Gowerlabs LUMO fNIRS

The Gowerlabs LUMO system lies at the cutting-edge of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging technology. Consisting of a unique three-piece ecosystem, LUMO is a wearable, scalable, and high-density fNIRS system that brings together incredible functional imaging capabilities and unprecedented experimental flexibility.

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Gowerlabs LUMO fNIRS

Gowerlabs LUMO fNIRS

What is LUMO?

The LUMO system, created by rapidly-growing optical neuroimaging technology company Gowerlabs, is a state-of-the-art solution for neuroscience researchers looking to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging techniques.

Comprised of a unique, three-piece ecosystem (the LUMO tile, cap, and hub), the LUMO system is a wearable, modular, and high-density fNIRS system that offers researchers incredible functional imaging capabilities and unprecedented experimental flexibility.

LUMO's technology is able to provide continuous, high-density multi-distance sampling, helping to reduce false positives with its inherent short-separation channels. With a lightweight design, LUMO requires no cumbersome optical fibres, making it suitable for use across all ages and environments. Its flexible configuration lets researchers easily and instantly switch between a different cap and array configurations, while the unique scalable design of the system enables the researcher to upgrade their system as research requirements expand and change.

LUMOTILE

The LUMOTILE is one of three pieces of groundbreaking technology that come together to create the LUMO fNIRS ecosystem. The modular construction of the LUMO system is comprised of a number of independent, hexagonal sensor tiles that can be quickly and easily connected to any cap at any desired location in order to construct a high-density fNIRS or diffuse optical tomography (DOT) array.

LUMOTILE

Providing unrivalled neuroimaging flexibility, just two LUMO tiles can provide as many as 48 fNIRS channels, with source-detector separations ranging from 10mm to 50mm.

Key features of LUMOTILE:

  • Each LUMOTILE contains three dual-wavelength sources and four detectors;
  • All tiles benefit from an anti-light-piping design and construction;
  • High-quality optical filters within each tile maximise ambient light rejection;
  • LUMOTILE's ergonomic design ensures that the cap connection process is simple and fast;
  • The system has been designed to ensure that it works seamlessly with 3D positioning systems;
  • LUMOTILE offers intra-tile measurements at 10 mm and 20 mm separation, with cross-tile measurements up to 50 mm;
  • Lightweight design: each tile weighs just 6.2g.

LUMOCAP

Featuring a flexible, stretchable, and ergonomic design, each LUMOCAP is made from a flexible, high-quality neoprene material to ensure maximum subject comfort.

Child and Adult LUMOCAP

Each LUMOCAP features a set of 'docks', into which any LUMOTILE can be inserted. This flexible construction makes the array configuration for any desired fNIRS experiment fast and simple for the researcher. All docks on the cap are connected together using a state-of-the-art flexible printed circuit design that allows each cap to stretch, ensuring that it can comfortably fit various subjects' head shapes.

Inside the cap, specially constructed light guides comb through the subject's hair to make direct contact with the scalp. These light guides are available in two different variations in order to accommodate subjects with different hair types and from different populations, and all guides can be removed post-experiment to allow for thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

LUMOCAP

To ensure the best fit across all subjects, bespoke caps with custom-designed arrays are available in all sizes ranging from infant to adult.

Key features of the LUMOCAP include:

  • A flexible, high-quality construction of neoprene;
  • A range of cap circumferences, from 34cm to 64cm;
  • An adjustable chin strap helps to align the cap correctly to the head;
  • 10-10 positioning markers;
  • Velcro cable strain relief;
  • Customisable dock layouts for different fNIRS experiments;
  • Removable light guides.

LUMOHUB

The LUMOHUB is a compact, user-friendly control device for the LUMO system. Offering full control via cable or wireless, LUMOHUB provides researchers with complete experimental flexibility.

LUMOHUB

When the LUMOHUB is operating in cabled mode, each LUMOCAP is connected to the hub by a flexible, lightweight cable, with the hub then connecting to a control laptop via a USB connection. Each LUMOHUB can be connected to up to three caps simultaneously to allow for multi-subject hyperscanning.

LUMOHUB: AIR (Under Development)

LUMOHUB:AIR

Enabling the fully wireless operation of the LUMO system, the wireless LUMOHUB: AIR system is designed to be worn on the subject's upper arm or tucked into a pocket. This system is perfectly suited to wireless neuroimaging applications, including studies of movement, of naturalistic stimuli, and of infants in an everyday environment.

LUMOHUB:AIR Outdoors

Watch a demonstration of LUMO in action:

Why choose a LUMO system?

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been increasing in popularity amongst neuroscientists, doctors, and psychologists as an extremely promising neuroimaging technology.

Most fNIRS solutions are plagued by issues of low image resolution, uneven brain sensitivity, and the need to apply cumbersome optical fibres to the scalp of every subject, which has massively limited the application of fNIRS technologies.

By allowing measurement channels to be formed from a very wide range of source-detector distances across multiple tiles, the LUMO system provides consistent, even coverage of the subject's brain. With LUMO, researchers can be thoroughly confident that they will not miss any area of the cortex as a result of sparse, uneven sampling rates.

High-density sampling has been extensively demonstrated to provide more reliable measurements of brain function than traditional functional near-infrared spectroscopy approaches. NIRS systems that only measure at one distance (for example, 30mm) are highly susceptible to subject contamination arising from the scalp. LUMO's unique design provides multiple short-separation channels for every source and detector, which allows the scalp signal to be detected, isolated, and removed. Only with this high-density sampling can fNIRS users be confident that the signal they record is truly from the brain.

Comparison between standard fNIRS configurations and LUMO

Comparison between LUMO and standard NIRS configurations

Left: a typical optical fibre array consisting of 10 source and 10 detector locations arranged in a grid design to provide 30 fNIRS channels all with a separation of 30 mm.

Right: the 12-tile LUMO prefrontal array provides more than 400 fNIRS channels with separations in the range of 10 to 40 mm. LUMO provides an average cortical sensitivity 100x that of traditional fNIRS.

Watch a demonstration of how to set up LUMO:

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HIGH-DENSITY, ACCURATE NIRS SAMPLING

LUMOTILELUMO provides multiple short-separation channels for every source and detector, allowing scalp signal to be detected, isolated and removed. High-quality optical filters within the LUMOTILE also help to maximise ambient light rejection.

REVOLUTIONARY NEUROIMAGING TECHNOLOGY

LUMO provides a huge step forward in optical neuroimaging technology. The combination of just two tiles can provide a researcher with as many as 48 fNIRS channels with source-detector separations ranging from 10 to 50 mm.

MODULAR, SCALABLE ARRAY DESIGN

LUMOCAPThanks to its innovative design LUMO is scalable. Additional tiles and caps, with varying dock layouts, can be purchased and used with the existing system. Thanks to its innovative design, each tile can easily be placed into any dock on the cap to build a high-density DOT array.

COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN

The compact and lightweight design of LUMOTILE means that each sensor weighs only 6 grams.

FULLY PORTABLE NIRS SYSTEM

The LUMOHUB:AIR system (under development) allows for fully-portable, wireless operation of the LUMO system. The device, which can be worn on a subject's upper arm or concealed in a pocket, allows for unrivalled wireless neuroimaging applications.

CAPS TO SUIT ALL SIZES AND REGIONS OF INTEREST

LUMOCAP Size RangeLUMO caps are available to fit head circumferences ranging from 34 to 62 cm. LUMO caps come with standard arrays such as prefrontal, motor and occipital regions, however, custom arrays can be configured in order to fit the desired application. 

MULTI-SUBJECT HYPERSCANNING

LUMOHUBThe LUMO system can connect to multiple LUMO arrays simultaneously, allowing for multi-subject hyperscanning

INTEGRATE WITH 3D POSITIONING SYSTEMS

The LUMO system has been specifically designed to ensure that it can integrate seamlessly with 3D positioning and neuronavigation systems to enable maximum accuracy in fNIRS experiments.

SUITABLE FOR ALL HAIR TYPES AND POPULATIONS

LUMO light guidesLUMO's specially designed light guides are available in two different sizes, one that is optimised to comb through the subjects hair and one that provides a comfortable flat surface for infants.

LUMOTILE Specifications (per tile)

Sources

3 dual-wavelength LED sources (735 and 850 nm)

Detectors

4 PIN photodiode detectors
Fitted with narrowband optical filters to increase ambient light rejection.

Photosensitive Area

2.7 mm x 2.7 mm

Framerate

10Hz

Power Supply

100 - 240 V AC 50 Hz input
12 V DC 2.5 A output

Operating Conditions

10 - 40ºC

Weight

6.2 g

Dimensions

29 x 29 x 8 mm

Certification

LUMO is intended for research use only. It is CE-marked in accordance with BS EN 61010-1 and BS EN 61326-1.


Multiple Tile Specifications

Configuration

6 Tiles

12 Tiles

Sources 18

36

Detectors 24

48

Logical Channels 432

1728

Total Weight (Wearable, approx.) 170 g

240 g

Total Weight (System, approx.) 4.1 kg

4.2k g


Control Laptop (Supplied) Specifications

Operating System

Windows 10

Event Marking

Input via system laptop keyboard or via standard USB interface.

Data Output

Data files contain detected intensity values, timestamp data, event markers and other information.

Scripts available to convert these files to .nirs and other popular formats.

Optode Position Management

Fully compatible with position measuring systems such as Polhemus Patriot.

Documentation

Full software instructions/documentation provided.


LUMOHUB Specifications

Dimensions

100 x 100 x 40 mm

Weight

470 g

Power Requirements

12 V, 2.5 A


LUMOCAP Specifications

Sizes

Neonatal, child, adult

Circumferences

34 - 62 cm

Dock Layouts

A range of standard arrays, with bespoke layouts available on request.

Compatible Products

Associated Techniques

To find out more about the techniques that are applicable to this product, follow the links below.

Added Value

In addition to supplying and supporting a wide range of neuroscience products, Brainbox offers additional value in a number of areas that can benefit our customers, including:

Training
Installation, Product Training, Technique Training, Bespoke Training

Lab Support
System Upgrades, Testing, Calibration, System Integration, Bespoke Solutions

Research Support
Study Design, Piloting, Technical Information, References

Collaboration
Grant Applications, Industrial Projects, Workshops

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