NAN Electrode System
Lightweight, Extracellular Microelectrode Drive

NAN Data Sheet

Features

• Modular - from one to 16 electrodes
• Stable recording site for hours
• Quiet during electrode movement - allows recording during advancement
• Flexible positioning - Each electrode/tetrode can be independently positioned in the XY plane within a user-defined working range
• Accurate positioning due to direct coupling between the motor and electrode
• One micron resolution
• Easy replacement of electrodes, less than one minute per tower
• Flexible range - Each electrode/tetrode is independently positioned in the Z direction within a user-defined working range up to 150 mm. Standard range of 55 mm.
• Coarse movement system, XY table and Sphere axis
• Lightweight: 25g per tower, 35g for a 4-channel base
• Sophisticated control software - The user can select a subset of channels using a variety of controls
• Cost-effective system - A single drive can accommodate 16 towers -- add towers as your need for more electrodes increases
• Uses standard, inexpensive electrodes - Almost any stiff-wire electrode can be used with the electrode drive; electrodes can be easily exchanged

Description

The NAN Electrode Drive is a modular, lightweight extracellular microelectrode drive that uses individual towers to independently position each electrode within a grid in the XY plane. Brushless motors coupled with a computer-controlled electrode advancement system ensure accurate electrode positioning in the Z direction.

The NAN Electrode Drive has two basic components and an array of optional adapters for electrode positioning.

Basic components:

• Base - The base is the foundation of the drive. It may be round, rectangular, or have any other suitable geometric shape. Grooves on the base allow the tower holders to be moved forward and backward while the electrode tower's ability to rotate enables circular movement. A single base accommodates between 4-25 electrode towers. The base is custom made to sit on a chamber, a stereotactic frame, a robot's arm, or any other suitable adaptation.

• Electrode Tower - The Electrode Tower attaches to the base. Each tower includes a miniature motor coupled to a driving screw that moves a cartridge. The cartridge can be customized to hold a microelectrode, probe, needle, dagger electrode, tetrode, or a group of electrodes.

A single drive can accommodate up to 16 single-site electrodes. The system consists of a control box, a power supply, a driver for the motors, and control software.

NAN Control Software The NAN Control Software allows precise positioning of each electrode to within one micrometer. The user can select a subset of electrode channels to advance using the screen elements at the right.

Technical Specifications - Standard Electrode Drive

* Can be custom-defined to the user’s specifications

Components for accurate electrode positioning include:

Four-Channel Base - The base, which can be customized to round, rectangular, or any other suitable geometry, provides grooves in which movable holders (tower holders) are freely positioned in the XY plane. It can sit on a chamber, a sterotactic frame, a robot's arm, or any other suitable structure.
Tower - The tower includes a miniature motor that is coupled to a driving screw that moves an electrode holder. The holder can be customized to hold a microelectrode, probe, needle, dagger electrode, Tetrode, or group of electrodes. Directly coupling the cartridge to the motor provides reliable and accurate movement.
Guide-Tube Holder - This holder is designed to allow electrodes (probes) to get near each other.   The tower mounts on the movable holder in the base and may be rotated on its axis. This special mechanism allows the towers and the electrodes to be arranged in an array of different positions, each a different distance from the center of the base and uniquely located in the XYZ plane.
Chamber System - The base is attached to the chamber. The standard grid fits a 23 gauge tube with 1mm spacing.
XY Stage - The XY Stage is an adapter that allows smoother controlled penetration of the entire drive. The XY Stage holds the base and enables the user to manually control vertical and horizontal coarse electrode positioning in the Z direction and XY plane
Coarse Movement System (CMS) - The Coarse Movement System is an optional adapter that allows the researcher to penetrate the dura with the guiding tubes. The working depth is user-defined via a manual control. The adapter sits on the chamber or whatever adaption is used. Motorized available upon request.
Sixteen-channel system with XY table
Two-channel system with Coarse Movement System
RTBL-CMS - Two degree of freedom rotation table with course movement system
DRTBL-CMS - Two independent systems, each with a two-degree, free rotation table and coarse movement system, configured for independent positioning of eight electrodes in two different brain areas.
Oval-Chamber system/double four channels system
Stereotactic frame mounted system