Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: A mechanically stable neural probe for percutaneous high-resolution, multi-channel recordings in peripheral nerves

doi: 10.64898/2026.04.10.717712

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Exploded-view drawing of a PNP without PCB and connector. Shown are the needle with glue layer and above the first PaC layer, metal layer, and second PaC layer of the flexMEA. (B) Schematic of the PNP microfabrication steps. PaC deposition on a substrate wafer was followed by a structured titanium and gold metal layer for electrodes and feed lines, deposition of second PaC layer, and etch of shape and passivation opening. (C) Overview of different electrode arrangements, from left to right: 16 electrodes in line, 16 electrodes in tetrode, 32 electrodes in line, and 32 electrodes in tetrode arrangement, respectively. (D) Schematic of the needle-MEA-bonding setup to position the flexMEA on the needle carrier with a micromanipulator. (E) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) picture of an exemplary 32-channel PNP. F) Example of a finalized PNP with PCB to connect to an electrophysiological recording system; inset: exemplary image of a 16-channel PNP with tetrode arrangement and electrodeposited PEDOT:PSS.

Article Snippet: To ensure precise placement, the probe was mounted on a hydraulic micromanipulator (Narishige) and inserted into the nerve at a shallow angle.

Techniques: Microscopy

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Advanced Ellis Concept for a Fiber-Optic Fluorescent Microscope

doi: 10.64898/2026.04.10.717647

Figure Lengend Snippet: A - general view of a fiber-optic fluorescence microscope, based on the Leitz Laborlux S model (Module 1) with two micromanipulators mounted in the upper position. The micromanipulators are attached to the microscope slide via an aluminium metal construction adapter, and provide a single-mode optical fiber from the lasers as close and precise as possible to the object. The vibration unit is not shown in the frame. The emission filter is located in the housing from the Ploemopak unit. Detailed description of the parts is given in . B – An independent, general view image (separate from the microscope) of a universal kit for converting a transmitted-light microscope into a fiber-optic microscope. The kit includes: a - a set of lasers (model chosen by the laboratory); b - single-mode optical fiber branched at one end (or unbranched, resulting in a one-laser-one-fiber setup); c - a vibration module for the optical fiber; d - electronic manipulators (Eppendorf 5171 or any suitable linear translation stages with stepper motors). The photo does not show interference filters (they are typically located in the optical path within the microscope body) and the laser power supply. The control system for the electronic manipulators (any type) is shown in . The kit in the photo is sufficient to convert any transmitted-light microscope into a fiber-optic microscope.

Article Snippet: For scanning, the electronic micromanipulator Eppendorf 5171 was chosen, specifically its mechanical part with NEMA 17 stepper motors, each connected to a ZK-SMC02 programmer ( ).

Techniques: Fluorescence, Microscopy, Light Microscopy, Control

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Advanced Ellis Concept for a Fiber-Optic Fluorescent Microscope

doi: 10.64898/2026.04.10.717647

Figure Lengend Snippet: A - Optical diagram of the microphotometric attachment ФМЭЛ-1A (the picture taken from ). The numbers in the figure indicate the following: 1 – the attachment base, used to mount it to the Ploemopak block instead of the microscope’s optical head (in the case of a Leitz Laborlux S); 2 – a mirror with a central pinhole; 3 – interference filters (in this work, these were replaced by the filter cubes of the Ploemopak block); 4 – a reverse lens, expanding the light beam passing through the pinhole; 5 – a photomultiplier tube (PMT); 6 – a mirror; 7 – lens of the side optical path; 8 – eyepiece. B – Photo of the ФМЭЛ-1А nozzle connected to the Leitz vacuum block and with a digital camera instead of an objective lens in the side optical path (the side path is the same microscope optical head, only integrated into the ФМЭЛ-1A). C – Photo of the Amscope 7x-45x stereomicroscope equipped with the Eppendorf 5171 electronic micromanipulator and a motorized stage based on linear translation modules with NEMA 11 motors, controlled via the ZK-SMC02 programmer. An ОС-14 glass optical filter is installed in front of the stereomicroscope objective. D – Scheme for scanning a large sample (calf brain slice) with an optical fiber secured on an electronic micromanipulator, implemented in practice on the stereomicroscope described above. The scheme is a combination of diagrams taken from ; Yoshikava, 1968). The calf brain slice analyzed in this work was taken at the rostral level of the capsula interna.

Article Snippet: For scanning, the electronic micromanipulator Eppendorf 5171 was chosen, specifically its mechanical part with NEMA 17 stepper motors, each connected to a ZK-SMC02 programmer ( ).

Techniques: Blocking Assay, Microscopy, Slice Preparation

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Advanced Ellis Concept for a Fiber-Optic Fluorescent Microscope

doi: 10.64898/2026.04.10.717647

Figure Lengend Snippet: A - Overview image of a vibratome slice of a calf brain at the level of the rostral capsula interna (slice thickness 150 µm) with DiI crystals applied to the surface in different locations, soaked in technical acetone (for better solubility, black frame). B, C - Image of an optical fiber under the stereomicroscope objective, positioned using the Eppendorf 5171 micromanipulator over different areas of the slice (outlined with squares on the overview image) and illuminated with transmitted light. D-I - Scanning of DiI crystals with the optical fiber under fluorescent light (using a single 532 nm laser for illumination) along the slice surface with an ОС-14 filter. The optical fiber cannot illuminate the entire slice at once due to its small diameter, and therefore scanning the slice is the only way to detect structures labeled with the marker at very low magnifications, in order to subsequently examine them at higher magnification in a targeted manner. Scanning serves here as a search mechanism. First photo was taken by Ipad10. All other photos were taken with a Sony IMX178 sensor. Bar - 1 сm.

Article Snippet: For scanning, the electronic micromanipulator Eppendorf 5171 was chosen, specifically its mechanical part with NEMA 17 stepper motors, each connected to a ZK-SMC02 programmer ( ).

Techniques: Solubility, Labeling, Marker

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Advanced Ellis Concept for a Fiber-Optic Fluorescent Microscope

doi: 10.64898/2026.04.10.717647

Figure Lengend Snippet: A - Schematic of the optical path in the Leica TCS SP laser scanning confocal microscope (image taken from ). The left part of the figure is of greatest interest, showing the light path from the lasers, via optical fibers connected to the confocal module housing. Within the module housing, the light beam passes through a pinhole (label A; its diameter can be comparable to the fiber optic core diameter) and is projected onto a dichroic mirror (label B), from which it is reflected to a galvanometer scanner mirror (label C). From this mirror, the beam is then reflected toward the objective (label D). B - Photo of the galvanometer scanner (Lumonics) from the Leica TCS SP confocal module. The mirror is housed within a sealed enclosure and is not visible, but it is controlled by two programmable motors, whose steps are precisely controlled via a driver board. C - Photo of the mechanical part of the Eppendorf 5171 micromanipulator with NEMA 17 stepper motors. Both the galvanometer scanner and the micromanipulator are components of the optical path that contain high-precision motors and are positioned directly before the objective in both cases, albeit on different sides of it depending on the type of optical system. The confocal microscope, with its lasers, galvanometer scanner, and optical fiber, shares many similarities in its opto-fiber-based components with the fiber-optic microscope; in places, the architecture is almost identical.

Article Snippet: For scanning, the electronic micromanipulator Eppendorf 5171 was chosen, specifically its mechanical part with NEMA 17 stepper motors, each connected to a ZK-SMC02 programmer ( ).

Techniques: Microscopy