Advancements in Wearable Microscopes for Spinal Cord Imaging in Mice.

Scientists at the Salk Institute have developed wearable microscopes that produce high-definition and real-time images of neurons and activity in the mouse spinal cord in previously inaccessible regions. The new technology can be combined with a microprism implant, which is a small reflective glass element placed near the tissue regions of interest. The wearable microscopes will help researchers better understand the neural basis of sensations and movement in healthy and disease contexts, such as chronic pain, itch, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or multiple sclerosis (MS).