The fast high-resolution miniature two-photon microscope (FIRM-TPM) acquires the first batch of cellular-resolution imaging data of single neurons and spines in freely behaving mice all over the world.
This head-mounted microscope can capture calcium dynamics of neurons and spines in awake mouse, effectively transmit 920-nm femtosecond laser pulses to obtain GFP or GCaMP signal, and track the same nueronal population in the same brain region accross multiple days or weeks. Particularly, it can not only be integrated with a Z-scanning module for three-dimensional imaging and multi-plane imaging in the study of neural circuitry, but can also be combined with optogenetics to precisely manipulate neural activity. FIRM-TPM has been widely used in in vivo imaging, especially in the field of neuroscience, and its application has been well extended to the fileds like skin imaging, stem cell study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, etc.