A PlexBright Fiber Stub Implant is a hollow, ceramic ferrule (or cannula) with an optical fiber at the center that extends a specified length beyond one side of the ferrule. The fiber stub is permanently implanted into the head of the subject with the exposed fiber placed into the tissue. The standard Fiber Stubs are then connected to a PlexBright Optical Patch Cable using a ceramic sleeve during experimentation.

**New Magnetic Fiber Stubs and Lambda-B Fiber Stubs are now available**

Ferrule Tip Options
Standard PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants are available in two ferrule sizes: LC or FC Ferrules. LC Ferrules are smaller (1.25mm OD x 6.45mm length) and used with either rats, mice or other small animals. FC Ferrules are a bit larger (2.5mm OD x 10.5mm length) and typically used with rats and other larger animals. Preference is strictly up to the researcher and the experimental conditions, with the above information offered as a loose guide.

**It is important that the ferrule size on the Fiber Stub Implant matches the ferrule tip on the Optical Patch Cable. For example, if the subject is a rat and you choose an FC Ferrule Fiber Stub Implant, then be certain to also choose a PlexBright Optical Patch Cable with an FC Ferrule tip.**

Fiber Diameters
Standard PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants

These fiber stubs use the same high performance optical fiber that is found in our PlexBright Optical Patch Cables, and are manufactured in two diameters: our original 200/230µm fiber and the smaller 110/125µm fiber. The diameter measurements represent a core fiber diameter (200 or 110μm), and a total outer diameter that includes the cladding (230 or 125μm). Both sizes of PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants feature all-glass fibers and cladding – making them heat, chemical, and scratch resistant. The tips are also precision-finished for a perfect flat tip, without imperfections from cleaving that are typical in products from other companies.

There are a few considerations when choosing the right fiber size: size of animal, impact of tissue displacement, and required power output delivered to the tissue. Light output is a result of several factors including fiber diameter. If achieving the highest power output possible is of greatest concern, the original PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants measuring 200/230μm may be the most suitable. The smaller diameter fiber displaces less tissue upon entry and is believed to introduce less tissue damage. Thus, the smaller size may be more appropriate when minimal tissue disturbance is of special concern and/or for small animals such as mice.

**Before making a decision regarding the fiber diameter, reference the “Power Output at Tissue Interface Tables” on the Technical Specs tab. These tables provide an expected system output actually experienced by the tissue accounting for the specific wavelength chosen, loss due to patch cable and fiber stub connections, and the fiber stub fiber diameter.**

Lengths
The Fiber Stub Implant length refers to the length of the optical fiber exposed beyond the end of the ferrule (or cannula). PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants are available in a choice of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12mm lengths, or may be customized to the researcher’s specifications. The Fiber Stub Implants are sold in boxes of five or twenty five stubs.

To best maintain the PlexBright Fiber Stub Implant tip, Plexon recommends regular care and maintenance utilizing the PlexBright Optical Fiber Cleaning Kit. This kit has been designed to safely maintain and extend the life of the exposed optical fiber.

PlexBright Starter Kits offer the initial products to get started and a 10% discount when purchased as a kit. Kits are available in four experimental designs and with either driver (the economical kit with the LD-1 Single Channel LED Driver or the fully functional kit with the 4 Channel Controller with Radiant™ Software).

In addition to the PlexBright Fiber Stub Implants, tip-specific PlexBright Optical Patch Cables, and the PlexBright Optical Fiber Cleaning Kit, the PlexBright Optogenetic Stimulation System offers a complete range of super intensity PlexBright LED Modules – controlled by either the stand-alone PlexBright LD-1 Single Channel LED Driver or the advanced PlexBright 4 Channel Optogenetic Controller running Radiant Software, several PlexBright compatible commutators, and the PlexBright Light Measurement Kit. If your experiments include freely behaving animals, you may also be interested in learning more about the CinePlex^® and CineLyzer^® Behavioral Research Systems.

Your Plexon Sales Engineer is available to provide additional information and to assist you in determining what products might be the best choice for supporting your research.

Technical specifications for the Fiber Stub Implants may be found below, followed by a table detailing the light output actually experienced by the tissue during experimentation.