Fiber Photometry Solutions

Consoles are data acquisition device that record the fiber photometry signal, control the timing and intensity of the LEDs and synchronize behavior, optogenetics, and other experimental components.

At Doric, we've designed several consoles over the years to address the needs of different fiber phometry systems. The Fiber Photometry Console (FPC), Behavior & Bundle Photometry Console (BBC300), and FluoPulse Console, are dedicated consoles for basic, bundle-imaging and fluorescence lifetime fiber photometry, respectively. Only the Neuroscience Console (NC500) is compatible mutltiple types of applications/fiber photometry systems.

All Doric console's come FREE with Doric Neuroscience Studio (DNS). Learn more. 

		FPC	BBC300	NC500	FluoPulse™
Max # site/animals		X4 X2	X 9-19* X 9-19*	X8 X4	X2 X1
Max # digital in/out		X4	X32	X32	X4
FIBER PHOTOMETRY	Basic
	Rotary Basic
	Bundle-imaging
	Rotary Bundle
	Wireless
	Lifetime
OPTOGENETICS	Close-Loop
	Wireless
BEHAVIOR	Behavior Camera
	CamLoop**
OTHER	Doric Miniscope
	Electrophysiology***

1-color photometry + isosbestic (expect FluoPulse™ had no isosbestic)

2-color photometry + isosbestic (expect FluoPulse™ had no isosbestic)

*     Depending on core fiber diameter: 9 x 400um, 19 x 200um
**   Real-time animal tracking camera for close-loop experiments
*** Compatible with Intan RHD series
 

In fiber photometry, LEDs are light sources that provide stable, wavelength-specific excitation (e.g., 405 nm, 465 nm, 560 nm, etc.) to selectively excite fluorescent indicators. An LED driver precisely controls the LED’s intensity and timing, enabling current-based modulation and synchronization with data acquisition for accurate demodulation/de-interleaving and separation of signals from different excitation wavelengths.

Both Basic and Bundle-imaging fiber photometry systems use low-power LEDs to prevent photobleaching and provide between 10-100 μW*. 
In FluoPulse™ system, picosecond laser diodes (not LEDs) deliver an average power (1-30 μW). 

In the latest generation of Doric fiber photometry systems, the light sources and drivers are directly integrated into the Fluorescence Mini Cubes.

*For 470nm with 400μm, 0.57NA patch cord.

Fluorescence Mini Cube (FMC) are a critical fiber photometry component that combine the excitation from the light sources into a single fiber and seperates emission wavelengths towards the photodetector using dichroic mirrors and bandpass filters, preventing crosstalk between the wavelengths.

Over the years, the FMC design has integrated many core fiber photometry components including: the photodetectors & amplifier (iFMC), LEDs (ilFMC-G2) and LED Drivers (ilFMC-G3).

Compared to Fluorescence Mini Cubes without integration (FMC, Gen.1), photodetector integration (iFMC) provide a 100% better signal-to-noise ratio (30% signal increase and a 40% noise reduction). Moreover, ilFMC with integrated LEDs* and LED drivers reduce the number of connections and the system’s overall footprint, simplifying assembly and troubleshooting.

The ilFMC-G3 model, also has replaceable isosbestic LED (to adjust the isosbestic excitation for different biosensors without replacing the entire cube).

*The optogenetic light source is NOT integrated and must be included seperately.

NOTE: All Bundle-imaging and FluoPulse™ systems ONLY come in the all integrate format, such that mini cube also contains the photodetector, amplifier, light sources and drivers.

For freely-moving animals, we recommend rotary joints/optical communtators as they reduce damage to patch cords, tension on the animals head and prevent tangling. Single (FRJ_1x1_PT) or dual-fiber (rats: FRJ_2x2_PT  or mice: AFRJ_2x2_PT) rotary joints can be added to most Doric fiber photometry systems and our ideal for long-term experiment lasting several hours or even days.  

IMPORTANT: Pigtailed rotary joints (PT), with built-in fibers are required for fiber photometry to minimize rotation-related artifacts.

To completely ABOLISH rotation-related artifacts, we recommend Rotary basic (1- or 2-sites) or Rotary Bundle Fiber Photometry Systems (3+ sites). In these systems, the detector (and fluorescence mini cube) is built-on to the rotary joint base, such that the detection happens during the rotation. Then it is the electrical signal from the detector that is transfered through the rotary joint (not the optical signal), completely by-passing the artifacts.    

A fiber-optic patch cord is a flexible optical fiber assembly used to transmit light between system and the animal with minimal loss. Specifically, it delivers excitation light from the flight sources to the implanted optical fiber (cannula) and returns emitted fluorescence to the detector.

For fiber photometry applications, we recommend low-autofluorescence & flexible fiber-optic patch cords with high numerical apperture (NA). Silica/silica (0.37 NA) patch cords offer very low autofluorescence and high durability, providing cleaner signals and long-term stability but with lower light delivery and collection efficiency (i.e. lower NA). In contrast, Silica/polymer (0.57 NA) patch cords improve excitation and fluorescence collection due to higher NA, at the cost of reduced durability and moderately higher autofluorescence (must photobleach regularly).

For Bundle-imaging systems, we specifically recommend Silica/silica for its durability, to avoid replacing the more costly multi-fiber patch cords as often.
For the FluoPulse™ system, we strongly recommend Silica/Silica, as its very low autofluorescence provides the for best signal-to-noise ratio for fluorescence lifetime measures.    

A fiber-optic patch cord is a flexible optical fiber assembly used to transmit light between system and the animal with minimal loss. Specifically, it delivers excitation light from the flight sources to the implanted optical fiber (cannula) and returns emitted fluorescence to the detector.

For fiber photometry applications, we recommend low-autofluorescence & flexible fiber-optic patch cords with high numerical apperture (NA). Silica/silica (0.37 NA) patch cords offer very low autofluorescence and high durability, providing cleaner signals and long-term stability but with lower light delivery and collection efficiency (i.e. lower NA). In contrast, Silica/polymer (0.57 NA) patch cords improve excitation and fluorescence collection due to higher NA, at the cost of reduced durability and moderately higher autofluorescence (must photobleach regularly).

For Bundle-imaging systems, we specifically recommend Silica/silica for its durability, to avoid replacing the more costly multi-fiber patch cords as often.
For the FluoPulse™ system, we strongly recommend Silica/Silica, as its very low autofluorescence provides the for best signal-to-noise ratio for fluorescence lifetime measures.