Optogenetics is a powerful tool that allows tissue specific control with light activation. Here, we use Drosophila melanogaster as a tool to optimize and improve optogenetic cardiac pacing. We have obtained several D. melanogaster strains to test the performance of different opsins,light sensitive proteins, to determine which provide high-fidelity control of the heart with minimal power to activate. Using a lab-built optical coherence tomography (OCT) system integrated with an optogenetic set-up, flies were efficiently tested for performance and fidelity. Using a custom convolutional neural network, 2D+Time pacing images were segmented to quantify functional parameters such heart beat rate, change in lumen area, and heart wall velocity.
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