Repository for Miniscope Zero: a fully wireless, single-cell-resolution miniature microscope for imaging neural dynamics in freely behaving animals.
Miniscope Zero is a miniature one-photon microscope that operates without tethers: power is delivered via quasistatic cavity resonance (QSCR) wireless power transfer, and imaging data is streamed over a high-bandwidth optical link. This repository hosts the project-specific hardware designs — the miniscope, the optical data acquisition hardware, and the QSCR arena — and points to the related software and hardware repositories.
- Preprint: bioRxiv (doi:10.64898/2026.09.05.745822)
- Wiki: https://miniscope.org/wiki/Miniscope_Zero
- License: CERN-OHL-S v2 — bundled code retains its original license where noted: the vendored Miniscope-SAMD-Framework snapshot (
MS_module) is AGPL-3.0, and Microchip ASF/Atmel START driver code keeps Microchip's license
Co-led by Takuya Sasatani (@t-sasatani) and Marcel Brosch (@MarcelMB).
miniscope_zero_demo.mp4
MiniscopeZero/ Wireless miniscope
├── Firmware/ SAMD51 firmware (Microchip Studio project)
├── Optics/ Optical system
│ ├── optics_bom.csv Bill of materials for the optical path
│ ├── mechanical/ Dimensioned drawing of the optical assembly
│ ├── zemax/ Zemax OpticStudio sequential design files
│ ├── housing/ 3D-printed housing: STEP, Fusion archive, per-body STLs
│ └── baseplate/ CNC-machined baseplate, 3D-printed dust cap,
│ and set-screw hardware list
└── PCB/ Electronics
├── WLMS-v0_2_1-motherboard/ Main board: PYTHON480 image sensor, MCU, PMU,
│ excitation LED, IR receiver
├── WLMS-v0_2_9_daughterboard/ Power/uplink board: rectifier, pre-regulator,
│ TX LED for the optical data link
└── WPT_receiver/ Rectangular wireless power receiver coils
OpticalDAQ/ Receiver-side data acquisition hardware
├── PCB/
│ ├── optical_daq_v0_4/ Photoreceiver front end: VGA board and digitizer board
│ ├── optical_downlink_v0_2/ USB board for the IR downlink
│ └── FPGA_breakout/ Breakout board for the Opal Kelly XEM7310 FPGA module
└── Housing/ CNC aluminum shield box
QSCR/ Quasistatic cavity resonance power-transfer arena
├── COMSOL/ Electromagnetic simulation models of the arena
├── Fusion360/ QSCR behavioral arena design files
└── PCB/c_mount/ Capacitor mount PCB
guides/ Build and operation guides
├── optics_assembly.md Assembling the miniscope printed parts and optics
├── qscr_operation.md QSCR cavity operation, tuning, and assembly
└── img/ Figures for the guides
- mio (Miniscope-I/O) — data acquisition, synchronization, and preprocessing
- CaMAP — calcium imaging mapping and analysis pipeline
- miniscope_preproc — preprocessing for Miniscope Zero calcium imaging videos
- wpt-devkit — wireless power transmitter
- FuzzyTrack — diffused LED position tracking
- Miniscope-SAMD-Framework — firmware framework template;
Firmware/.../MS_moduleis a minimal vendored snapshot of v0.3.1
Off-the-shelf or reference modules used in the system:
- Hamamatsu C15522-3010SA — SiPM (MPPC) module, receiver for the optical data link
- EPC9065 — high-frequency ZVS class-D power amplifier, drives the QSCR cavity
- Opal Kelly XEM7310 — Artix-7 FPGA board for data acquisition
- Powerstream GM041215 — Low weight miniature lithium ion battery, 45mAH, 3.7V, 4x12x15 mm, 1 g
- Powerstream GM300910 — Low weight miniature lithium ion battery, 11mAH, 3.7V, 3x9x10 mm, 0.33 g
This repository primarily archives the design files accompanying the paper, so pull requests are unlikely to be merged. Questions and issue reports are welcome via the issue tracker, though we cannot guarantee a response.
miniscope_zero_wireless_system.mp4
If you use this work, please cite the preprint — BibTeX in CITATION.bib, or use GitHub's "Cite this repository" button.