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The Mono Fiber-optic Cannula is an assembly of a bare optical fiber, a fiber ferrule and a receptacle or a sleeve. One side of the ferrule is polished while the implantable part of the fiber protrudes from the opposite end of the ferrule. The ferrule is placed within the receptacle or sleeve to allow connection to the fiber-optic patch cord. The protruding fiber can be implanted into the body while the ferrule or the receptacle is attached to the skull. When the cannula is connected with the patch cord, it is possible to send light signals to and from tissue close to the fiber tip. It is imperative for in vivo optogenetics applications that the fiber-optic cannula allows for efficient, plug and play type connection to the fiber-optic patch cord.

A receptacle is a mechanical holder that defines the positions of the fiber tip and guides the connecting ferrule to the optical coupling position. For Mono Fiber-optic Cannulas we offer zirconia sleeves as the simplest form of a receptacle, alongside M2, M3 and slim magnetic receptacles.

Low Profile Cannulas are designed to minimize the height over the animal's head. The patch cord connection is in the same axis as the animal's body instead of hanging over its head. This cannula allows for the fiber optic implantation in a standard stereotaxic dorso-ventral axis, but the interconnection are along the antero-posterior plane. This cannula design minimizes the pressure applied on the animal's head during the connection/disconnection of the patch cord. Furthermore, the Low Profile Cannula facilitates the motion of the animal’s head in restraint areas.
 

NOTES :

  • The tolerance on the length of the protruding fiber is better than 0.1 mm.
  • Sleeves required to connection with a patch cord are ordered separately.
  • Stereotaxic Cannula Holder (SCH) for 1.25 and 2.5 mm diameter ferrule is available for implantation to securely hold the Mono Fiber-optic Cannulas.
  • Receptacle adapters are available for M2 and M3 receptacles to use with SCH.
  • A specific version is available for LPB90(P) receptacle.
  • Low-Profile Cannula receptacle is only available with borosilicate optical fiber type.
Compare Table for Fiber-optic Cannulas
Fiber-optic Material Borosilicate Silica / Silica Silica / Polymer Plastic
Core Glass Glass Glass Plastic
Cladding Glass Glass Polymer Polymer
Protective layer Polyimide
Numerical Aperture 0.66 0.22 - 0.37 0.48 - 0.57 0.50 - 0.63
Chemical resistance ✓ Good ★ Excellent ✕ Poor ✕ Poor
Mechanical resistance ✕ Poor ★ Excellent ✓ Good ✓ Good
Scratch resistance ✓ Good ★ Excellent ✕ Poor ✕ Poor
Auto-fluorescence ✓ Good ★ Excellent ✓ Good ✕ Poor
Recommended use
Fiber photometry ★ BEST ✓ Good ✓ Good ✕ Not recommended
(High auto-fluorescence)
Optogenetics (LED source) ★ BEST ✕ Not recommended
(Low NA)
✓ Good ✓ Good
Optogenetics (Laser source) ✓ Good ★ BEST ✓ Good ✓ Good
Receptacle TypeZF1.25 -ZF2.5
MF1.25 - MF2.5
SM3 - SM3(P)
RM2 - RM2(P)
SMRLPB90(P)
Connection typesleevescrewmagnetic twistsleeve
Transmission80 %80 %70 %60 %
FiberLength (mm)0 to 500 to 500 to 501.0 to 30
LengthTolerance (mm) +/-0.1+/-0.1+/-0.1 +/- 0.2
Angle (deg)00090 +/- 2
MRI compatibleyes (zirconia only)
yes (peek version)
no
yes (peek version)
Core Material Core Diameter
(μm)
Outer Diameter
(μm)
NA Buffer Color Outer Layer Code
Glass 50700.22YellowPolyimide050/070-0.22
60750.37YellowPolyimide060/075-0.37
1001250.22YellowPolyimide100/125-0.22
1001250.37YellowPolyimide100/125-0.37
1001250.66ClearBorosilicate100/125-0.66
2002400.22YellowPolyimide200/240-0.22
2002450.37YellowPolyimide200/245-0.37
2002300.48ClearPolymer200/230-0.48
2002500.66ClearBorosilicate200/250-0.66
3003300.48ClearPolymer300/330-0.48
3003700.22YellowPolyimide300/370-0.22
3003600.37YellowPolyimide300/360-0.37
4004800.22YellowPolyimide400/480-0.22
4004700.37YellowPolyimide400/470-0.37
4004300.48ClearPolymer400/430-0.48
4004300.66ClearBorosilicate400/430-0.66
6006300.48ClearPolymer600/630-0.48
6007100.22OrangePolyimide600/710-0.22
6007100.37YellowPolyimide600/710-0.37
Plastic 240*2500.63ClearPMMA240/250-0.63
480*5000.63ClearPMMA480/500-0.63

* Plastic fibers are not available with conical tip (C45, C60), 45° mirror tip (MA45) or diffuse layer tip (DFL).

Description Picture Base Dimension
Mass
 Code Drawing
Zirconia Ferrule
OD 1.25 mm
 border= D1.25 mm 50 mg  ZF1.25
Zirconia Ferrule
OD 1.25 mm with grooves
 border= D1.25 mm 50 mg  ZF1.25(G)
Metal Ferrule
OD 1.25 mm
 border= D1.25 mm 50 mg  MF1.25
Zirconia Ferrule
OD 2.5 mm
 border= D2.5 mm 350 mg  ZF2.5
Zirconia Ferrule
OD 2.5 mm with grooves
 border= D2.5 mm 350 mg  ZF2.5(G)
Metal Ferrule
OD 2.5 mm
 border= D2.5 mm 400 mg  MF2.5
Receptacle with M2 thread
Titanium
 border= D2.5 mm 65 mg  RM2
Receptacle with M2 thread
Peek Plastic
 border= D2.5 mm 40 mg  RM2(P)
Receptacle with M3 thread
Titanium
 border= D3.2 mm 185 mg  SM3
Receptacle with M3 thread
Peek Plastic
 border= D3.2 mm 85 mg  SM3(P)
Slim Magnetic Receptacle
Aluminium
SMR 3.2 x 4.9 mm 145 mg  SMR
Low Profile 90 deg 2.4 x 5.2 mm 120 mg  LPB90(P)
Description Drawing Code Note
Flat Tip FLT
Angled Tip A45
A60
Standard angles: 45°; 60°
Other angles on request (max 60°)
Conical Tip C60 Rounded tip thickness: ~0.1x to 0.2x core diameter
Standard angle: 60°
Other angles on request (max 60°)
45° mirror Tip MA45
Diffuser layer Tip DFL
Taper Tip TAPER

The light propagation into brain tissue will vary with the optical fiber type and the light source parameters. It can be visualized in this Application Note (the French version is available here ).

Click to download the Application Note


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