Ultra High Channel Count Neurophysiology

1024-channel data acquisition system
FPGA Hardware Architecture
UI & Data Visualization
ASIC Design
GUI Development
Willow

Overview

"Willow reduced per-channel cost by an order of magnitude compared to what had been commercially available." –Ed Boyden
"Willow reduced per-channel cost by an order of magnitude compared to what had been commercially available." –Ed Boyden
Many aspects of neuroscience are data-starved because of technological bottlenecks. LeafLabs is overcoming this challenge by eliminating these bottlenecks at every stage of the pipeline. Willow is the first product developed from the collaboration of LeafLabs and SNG: the 1024-channel data node is designed to be modular, one-tenth the cost per channel of existing systems, and scalable. The data node contains an FPGA that processes 1024 channels of electrophysiological data by communicating concurrently with as many as 32 industry-standard neural amplifier chips. The raw, wide-band data is written directly to a storage drive by the FPGA, while simultaneously being forwarded to a computer for real-time feedback and monitoring by the user.
microscope image of probes
Willow

The Challenge

The brain is tremendously complex, and uncovering its secrets requires huge amounts of high-resolution data. No adequate commercial systems existed to record from the probe’s 1,000 channels.
The brain is tremendously complex, and uncovering its secrets requires huge amounts of high-resolution data. No adequate commercial systems existed to record from the probe’s 1,000 channels.
single Willow probe
image of 1024 channel Willow probe
image of Brian Allen in the lab
This program required true full stack product development, including FPGA Hardware Architecture, ASIC Design, GUI Development, Product Development, Experimentation, Data Visualization, Vivarium Engagement, and more.
This program required true full stack product development, including FPGA Hardware Architecture, ASIC Design, GUI Development, Product Development, Experimentation, Data Visualization, Vivarium Engagement, and more.
Willow

The Solution

Many aspects of neuroscience are data-starved because of technological bottlenecks. LeafLabs is overcoming this challenge by eliminating these bottlenecks at every stage of the pipeline. Willow is the first product developed from the collaboration of LeafLabs and SNG: the 1024-channel data node is designed to be modular, one-tenth the cost per channel of existing systems, and scalable.
Many aspects of neuroscience are data-starved because of technological bottlenecks. LeafLabs is overcoming this challenge by eliminating these bottlenecks at every stage of the pipeline. Willow is the first product developed from the collaboration of LeafLabs and SNG: the 1024-channel data node is designed to be modular, one-tenth the cost per channel of existing systems, and scalable.
data visualization from the Willow probes
Willow

Now Available

The Synthetic Neurobiology Group was able to record high channel count experiments. SNG now uses the Willow system routinely to record high channel count experiments. Through this collaboration, LeafLabs has become a critical resource for Dr. Boyden and his research in developing new tools for neuroscience.
The Synthetic Neurobiology Group was able to record high channel count experiments. SNG now uses the Willow system routinely to record high channel count experiments. Through this collaboration, LeafLabs has become a critical resource for Dr. Boyden and his research in developing new tools for neuroscience.
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