Mini2P miniature microscope and ScanImage
ScanImage software from MBF Bioscience, along with the accompanying vDAQ acquisition and control card with analog to digital, digital to analog,
Mini2P Control Bundle
Hardware and Software Control for Large-Scale Two-Photon Calcium Imaging in Freely Moving MiceWhat is the Mini2P?
The Mini2P is an innovative, open-source miniature 2-photon microscope for high-resolution calcium imaging. It is designed to be head-mounted on freely-behaving rodents. Developed by the Moser Group at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Mini2P system is perfect for researchers investigating in vivo neuronal activity during behavioral experiments in animals that are awake and free to move in their enclosures. Because it is a unique open-source project, the Mini2P can be assembled as a bundle – it is not available for purchase as a pre-built product or instrument.
Product Overview
Our engineering team worked closely with Dr. Weijian Zong, biological engineer and neuroscientist at the Moser Group and first author of the paper in the journal Cell about the Mini2P (Zong, et al. 2022), to develop the software and hardware interface for the Mini2P. We’ve designed the Mini2P Microscope Control Bundle to provide you with a jump start for building your own Mini2P system. It includes key software and hardware components, specified in the Mini2P toolbox, that are needed for control of your miniature two-photon microscope. In addition, our team of experts can help you integrate the Mini2P control bundle with the system and provide technical support as you use it.
Key Benefits
- Provides the integral data acquisition software and hardware for the Mini2P bundle
- Enables high-resolution calcium imaging in freely-behaving rodents
- Allows scripting for sophisticated experiments of neural activity in unrestrained rodents
- Technical support available from our team of experts
The Mini2P helps enable researchers to obtain stable and simultaneous recordings in awake unrestrained rodents of over a thousand cells in densely active cortical regions, across multiple planes, and during a wide range of behavioral tasks. It’s optimized for fast and efficient imaging of neuronal activity, enabling researchers to obtain real-time insights into the brain's complex neural networks. With its high-resolution imaging capabilities and open-source design, Mini2P is an essential tool for any researcher seeking to study the brain's inner workings in vivo.
The ScanImage software and vDAQ hardware is the perfect acquisition and control platform for the Mini2P microscope. This software and hardware provides a robust and flexible architecture from which our team of engineers, together with the developers at Kavli Institute (Zong, et al. 2022), were able to enhance to comprehensively control the Mini2P microscope. Hardware support of Mini2P components was formally added as native features of ScanImage, and some auxiliary features can be easily added to ScanImage source code from the Mini2P Toolbox repository. Note, we do not provide the Mini2P device itself, just the control software and hardware, computer and laser.
Our Mini2P Microscope Control Bundle includes all components specified in the open-source project, ensuring compatibility with your Mini2P. It supports Mini2P microscopes from LabMaker, Phenosys, and Thorlabs, making it a versatile solution for a variety of lab setups. Additionally, each ScanImage license comes bundled with one year of support, giving you access to our engineers to assist with interfacing and controlling your Mini2P using our Controller Bundle.
Choose from 3 options for controlling your Mini2P microscope
| Feature Description | Basic Mini2P Controller Bundle | Premium Mini2P Controller Bundle |
|---|---|---|
| ScanImage Basic software | ||
| vDAQ with breakout board and cables | ||
| ScanImage optimized Windows workstation **optional for the Basic Mini2p Controller Bundle** | ||
| ScanImage Premium software |
Who Is Using MBF Products?
MBF products are used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
News About Mini2P
Cited in Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications
The utility of MBF’s products is underscored by the number of references it receives in the world’s leading scientific publications. See examples below:
Boeglin, M., E. Leyva-Díaz, et al.
Expression and function of C. elegans UNCP-18, a paralogue of the SM protein UNC-18View Publication
Rentsch, P., T. Egan, et al.
The ratio of M1 to M2 microglia in the striatum determines the severity of L-Dopa-induced dyskinesiasView Publication
Wang, Z., D. Zheng, et al.
Enabling Survival of Transplanted Neural Precursor Cells in the Ischemic BrainView Publication
Villar-Conde, S., V. Astillero-Lopez, et al.
Synaptic involvement of the human amygdala in Parkinson’s diseaseView Publication
Stimpson, C. D., J. B. Smaers, et al.
Evolutionary scaling and cognitive correlates of primate frontal cortex microstructureView Publication
Russ, T., L. Enders, et al.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Induces Degeneration of mDA Neurons In VitroView Publication
Olkhova, E. A., C. Bradshaw, et al.
A novel mouse model of mitochondrial disease exhibits juvenile-onset severe neurological impairment due to parvalbumin cell mitochondrial dysfunctionView Publication
Zhang, X., C. Wang, et al.
Analysis of Error Sources in the Lissajous Scanning Trajectory Based on Two-Dimensional MEMS MirrorsView Publication
Lu, J., Behbahani, A.H., Hamburg, L. et al.
"Transforming representations of movement from body- to world-centric space."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I learn more about the vDAQ?
The vDAQTM is an all-in-one card and breakout box that’s engineered to provide the most advanced and dependable microscope control and data acquisition. Learn more: https://www.mbfbioscience.com/products/vdaq
How can I learn more about ScanImage software?
ScanImage is a software package for controlling multiphoton and laser scanning microscopes. It enables advanced techniques such as time multiplexed acquisition and single photon counting. Learn more: https://www.mbfbioscience.com/products/scanimage
What resources are available for me to learn more about Mini2P?
Here are some resources to learn more about Mini2P:
How do I configure the Mini2P using ScanImage?
In this workshop, given by the Product Manager of Scanimage, Mitchell Sandoe, you will learn how to set up and control the Mini2P using ScanImage.
Link to the workshop: https://youtu.be/iYRadLMIG6E
Testimonials
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"I am so happy to be a customer of your company. I always get great help related with your product or not. With the experienced members, you are the best team I've ever met. All of your staff are very kind and helpful. Thank you for your great help and support all the time."
"We’ve been very happy for many years with MBF products and the course of upgrades and improvements. Your service department is outstanding. I have gotten great help from the staff with the software and hardware."
"Our experience with the MBF equipment and especially the MBF people has been outstanding. I cannot speak any higher about their professionalism and attention for our needs."
"MBF provides excellent technical support and helps you to find the best technical tools for your research challenges on morphometry."
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
Request more Information
If you’re interested in building your own Mini2P microscope, MBF Bioscience has everything you need! Contact us for more details.
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