The Thomas RECORDING multicore microelectrodes were designed by Heribert Reitboeck and Uwe Thomas in 1987 in the Reitboeck lab at the University of Marburg, Germany. The Thomas tetrode is superior to a single microelectrode due to single unit isolation out of a multi-unit recording. Thomas Tetrodes offer greater spatial resolution, better spike sorting, and improved signal quality compared to single electrodes. This makes them especially useful in complex brain areas where multiple neurons are active in close proximity and need to be recorded simultaneously for accurate analysis. Single electrodes may suffice for simpler recordings but have limitations when it comes to resolving activity from closely spaced neurons or studying larger networks of neurons. Thomas RECORDING tetrodes are ideal for high-precision, multi-unit extracellular recordings, and they allow researchers to gain more insights into neural population dynamics and the functional organization of the brain.

Product Description

Key Features

• Material: Quartz glass insulated Platinum/Tungsten (95%/5%)

• 4 metal cores

• Fiber diameter of 100µm

• Unique material combination

• Biocompatible materials

• Well suited for acute and also for long term chronic recordings

• Very close electrode spacings are possible (down to 100µm) when using Thomas microdrives

• very thin shafts minimize tissue damage

• Suitable for cortical as well as deep brain recordings

Tetrode Tip Shapes

Thomas RECORDING tetrodes are available with two different tip shapes A and D (see picture on the right side). Tip A (pulled & gound tip) has recording contacts that are closer together and have smaller contact areas, resulting in higher impedance values per contact. This means that each tetrode recording contact has a small recording sphere. Therefore electrode tip is very well suited for signal recordings in brain regions with higher cell density. It allows for better isolation of individual units from a multi-unit recording. In contrast, a Thomas RECORDING tetrode with tip shape D (only ground) is very well suited for brain regions with normal cell density. Thomas RECORDING tetrodes are the only tetrodes on the market whose recording properties can be adapted to different cell densities in different regions of the brain!

Recording Quality

The picture on the right side shows an extracellular recording with a Thomas RECORDING tetrode from rat brain.

The picture on the left side shows an extracellular recording with a Thomas RECORDING tetrode in subthalamic nucleus of an anesthetized dystonia patient, University Hospital Heidelberg. One can discern up to three different units out of the multi unit tetrode recording (unit A, B and C) based on the stereotrode effect.

Clinical Tetrode Recordings

Ordering Information

Thomas RECORDING tetrodes are available for Thomas microdrives with rubber tube drive (e.g. Mini Matrix and Eckhorn Matrix ) or for motorized and manual single shaft electrode microdrives (e.g. Thomas MEM).  

Selected Publications

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