable Neuropixels recordings in mice and rats.
• To create a lightweight, open-source, and adjustable implant system.
• To enable long-term neural activity monitoring in freely moving subjects.

Main Methods:

• Designed and fabricated the "Apollo Implant" with a recoverable payload and skull-mounted docking module.
• Accommodated up to two Neuropixels 1.0 or 2.0 probes with adjustable probe distance, angle, and depth.
• Tested the implant in head-fixed mice, freely moving mice, and freely moving rats across multiple labs.

Main Results:

• Achieved stable recordings of neural activity over extended periods (weeks).
• Demonstrated successful reuse of Neuropixels probes after explantation and reimplantation.
• Confirmed the implant's lightweight design suitable for mice and its adaptability for rats.

Conclusions:

• The Apollo Implant offers a cost-effective, flexible, and reusable solution for chronic Neuropixels recordings.
• This technology facilitates long-term neural monitoring crucial for understanding complex behaviors.
• The open-source nature promotes accessibility and further development in neural recording technologies.