Implantable Light-Emitting Diodes
 Figure: Fiber-Coupled Implantable LED (FCLED). A blue EZ500 LED coupled to a 4-mm, 270-μm diameter fiber for depth illumination. |
Our Implantable Light-Emitting Diodes (ILEDs) operate with our implantable transponders to provide optical stimulation for optogenetic experiments in mice and rats. Our Surface-Mount Light-Emitting Diodes (SMLEDs) fasten to the surface of an organ, the surface of the skull, or shine through a hole made in the skull. They come in red, green, and blue. Our Fiber-Coupled Light-Emitting Diodes (FCLEDs) are designed to be anchored to the skull and provide illumination deeper in the brain. They come in green and blue. All ILEDs are equipped with sockets that accept the pins at the end of the leads provided by the implantable stimulator. The SMLEDs are light-emitting diodes with a blob of clear epoxy on top of them. The green and blue LEDs require a driving voltage of roughly 3.0 V, while the red LED requires only 2.2 V. The FCLEDs are a light-emitting diode with a fiber-optic light guide glued to its surface. The light guide carries roughly half the LED's light a to a tapered glass tip, where the light is emitted in all directions. The light guide can be four to ten millimeters long. It allows us to deliver optical stimulation to tissue several millimeters below the surface. |