Photoacoustic micropipette

Glass micropipette electrodes are commonly used to target neurons, either in vivo or in vitro. They acquire electrophysiological recordings for the purpose of developing a further understanding of the behavior of neurons at the single cell and network levels. The success rate of acquiring adequate recordings during these procedures, however, is largely limited. Here, we demonstrate how a photoacoustic micropipette (PMP) electrode is capable of providing real-time photoacoustic feedback, useful in navigation towards intended targets. The PMP is fabricated from standard pulled borosilicate glass micropipettes, coated with aluminum. Light introduced into the wall of the micropipette, parallel to the axis, travels along the entire length of the device before exiting the tip, where it can induce the photoacoustic effect.