The Thomas MEM Systems to drive Neuropixels NHP probes is a software controlled motorized microdive with special xyz-manipulator to be maunted directly on a NHP recording chamber. With this new microdive system, we were able to solve some user problems in NHP applications with the Neuropixels electrode that users of these electrodes have reported to us in the past. These included, among others a safe probe handling during drive loading, design of a special holder for the Neuropixels headstage to prevent the probe felxboard from mechanical stress, development of a solution for a sage primate dura penetration, addressing different recording chamber heights and reproducible positioning of the probe inside the chamber without using a grid. The new MEM drive solves all these problems and ensures safe use of the Neuropixels electrode in NHP applications.

•  The Neuropixels electrode is securely fixed  on a carrier unit.
• The carrier unit is mounted on a slide. The electrode unit can be advanced slowly by a manual fine drive to insert the tip of the Neuropixels electrode into the guide tube without damaging it. The guide tube has a shoe-shaped bevel at the back to ensure safe insertion of the Neuropixels electrode tip.
• At the tip the guide tube is sharpened to guarantee an easy NHP dura penetration. The MEM is mounted to one of our xyz-manipulators with fine manual control of the z-axis for controlled dura penetration.
• The headstage of the Neuropixels electrode is mounted to a special drive holder to avoid damage of the probe flexboard.
• The length of the guide tube holder can be adjusted to the height of the implanted recording chambers.
  

Key features:

• Safe dura penetration with sharpened guide tube
• Length of guide tube holder is customizable to deep recording chambers
• Easy loading of Neuropixels probe by a special design probe carrier
• Neuropixels headstage is mounted to the MEM drive to avoid flexboard damage
• Electrode travel distance: up to 38mm (with 7mm guide tube for dura penetration)
• Miniaturized XYZ-manipulator for reproducible MEM positioning without grids
• Microprocessor motor control unit
• Tablet based handheld remote control
• Axial resolution about 1µm