New Scale Technologies (NST) is pleased to announce the delivery of the New Scale Modular Insertion System (MIS) to the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics. The pilot installation marks the opening of order-taking for the new MIS system. The New Scale MIS is now commercially available for sale to researchers worldwide and is designed to advance the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics’ collaborative and open research into how the brain works.
NST has licensed technology developed at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, for next-generation multi-probe insertion systems for acute in vivo electrophysiology recordings. Building on the success of NST’s Multi-Probe Micromanipulator (MPM) System, the new MIS system allows researchers to collect more data in less time, increasing the possibility of 8-probes with MPM, to now enabling up to 25-probes with MIS.
The MIS will be on display at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual conference, Neuroscience 2024, in Chicago October 6-9, in New Scale Technologies’ .
“Our goal with the MIS is to provide more flexible approach angles, enable the insertion of more probes as recording devices become smaller, provide more open space for behavioral hardware, and allow for easier maintenance during and between experiments,” says Josh Siegle, Senior Scientist at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics.
“We are committed to accelerating researchers’ discovery. Our proprietary and patented motion control systems allow for precise and semi-automated insertion,” says David Henderson, CEO and Founder at NST. “Researchers can now place more probes at specific brain regions, in less time, enabling for more data collection than previously possible.”
This collaboration facilitates other neuroscience laboratories to adopt Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics methods, tools and protocols, accelerating research progress and catalyzing breakthroughs. The Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics’ system design is combined with NST’s expertise in motion, alignment, fixturing, integration, and manufacturing to optimize speed and accuracy when positioning silicon probes, lasers and microscopes.
Modularity = Flexibility and Reproducibility
The MIS offers 3 standard modules, including a probe, laser and microscope module.
- Probe modules use stable, high-precision motorized stages to position Neuropixels probes to support acute in-vivo recordings with silicon probes.
- Laser modules similarly use M3 stages to position lasers, allowing for tissue stimulation to support optogenetics research.
- Microscope modules allow users to visualize probe insertions and guide laser placements safely and accurately.
These standard modules help standardize research methods between different institutions, allowing greater collaboration and reproducibility of experiments across different labs.
An MIS configuration shown with 5-probe modules, 2 laser module, and 1 microscope module.
About New Scale Technologies
New Scale Technologies develops small, precise and smart motion systems for critical adjustments of optics in imaging devices and many other micro positioning applications. Our simple and elegant solutions deliver best-in-class performance in handheld, portable and mobile instruments for medical, scientific and industrial applications. We design and manufacture custom products and license our technology to manufacturers worldwide. Our customers benefit from complete, “all-in-one” motion solutions that are tailored to their unique requirements and easily integrated into their next-generation instruments.
About Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics
Launched in 2021, the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics is a division of the Allen Institute (alleninstitute.org), an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit medical research organization founded by Paul G. Allen in 2003. The Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics is dedicated to answering fundamental questions about brain dynamics at the level of individual neurons, and the whole brain, to reveal how we interpret our environments to make decisions. Knowledge, data, and tools created by the Institute will be publicly shared to advance the field’s understanding of brain function and support the development of therapies for brain diseases and disorders.
