Heptode Mini Matrix
Heptode Mini Matrix
The Thomas Heptode Mini Matrix (HMM) is a software controlled motorized microdrive with patented driving principle and up to 32 recording channels. The Heptode Mini Matrix moves up to 4 heptodes (7 channel fiber microelectrode, outer diameter 100 µm) and 1 tetrode (4 channel fiber microelectrode, outer diameter 100 µm) independently from each other to different depths of the brain. With a travel distance of up to 24 mm (larger travel distances on request) this allows cortical as well as deep brain recordings. One can replace a tetrode or heptode by an injection pipette, an optical fiber or an electrical stimulation electrode and move it like the heptodes/tetrodes, computer controlled into the brain.
Key features:
- 5 micromotors move 5 probes independently from each other
- Electrode travel distance: up to 24 mm
- Up to 32 recording channels
- Axial resolution better than 1µm
- Recording with up to 32 recording channels
- Electrical stimulation with IrOx coated fiber stimulation electrodes
- Microinjection with fiber (metal or glass) injection cannulas
- Optical stimulation with optical fibers
- Axial resolution better than 1µm
- High precision & quality “Made in GERMANY” by Thomas RECORDING
- Variable speed range 0…250 µm/s, higher velocity on request
- Custom-made solutions for each recording application for NHP or rodents
- Networkable motor control unit (LAN communication via TCP/IP)
- Xyz manipulator for reproducible recording position
- Integrated motor control and data acquisition-software
Electrode travel: | Up to 24.000 µm |
Resolution: | 1µm in z-axis, x- and y-axis with a grid in primate recording chambers, or xy-manipulator in small animal stereotaxy |
Electrodes: | Quartz glass insulated platinum tungsten microelectrodes (OD=80-100µm), single electrodes, tetrodes (4 metal cores) and heptodes (7 metal cores) |
Number of electrodes | Up to 5 individual fibers (e.g. electrodes, tetrodes, heptodes, optical fibers, injection cannulas) independently moveable to different depths of the brain |
Preamplifier: | 32 channels (integrated in the Microdrive chassis to avoid electrical interference pickup from the lab environment |
Multicontact Probes: | TREC tetrodes and heptodes |
Motor Control: | 8 channel Microprocessor motor control unit |
Remote Control: | Wireless/wired handheld remote control (tablet, standard), wired handheld remote control (optional available) |
Chamber Clamp: | customized to the user’s recording chambers (e.g. Crist chambers) |
Dimensions | see drawing below for standard Mini Matrix configuration |
ORDERING INFORMATION
Primate setup (standard)
Qty. | Article number | Description |
1 | AN001673 | Heptode Mini Matrix Microdrive |
1 | AN000165 | Xyz-manipulator |
1 | AN000389 | Motor control unit (MCU-2) with handheld remote control and external power supply |
1 | AN001722 | 128 Channel Digital Recording System (DRS-C128) Controller |
1 | AN001647 | Software license for a Heptode Mini Matrix system |
Small Animal Setup (standard)
Qty. | Article number | Description |
1 | AN001673 | Heptode Mini Matrix Microdrive |
1 | AN000977 | Rod-adapter for mounting the Thomas Matrix Drive to a small animal stereotaxic instrument |
1 | AN000389 | Motor control unit (MCU-2) with handheld remote control and external power supply |
1 | AN001722 | 128 Channel Digital Recording System (DRS-C128) Controller |
1 | AN001647 | Software license for a Heptode Mini Matrix system |
The new Heptode Mini Matrix is available for research applications with rodents or non-human primates. The Microdrive allows to move up to five fibers (single electrodes, tetrodes, heptodes, optical fibers, injection cannulas, stimulation electrodes) independently from each other to different depths of the brain. The electrode travel distance is up to 24.000 µm. A 32-channel low-noise preamplifier is integrated in the microdrive chassis. As the chassis is made of anodized aluminum it is working like a Faraday cage, shielding the recording electrodes from electrical interference. The Microdrive can be easily adapted to different stereotaxic setups e.g., for rodents and non-human primates (see figure 1).
The Heptode Mini Matrix components are shown in figure 2. The Microdrive head is exchangeable to realize different electrode arrangements (e.g. linear, concentric) with different electrode spacing (e.g. 80µm, 300µm, etc.). The Microdrive is able to record from up to 32 recording channels (if 4 heptodes and 1 tetrode is loaded to the microdrive). If the tetrode is replaced
- by an injection cannula, one can inject drugs
- by an optical fiber, one can stimulate neurons by light
- by a stimulation electrode, one can electrically stimulate neurons
and record the neural response with the reaming four heptodes (28 recording channels).
The used fiber microelectrodes have outer diameters of 80-100 µm, causing only minimal tissue damage when introduced in the recording target. In histological preparation one can hardly see the electrodes trajectories!
Figure 3 shows the Heptode Mini Matrix Microdrive connected to a motor control unit. The motor control unit has up to 8 channels so that it is possible to add further motorized devices like our motorized microinjection pumps. It is possible to control the microinjection pump with the same software that controls the Heptode Mini Matrix Motors.
Functional Connectomics with the Heptode Mini Matrix
The study of the “wiring diagram of the brain” on different scales is the focus of connectomics, a subfield of neuroscience. However, to understand information processing in a connectome, it is necessary to visualize the neural network in the brain area of interest in a living organism in real time. This is not yet possible with currently available brain research methods. The Thomas Heptode Mini Matrix together with a new 3D-reconstruction software demonstrates a new technique for the 3D-reconstruction of the position of active neurons in a neural network. The technique uses extracellular recordings with our Heptode Mini Matrix loaded with our multichannel microelectrodes (e.g., tetrodes or heptodes) and postprocessing of the recorded data by a special developed software. The principle is shown in figure 5. The 3D-reconstruction software is optionally available for the Heptode Mini Matrix system.
Questions? Please don’t hesitate contacting us!
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