PREPRINT: Miniscope Zero, a fully wireless Miniscope
Miniscope Zero: a fully wireless miniature microscope for imaging neural dynamics in freely behaving animals
Our preprint describing Miniscope Zero is now available: doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.05.745822. Miniscope Zero is a one-photon calcium-imaging platform with no data tether and no power tether — named for its zero-tether operation. It combines wide-area wireless power based on quasistatic cavity resonance (QSCR) with a high-bandwidth optical data link, supporting real-time cellular-resolution imaging in freely behaving mice.
Takuya Sasatani and Marcel Brosch contributed equally to this work.
Why fully wireless
Most miniature microscopes remain tethered by cables or optical fibers, which introduce translational drag, rotational torque, and cable-management constraints that can bias behavior. Untethered systems remove the physical tether but trade recording duration against head-mounted battery mass, and systems that store data onboard cannot be monitored or adjusted during a recording.
