ME-16-USB System User Manual
Contents
1. The software settings for the Trigger Detector do not match with the hardware configuration gt In MC Rack add a Trigger Detector to your virtual rack and select the Digital Data D1 input stream as the Trigger Check the pin layout of the digital IN OUT connector and make sure that the same bit input that is connected is selected in the software The standard settings of the Trigger Detector are for using bit 0 Mask all unused bits Select the appropriate logical state generally HIGH for triggering Please see the MC_Rack Help or User Manual for more details 27 ME 16 USB System 6 Appendix 6 1 Pin Layout 6 1 1 MPA3I Inputs MPA8I Inputs Female D SUB 15 connector OOOMOOOO BOG GOGE MPA8I Input 1 MPAS8I Input 2 Pin 1 GNDP power ground GNDP power ground Pin 9 GNDS signal ground GNDS signal ground Pin 2 Channel 1 Channel 9 Pin 10 Channel 2 Channel 10 Pin 3 Channel 3 Channel 11 Pin 11 Channel 4 Channel 12 Pin 4 Channel 5 Channel 13 Pin 12 Channel 6 Channel 14 Pin 5 Channel 7 Channel 15 Pin 13 Channel 8 Channel 16 Pin 6 GNDP power ground GNDP power ground Pin 14 GNDP power ground GNDP power ground Pin 7 GNDP power ground GNDP power ground Pin 15 Positive supply voltage Positive supply voltage Pin 8 Negative supply voltage Negative supply voltage The recording channel numbers refer to the channel numbers in the MC_Rack program Please make sure that you have selected the ME 16 USB2. 00000000000 Please note that the black side is considered the top side 1 Ground GND 2 Reference input 3 10 Recording channels 1 to 8 11 Ground GND Output Connector Male 1 Ground GND 9 Signal ground 2 10 3 11 4 12 5 13 Recording channels 1 8 6 14 7 Ground GND 15 Positive supply voltage 8 Negative supply voltage Connected to the ground of the amplifier The signal ground is used as the reference for the following filter amplifier 20 MPASI Pin Layout Test Model Probe Test model probe for MPABI pin layout 1 MPABI H B S 2 pin _ MH 3 TA He 4 TFA 14 I 5 CED CED ur 6 KIA HO 7 OG 8 tA WY a 2 Model test probe for MPA circuit Test signal input jumper Reference input jumper Signal Signal ground IN MPABI el inputs 1 8 MPABI ref input 2 Jumper GND 150 pF Test signal IN You can use the jumper to connect the signal input pin Signal IN to ground standard situation for a noise level test or you can connect a data source for example a sine wave generator to the input and the ground of the test signal to the signal ground input to test the signal distribution The input signal is distributed across all recording channels REF IN The standard situation in an experiment should be that the reference electrode has properties identical or close to the recording electrodes You can remove the jumper to connect the reference output of the test model p
3. System Complete with data acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 2 x MPA8I SC8x8 FA16l data acquisition computer with MC Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 2 x MPA32I SC2x32 FA32I data acquisition computer with MC Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 2 x MPA32I SC2x32 FA64I data acquisition computer with MC Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 4 x MPA32I 2 x SC2x32 2 x FA64I data acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 2 x MPA8I SC8x8 PGA16 data acquisition computer with MC Card and IPS10W and software package Complete with 2 x MPA32I SC2x32 PGA32 data acquisition computer with MC Card and IPS10W and software package 31 ME 16 USB System ME recording system ME64 PGA System Complete with 2 x MPA32I SC2x32 with 64 analog channels and PGA64 data acquisition computer with filter amplifier with MC Card and IPS10W and software programmable gain package ME recording system ME128 PGA System Complete with 4 x MPA32I 2 x SC2x32 with 128 analog channels and 2 x PGA64 data acquisition computer filter amplifier with with MC Card and IPS10W and programmable gain software package 6 3 3 Amplifiers Product Product Number Description Miniature preamplifier with 2 MPA2I Small sized and light weight electrode inputs headstage with common ground and Miniature p
4. fatally damage the electronics Clean the connectors with 70 alcohol and cotton swabs from time to time If this does not provide satisfying results insert only the connectors into a small beaker with acetone or alcohol and sonicate for 10 20 s in an ultrasonic bath Air dry the miniature preamplifier for about 5 min before use You can also clean the connectors with distilled water in an ultra sonic bath Dry the connectors with compressed air immediately after sonication and let the amplifier air dry for at least 6 h before use Sterilization or vapor The resin is not heat stable and may deform under heat Vapor can lead to a Warning Do not autoclave or sterilize miniature preamplifiers by high heat above 70 C corrosion of the electronics Miniature preamplifiers can be sterilized with standard methods that are not based on high heat or vapor for example with 70 ethanol UV light or by thermal sterilization in an oven at 56 C with an incubation time of 8 hours 19 ME 16 USB System User Manual 4 1 7 MPA3I Pin Layout Power Supply Supply voltage is applied to the output connector pins 8 and 15 The voltage source should supply a stable noise free voltage Do not exceed the maximum voltage Pin 8 3 V to 8 V Pin 15 3 V to 8 V Warning Do not mismatch the polarity of the power supply A false connection may damage p the unit Input Connector 8 Channel Miniature Preamplifier inputs
5. to fluids or vapor for a longer period of time Welcome to the ME 16 USB System 2 Welcome to the ME 16 USB System The ME 16 USB System is a very compact and portable stand alone solution It features an integrated 16 channel filter amplifier and data acquisition The digitally converted electrode signals are transmitted to the connected computer via universal serial bus High Speed USB 2 0 Thus it is possible to use any computer as a data acquisition computer for example a laptop The size of the complete system is so small it easily fits into a laptop bag together with the computer Interference of computer components with the data acquisition are excluded The system includes two 8 channel miniature preamplifiers MPA8I The MPABI is connected to the microelectrodes for providing the initial tenfold amplification stage Adapters to contact standard microelectrodes such as Michigan probes from NeuroNexus Technologies and the 8 Trode from ALA Scientific Instruments Inc are available as accessories Recorded data is graphed analyzed and reviewed with the powerful and easy to use MC_Rack program You can export the data in standard formats to other programs with the MC DataTool Figure 1 ME 16 USB System With integrated 16 channel filter amplifier and data acquisition and two 8 channel miniature preamplifiers MPA8I A 16 channel acute probe from NeuroNexus is hooked up onto two MPA8Is via an MP 16 ADPT adapter Prob
6. with installed MC_Rack program Set up the MPA8I as described in chapter Setting Up and Connecting the MPA Connect the MPAB8Is to the main unit of the ME 16 USB System Close all unused inputs with terminal plugs Connect the USB output connector to a free USB 2 0 port of the data acquisition computer Connect the main unit to a power outlet of the same electrical system connected to the same ground earth wire as all other components of the setup for example the computer or shielding Check the power LED on the front panel It should light up as soon as the power line is connected If not check the power source and cabling Install the MC_Rack program from the installation volume if it is not already installed Start the MC_Rack program and select the ME 16 USB System as the data source Please see the MC_Rack Help User Manual for more details on how to define the data source ME 16 USB System User Manual 3 2 Driver Installation The ME 16 USB System is a plug and play device The driver is automatically installed together with the MC_Rack program The Windows operating system detects a new hardware when the ME 16 USB System is connected to the computer if the program has not been installed beforehand Simply cancel the driver installation and proceed with the installation of the MC_Rack program Important Please make sure that you have full control over your computer as an administrator Otherwise it is possible tha
7. Channel Systems or your local retailer for compatibility Product Description Buer U Michigan probes 16 channel silicon probes NeuroNexus Technologies www neuronexustech com 8 Trode Electrodes with eight pads for in vivo acute ALA Scientific Instruments Inc or chronic implantation www alascience com 33 Technical Specifications Date of Print 22 08 2006 ME 16 USB System multichannel Operating temperature Storage temperature Relative humidity systems 10 C to 50 C 0 C to 50 C 10 to 85 non condensing 2 x 8 Channel Miniature Preamplifier MPA8I Dimensions W x D x H Weight Maximum tensile strength of cable Input connector type Number of input channels Input voltage Input impedance Input noise Noise density Bandwidth Gain 16 Channel filter amplifier Number of input channels Input voltage Input impedance Input noise Noise density 1 kHz Bandwidth Filter slope Gain 17 mm x 25 mm x 1 8 mm 1 3 g w o cable and plug 21 g with cable and plug 2kg Single row precision sockets 50 mil 1 27 mm grid pattern for 0 35 0 45 mm round pins 8 500 mV with respect to a supply voltage of 5 V 10 Q parallel to 10 pF lt 1 5 UV pms 1 Hz to 5 kHz inputs short circuited n 15 nV JHz DC to 50 kHz 10 16 AC Coupled 2 2 MQ lt 1 UV ems full bandwidth inputs short circuited en 9 nV N Hz 1 5000 Hz 80 db decade 100 Other gain a
8. D 4 OQ resistor Support pins 8 Trode 8765432 1R no function Figure 5 8 Trode adapter pin assignment Shown are the input pins of the adapter that are connected to the probe and the output pins that are connected to the MPA8I The labelled channels are the ground channel GND the reference channel R and the 8 recording channels 1 8 of the MPASI Connect the 8 Trode adapter to the miniature preamplifier on one side and to the 8 Trode on the other side as shown in the photograph below The MPAB8I has two ground inputs The two ground outputs of the 8 Trode adapter are only required for connecting these two inputs to the ground of the adapter they have no additional function A 0 Ohm resistor is connected between the reference R input and output This means the reference input is connected to ground and all signals are measured against the general ground of the setup If the resistor is removed the input is measured against the input of the R pin that is the noise measured with the R electrode is subtracted from the input signals of the 8 channels 18 Setting Up and Connecting the MPA 4 1 6 Service and Maintenance Cleaning the Connectors Warning It is recommended to avoid the use of cleaning solutions to avoid corrosion If a A wet cleaning is required use distilled water Make sure that only the connectors touch the liquid do not submerge the miniature preamplifier or the cable Otherwise you can
9. ains the virtual MC_Card instrument with a continuous raw data display and an Analyzer to measure the peak to peak amplitude Click Start to start the recording OR Set up the rack on your own Click Set Channel Layout on the Edit menu Select a 1 dimensional layout Select the number of electrode channels at least 16 Add the ME 16 USB to your virtual rack In the tree view pane of the virtual rack select the ME 16 USB and click the Hardware tab Enter the total amplifier gain according to the specifications of the instruments For example for a miniature preamplifier with a gain of 70 and a following filter amplifier with a gain of 100 the total gain is 1000 Select an input voltage range of 819 2 818 8 mV and a sampling rate of 10000 Hz On the Edit menu click Add Data Display to add a raw data display to your virtual rack In the virtual rack tree view pane select the Display 1 and click the Layout tabbed page Set up a channel map with channels 1 16 Adjust the display ranges to 500 ms and 50 pV On the Edit menu click Add Analyzer to add an Analyzer to the virtual rack Select all or two typical channels on the Channels tabbed page Select the Peak Peak Amplitude parameter on the Analyzer tabbed page On the Edit menu click Add Parameter Display to add a Parameter Display to the virtual rack In the virtual rack tree view select the Display 2 and click the Layout tabbed page Set up a channel map with all ch
10. annels that were assigned to the Analyzer Click the Ranges tabbed page and enter 0 10 s for the x range and 0 100 pV for the y range 14 Setting Up and Connecting the MPA Typical Results Typical results of this test are shown in the following screen shot Hex bisier aag File Edt Measurement View Window Help Soi gt ae S F PI RPAR KVER m XAvis 500 gt ms ao J J SSthsweep YAvis 505 500 0 300 400 100 00 300 TOO EEE EEE 34 8 24 8 26 0 For Help press F1 Datasrc 2 lag NUM Figure 2 Noise level test with MPAS8I The noise level is 60 uV peak to peak with the provided test model probe channels 1 8 and 20 uV peak to peak with grounded inputs channels 9 16 The top window shows raw data the bottom window shows the extracted peak to peak amplitudes of channels 1 and 9 The miniature preamplifier was shielded by a metal case connected to the ground earth of the test lab 15 ME 16 USB System User Manual 4 1 4 Connecting Michigan Probes from NeuroNexus Complete setup with Michigan probe and two MPABIs Michigan Probe MP ADAPTER MPASI No 1 MPASI No 2 Insert one pin array of the Michigan Probe adapter into one MPABI and the other into the second MPA8I Make sure that the orientation of the MPABI is correct see illustration Important Connect the MPASI with the black side down Otherwise the device does not work Connect MPA8I No 1 here Con
11. ation and Instructions Operator s Obligations Guaranty and Liability Important Safety Advice Welcome to the ME 16 USB System ME Product Line Single Components of the ME 16 USB System Operating the ME 16 USB System Setting up and Connecting the ME 16 USB System Driver Installation Software Installation System Components Miniature Preamplifier MPA8I Integrated Filter Amplifiers FA Integrated Data Acquisition Digital Input Output System Synchronization Troubleshooting About Troubleshooting No Computer Connection No Recording Possible Triggering Digital Input Does not Work Appendix Pin Layout Contact Information Ordering Information U A SB AB i 10 10 11 11 22 22 24 26 26 26 27 28 28 30 31 ME 16 USB System User Manual 1 Important Information and Instructions 1 1 1 2 Operator s Obligations The operator is obliged to allow only persons to work on the device who are familiar with the safety at work and accident prevention regulations and have been instructed how to use the device are professionally qualified or have specialist knowledge and training and have received instruction in the use of the device have read and understood the chapter on safety and the warning instructions in this manual and confirmed this with their signature It must be monitored at regular intervals that the operating personnel are working safely Personnel still undergoing training may on
12. channel layout in the MC_Rack program See the MC_Rack User Manual or Help for details 28 6 1 2 Digital IN OUT Connector Digital IN OUT Female D SUB 37 connector Pin 1 Pin 20 Pin 2 Pin 21 Pin 3 Pin 22 Pin 4 Pin 23 Pin 5 Pin 24 Pin 6 Pin 25 Pin 7 Pin 26 Pin 8 Pin 27 Pin 9 Pin 28 Pin 10 5 O 9 69 DOSAD OOOO GND GND Input bit 0 Input bit 1 Input bit Input bit Input bit Input bit Input bit Input bit oo N ANN A WU N Input bit Input bit 9 Input bit 10 Input bit 11 Input bit 12 Input bit 13 Input bit 14 Input bit 15 GND Pin 29 Pin 11 Pin 30 Pin 12 Pin 31 Pin 13 Pin 32 Pin 14 Pin 33 Pin 15 Pin 34 Pin 16 Pin 35 Pin 17 Pin 36 Pin 18 Pin 37 Pin 19 OOO WO Output bit 0 Output bit 1 Output bit Output bit Output bit Output bit Output bit Output bit Output bit Output bit 9 Output bit 10 Output bit 11 Output bit 12 Output bit 13 Output bit 14 Output bit 15 5V Not connected oo ND VI A U N Appendix 29 ME 16 USB System 6 2 Contact Information Local retailer Please see the list of official MCS distributors on the MCS web site User forum The Multi Channel Systems User Forum provides an excellent opportunity for you to exchange your experience or thoughts with other users worldwide Web link to the User Forum Mailing list If you have subscribed to the ME System Mailing List you will be automatically inform
13. e products Check the power cords for damage each time the site is changed Damaged power cords should be replaced immediately and may never be reused Check the leads for damage Damaged leads should be replaced immediately and may never be reused Do not try to insert anything sharp or metallic into the vents or the case of the products Liquids may cause short circuits or other damage Keep the devices and the power cords always dry Do not handle it with wet hands ME 16 USB System User Manual Requirements for the installation The equipment shall be correctly earthed or connected to ground The analog inputs should be closed or connected to active signals Connections to all inputs and outputs shall be made with screened cables specified by Multi Channel Systems The screen has to be connected to a solid earth or chassis connection ESD voltages at open lines may cause malfunction during operation The products shall only be operated from approved power packs if necessary Requirements for the operation Any physical damage of the MPAB8I cable such as a broken cable causes a physical damage of the miniature preamplifier that cannot be repaired Protect the MPAS8I from heat Do not autoclave You can clean the connectors of the MPA8I with distilled water in an ultra sonic bath but keep the cable away from the fluid Dry the device with compressed air Use and keep the MPA8I always in a dry environment Do not expose it
14. e the problem contact your local retailer for support The power LED is lighting The USB port might not support USB 2 0 or might not be working Check the USB port Only full speed USB 2 0 ports can be used Try another USB 2 0 port You can establish a connection but get an error message when starting the recording in MC Rack The bandwidth of the USB port is not sufficient for recording This can be the case if the ME 16 USB System is connected via a USB hub and a second device that sends or receives continuous data streams for example a web cam or USB speakers is connected to the same USB port Connect the ME 16 USB System directly to a USB port not via a hub 26 Troubleshooting 5 3 Triggering Digital Input Does not Work You have connected a TTL source for example the Sync Out of a stimulus generator to the digital input of the ME 16 USB System and configured the virtual rack in MC_Rack for triggering displays or data acquisition by the TTL source but you do not see any sweeps Possible causes The TTL source does not generate true TTL signals 5 V or the TTL pulse duration is too short in combination with the sampling rate so that the pulse is missed in between two data points The ME 16 USB System can only accept TTL signals CMOS 5 V TTL level as a digital input stream The TTL pulse needs to be optimized according to the sampling rate Otherwise a detection of the trigger cannot be guaranteed
15. ed about new software releases upcoming events and other news on the product line You can subscribe to the list on the MCS web site www multichannelsystems com 30 6 3 Ordering Information Ordering Information Please contact your local retailer for pricing and ordering information 6 3 1 ME USB Systems Product ME recording system with 16 analog channels and filter amplifier with fixed gain 6 3 2 Standard ME Systems Product Number ME 16 USB System Description Stand alone system for extracellular recordings complete with 2 x MPABI integrated FA16l integrated 16 ch data acquisition USB 2 0 data transfer to computer and software package Product PreductNumber Description with 16 analog channels with 32 analog channels with 64 analog channels with 128 analog channels ME recording system with 16 analog channels and filter amplifier with fixed gain ME recording system with 32 analog channels and filter amplifier with fixed gain ME recording system with 64 analog channels and filter amplifier with fixed gain ME recording system with 128 analog channels and filter amplifier with fixed gain ME recording system with 16 analog channels and filter amplifier with programmable gain ME recording system with 32 analog channels and filter amplifier with programmable gain ME 16 FA System ME32 FA System ME64 FA System ME128 FA System ME16 PGA System ME32 PGA
16. ency noise is removed with the digital low pass filter after recording Frequencies noise that are above half the sampling rate for example above 2 5 kHz at a 5 kHz sampling rate will be transformed into lower frequencies This is called aliasing The resulting low frequency noise passes the digital low pass filter and increases your noise level You may ignore these recommendations if saving hard disk space is more important for your application than the noise level Note The sampling frequency should be at least five times the highest signal frequency and at least twice the bandwidth of the filter amplifier Example You have a broadband filter amplifier with a bandwidth of 1 Hz to 5 kHz The expected signals have a maximum frequency of 1 kHz Therefore you want to filter the data with a digital low pass filter and a cutoff frequency of 1 kHz A sampling rate of 5 kHz five times the highest signal frequency would be required for faithfully reproducing the signals but you should use a sampling rate of at least 10 kHz because the sampling rate should equal twice the bandwidth of the analog filter regardless of the digital filter properties If you had an amplifier with a cutoff frequency of 1 kHz instead no digital filter would be required and a sampling rate of 5 kHz would be sufficient Software Package With the high performance data acquisition and analysis program MC_Rack you can flexibly manage all data streams For example yo
17. es and adapters are not included in the scope of delivery ME 16 USB System User Manual 2 1 ME Product Line The ME 16 USB System is the first of a new generation of universal recording systems that do not need an external data acquisition card Data transfer to any computer is realized via USB The standard ME product line is based on a data acquisition card the MC_Card that is installed in the data acquisition computer With the ME multielectrode and STG stimulus generator product lines Multi Channel Systems provides complete solutions for stimulation recording and data acquisition from up to 128 channels data analysis and export All ME products are intended for extracellular electrophysiological recordings in vivo and special in vitro applications Typical applications include simultaneous spike and local field potential recording multi unit and single unit recording from awake behaving animals and multitrode for example Michigan probes 8 Trode or tetrode recordings 2 2 Single Components of the ME 16 USB System The following components are part of the ME 16 USB System Please make sure that you have carefully studied the documentation on the single components before setting up your system All user manuals can be found on the installation volume shipped with the system Updated versions can also be downloaded from the MCS web site Web link to the user manuals download page on www multichannelsystems com Pr
18. f you use only one instrument for triggering connect it to bit 0 for example In MC Rack add a Trigger Detector to your virtual rack and select the Digital Data D1 input stream as the Trigger Select the appropriate logical state generally HIGH for triggering Mask all unused bits The standard settings of the Trigger Detector are for using bit 0 Please see the documentation on the Trigger Detector instrument and on triggered data in the MC Rack Help or User Manual for more details Important It is recommended to set the duration of a TTL pulse according to the sampling rate The TTL pulse must be long enough to cover at least one data point For example if you have a sampling rate of 10 kHz a data point is recorded each 100 us Therefore TTL input pulses must be at least 100 us long to make sure that it is detected by the system MC_Rack will miss some or all pulses if the pulse duration is shorter Please mask unused not connected digital input channels in the MC Rack program to ignore undefined states of the open inputs that can cause unwanted trigger events Please see the MC Rack User Manual for more details 1kQ BNC Custom Switch for Remote Controlling You can connect any device that produces TTL outputs for example a switch to one of the digital input bits This means you can use a trigger for remote controlling the recording with MC Rack or for synchronizing systems if the data acquisition computer is not wit
19. he gain decreases with the frequency and finally approaches zero For more information on gain and filters in general please refer to standard literature or contact your local retailer 4 3 Integrated Data Acquisition Analog input signals are acquired from the data source and digitized by the integrated 16 channel analog digital converter that is integrated into the main unit Recorded signals are converted in real time into digital data streams at sampling rates of up to 50 kHz per channel You will not miss even the fastest biological signals Data is transferred to the computer via a Full Speed USB 2 0 port A 16 bit digital TTL input output channel is available You can use the digital TTL inputs for example for synchronizing stimulation and recording or for synchronizing the ME System with other systems video tracking for example The digital TTL outputs can be used for triggering other systems and instruments for example for applying a feedback 22 4 3 1 4 3 2 4 3 3 System Components You configure the input voltage range from 400 mV to 4V and the sampling rate with the software controls in the MC_Rack program Please refer to the MC_Rack Help or User Manual for more information DC Offset Correction An offset correction is generally not necessary because the intrinsic DC offsets of the ME 16 USB System is very low in comparison to the signals of interest You can use the MC_Rack offset correction feat
20. hin reach during an experiment 24 4 4 3 System Components You can define the time length of the cutouts that are recorded around the trigger event in MC Rack Please note that it is not possible to start the recording of a continuous data file with MC Rack on a trigger but you can start a new data file on the trigger event select the Recorder option Create New File On Trigger The picture shows a suggested circuit diagram for a switch used for remote controlling The resistor and capacitor work as a low pass filter on the TTL signal and are necessary to reduce ringing of the signal Triggering Other Instruments The digital output of the ME 16 USB System sends 20 ms TTL pulses 0 V LOW and 5 V HIGH This feature can be used to apply a feedback triggered by a signal or a parameter stream For example you can connect the Trigger In of an STG stimulus generator to the digital output You can also use the digital output for a synchronization of the ME 16 USB System with other systems for example for video tracking provided that the other system of choice is able to receive TTL pulses Please see the documentation on the Digital Output instrument in the MC Rack Help or User Manual for more details 25 ME 16 USB System 5 Troubleshooting 5 1 About Troubleshooting The following hints are provided to solve special problems that have been reported by users Most problems occur seldom and only under specific circum
21. kground noise is then subtracted from the recording signal increasing the signal to noise ratio Please note that this may not work if the complete setup is not properly grounded Connect the recording electrodes to the recording channels of the miniature preamplifier You can either use single electrodes or multitrodes with the miniature preamplifier MCS provides adapters for standard probes Connect all unused recording channels to the REF input or to the reference electrode or to the amplifier s ground if that is not possible to avoid noise pickup As the total amplifier gain generally lies in the range of 1000 even very small noise signals may generate high noise signals 12 18 4 1 3 Setting Up and Connecting the MPA If you are not using a Faraday cage it might be necessary to shield the complete setup with aluminum foil or similar to prevent electrical interference from the outside Connect the aluminum foil to the ground of the setup for example the metal table Troubleshooting If you observe problems with noise check that the ground of the setup is connected to exactly the same ground as the data acquisition computer For example connect the metal table to the ground earth wire of a free power outlet of the same electrical system as the computer is generally connected to ground earth via the power plug too Also connect the data acquisition computer s metal case with a thick ground wire to the ground of the setu
22. ly work on the device under the supervision of an experienced person Guaranty and Liability The General conditions of sale and delivery of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH always apply The operator will receive these no later than on conclusion of the contract Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH makes no guaranty as to the accuracy of any and all tests and data generated by the use of the device or the software It is up to the user to use good laboratory practice to establish the validity of his findings Guaranty and liability claims in the event of injury or material damage are excluded when they are the result of one of the following Improper use of the device Improper installation commissioning operation or maintenance of the device Operating the device when the safety and protective devices are defective and or inoperable Non observance of the instructions in the manual with regard to transport storage installation commissioning operation or maintenance of the device Unauthorized structural alterations to the device Unauthorized modifications to the system settings Inadequate monitoring of device components subject to wear Improperly executed and unauthorized repairs Unauthorized opening of the device or its components Catastrophic events due to the effect of foreign bodies or acts of God gt D Important Information and Instructions Important Safety Advice Warning ME MEASystems include several instruments as individ
23. multichannel systems ME 16 USB System User Manual ME Information in this document is subject to change without notice No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written permission of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document 2006 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH All rights reserved Printed 2006 08 31 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH AspenhaustraBe 21 72770 Reutlingen Germany Fon 49 71 21 90 925 0 Fax 49 71 21 90 92 5 11 info multichannelsystems com www multichannelsystems com Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be noted as such The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks 1 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 2 2 3 1 3 2 3 3 4 1 4 2 4 3 4 4 5 1 5 2 5 3 6 1 6 2 6 3 Table of Contents Important Inform
24. nd filter settings available on request 16 Channel data acquisition Sampling frequency Data resolution Crosstalk channel to channel Number of analog input channels Number of digital input channels Input signals Number of digital output channels Output signals Interface and connectors Analog inputs 16 Digital input and output bits Data transfer External power supply Input voltage range Supply voltage Supply current MC Rack program Operating system Up to 50 kHz software controlled 16 bit typically 0 01 16 16 TTL CMOS 5 V TTL level 16 TTL CMOS 5 V output 2 x 15 Pin SubD for MPA8I 37 Pin Sub D connector USB 2 0 High Speed true USB 2 0 transfer rate 110 240 V 9VDC 200 mA Data Acquisition and analysis software Windows 2000 or XP with NTFS English and German versions supported Export features via MC_DataTool Data Export Page 1 of 1 Axon Binary File abf ASCII file txt and binary file raw format O 2006 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
25. nect MPAS8I No 2 here Channel assignment output pins connected to MPA8I Michigan Probe TITT TTIT MPASI No 2 OAOAOGOAGOOOPOYE Figure 3 Channel assignment output pins Shown are the output pins of the adapter that are connected to the miniature preamplifiers MPAI when looking directly at the pins The numbered channels are the ground channels G the reference channel R and the 8 recording channels 1 8 of the MPA8I 16 Setting Up and Connecting the MPA Channel assignment input pins connected to the probe MPASI PER MPASI No 2 Mid No 1 DONHUPWN A NWEAUDNO Figure 4 Channel assignment input pins Shown are the input pins of the adapter that are connected to the probe The labelled channels are the ground channel G the reference channel R and the 8 recording channels 1 8 of the MPASI Please see the MPASI User Manual for details G and R have been connected together as factory default settings You can change this connection to meet your requirements Important Operation of the MPA8I is differential The reference channel R has to be used for obtaining a proper signal 17 ME 16 USB System User Manual 4 1 5 Connecting 8 Trodes from ALA The 8 Trode adapter 8 Trode ADPT allows a direct connection of the 8 Trode from ALA Scientific Instruments Inc New York for acute and chronic implantations to an 8 channel miniature preamplifier MPA38I Pin layout MPA8I GND 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 R GN
26. oduct User Manual Reference 2 x 8 channel 10x miniature preamplifiers MPA8I ME 16 USB System User Manual or MPA8I User Manual 16 channel filter amplifier and data acquisition ME 16 USB System User Manual Data acquisition and analysis software MC Rack MC Rack User Manual Help and and MC DataTool MC Rack Tutorial Welcome to the ME 16 USB System 3 Operating the ME 16 USB System 3 1 Setting up and Connecting the ME 16 USB System A 10 Warning Please read the separate user manuals of all devices before installation especially the warnings and safety information Make sure all devices are switched off before you connect them to the power supply Damage to the devices and even fatal injuries may result from improper installation or use Note Using a USB hub for connecting the ME 16 USB System to the computer is not recommended The system needs a broad bandwidth for the data transmission Recording might not be possible especially if a second device that sends or receives continuous data streams for example a web cam or USB speakers is connected to the same USB port ME 16 USB System front panel MPA8I Input 1 MPA8I Input 2 Power LED Digital IN OUT Ground Provide a power supply in the immediate vicinity of the installation site Place all devices on a stable and dry surface where the air can circulate freely and the devices are not exposed to direct sunlight Set up the computer
27. p for example the metal table preferably with a 4 mm plug Testing the Noise Level of the Setup A terminal plug that connects all inputs to ground and a model test probe that mimics the electrode impedance are provided for testing the noise level of the setup Please note that all instruments were thoroughly tested at the factory site before delivery The tests suggested below are mainly intended for optimizing and troubleshooting your setup to exclude any damage that might have occurred during transportation or to fulfill your own guidelines for instance It will take only a few minutes time and can save you time and trouble in the long run Multi Channel Systems recommends running these tests before you start your real experiments Shorten the inputs of one MPA8I with the terminal plug and connect the model test probe to the other MPA8I as shown in the picture do not mismatch the polarity Connect the MPABI with the test model probe to channels 1 8 Connect the MPA8I with the terminal plug to channels 9 16 Make sure that all other connections are appropriate and that your setup has an appropriate grounding and shielding as recommended in the chapter General Setup Recommendations 13 10 ME 16 USB System User Manual Setting up MC_Rack Please refer to the MC_Rack User Manual for more information Start MC_Rack Open the file MPA8I_NoiseTest rck on the installation volume see folder Tutorial This rack cont
28. pplications such as spike and field potential recording from neurons or recording of cardiac signals The digital filter of the MC Rack program can be used to adjust the pass band and filter the raw data Please see the MC Rack Help or User Manual for more information This way you are very flexible in designing your experiments Please note that you may need a higher sampling rate to avoid aliasing See also the chapter Data Acquisition for more information For slow signals like field potentials a bandwidth of 1 300 Hz is appropriate If you like to record fast signals like spikes a pass band of 300 Hz to 3 kHz is suitable Cardiac signals have fast and slow components therefore you usually need a wider bandwidth of 1 Hz to 3 kHz Please note that the gain of the filter amplifier is a fixed hardware property and that you cannot change the gain of the amplifier by software controls Please also note that the ratio of the output signal to the input signal that is the gain is not a fixed parameter for the complete bandwidth The gain that was specified for the amplifier for example 100 1000 in total with the preamplifier is not fully reached at the borders of the amplifier s pass band The general rule is that at the lower and upper limit of the frequency band the gain is 2 2 that is approximately 70 of the full gain Therefore you should use a bandwidth that is at a safe distance of the signals of interest Outside the pass band t
29. reamplifier with 8 MPABI ee ed 10 electrode inputs put Input type I gain 6 3 4 Accessories Product Product Number Description 16 ch Michigan Probe adapter MP 16 ADPT Allows a direct connection of a 16 channel Michigan probe to two miniature preamplifiers MPABI 8 Trode adapter 8 Trode adapter Allows a direct connection of the 8 Trode from ALA Scientic Instruments Inc to the MPA8I 6 3 5 Add ons for stimulation 1 Channel stimulus generator STG1001 General purpose stimulators for a very 7 wide variety of applications Flexible 2 Channel stimulus generator STG1002 and easy to use MC Stimulus software 4 Channel stimulus generator STG1004 enables complex stimulus waveforms 8 Channel stimulus generator STG1008 both current and voltage Stimulus isolation units are integrated in the STG for each channel With additional digital trigger in and output 4 Channel stimulus generator STG2004 Advanced version with 4 additional digital trigger in and outputs About 100 x faster download via USB 16 times more memory for long time stimulation 8 Channel stimulus generator STG2008 32 Ordering Information 6 3 6 Multielectrode Arrays Multielectrode arrays are not available from Multi Channel Systems but from several other providers The following are compatible with the miniature preamplifiers from Multi Channel Systems If you are interested in a particular probe that is not mentioned here please ask Multi
30. robe to the same resistors as the recording channels to mimic the experimental situation or you can use the jumper to connect the reference output to ground DC resistance 4 7 MOhm Dynamic resistance 330 kohm Capacitance 150 pF 21 ME 16 USB System User Manual 4 2 Integrated Filter Amplifiers FA 4 2 1 Raw data from the preamplifiers is amplified by a 16 channel filter amplifier with fixed gain and bandwidth A differential amplifier with input type I includes a common ground and a common reference electrode input The reference electrode is ideally identical to the recording electrodes and placed into a comparable but inactive area or tissue Background or noise signals that are picked up by both the reference electrode and the recording electrodes are removed The reference electrode input also compensates the potential difference between the miniature preamplifier MPA output and the filter amplifier FA input that results from the supply voltage drop in the line from the MPA to the FA If two MPAs are connected to the FA the amplifier offsets are averaged for compensation Important It is very important that the reference electrode inputs are always connected Connect it to ground when you are not using a reference electrode Signal Amplification and Filters The filter amplifier combines a band pass filter and the signal amplification in one instrument The broad bandwidth of 1 5000 Hz is suitable for a broad range of a
31. setup Important It is important that the complete setup refers to a single common ground The reference input has always to be connected It is recommended to use a reference electrode However if you are not using a reference electrode connect the reference input to ground GND Otherwise noise picked up by the reference input will be subtracted from the recording signals This will either lead to signal loss or to a very high noise level Ground the animal with a ground electrode of large surface area for example a liquid gel adhesive electrode that is connected to the ground of the setup for example a large metal table or a Faraday cage to avoid pickup of noise from the environment The ground electrode is best positioned in an electrically inactive region not near muscle nor heart for example at the belly Connect the GND input or the metal case of the miniature preamplifier to the common ground of the setup The GND input is internally connected to the metal case Connect the reference electrode to the reference input of the miniature preamplifier Generally a reference electrode is inserted into non active tissue of the experimental model The reference electrode should be identical to the recording electrode so that both electrodes see the same background noise This is necessary because despite the grounding the animal s body often has not exactly a potential of zero due to the electrode impedance for example The bac
32. stances Please check the mentioned possible causes carefully when you have any trouble with the product In most cases it is only a minor problem that can be easily avoided or solved If the problem persists please contact your local retailer The highly qualified staff will be glad to help you Please inform your local retailer as well if other problems that are not mentioned in this documentation occur even if you have solved the problem on your own This helps other users and it helps MCS to optimize the instrument and the documentation Please pay attention to the safety and service information in the separate user manuals of the related products and in the software help Multi Channel Systems has put all effort into making the product fully stable and reliable but like all high performance products it has to be handled with care 5 2 No Computer Connection No Recording Possible You cannot establish a connection to the computer The ME 16 USB channel layout is not available in MC_Rack When loading a previously saved virtual rack file you will get an error message and the simulator will be started automatically Or you get an error message when starting the recording in MC_Rack after a successful computer connection Possible causes The power LED is not lighting The supply power is not connected or there is a technical problem with the instrument Check the power source and the cable connections If this does not solv
33. t the installed hardware does not work properly 3 3 Software Installation 11 12 Please check the system requirements before you install the MC_Rack software MCS cannot guarantee that the software works properly if these requirements are not fulfilled Please see the MC_Rack Help or User Manual for more information It is recommended that you check the MCS web site for software updates on a regular basis Important Please make sure that you have full control over your computer as an administrator Otherwise it is possible that the installed software does not work properly Double click Setup exe on the installation volume The installation assistant will show up and guide you through the installation procedure Follow the instructions of the installation assistant The ME 16 USB System driver and MC_Rack are installed or updated automatically 10 System Components 4 System Components 4 1 Miniature Preamplifier MPA38I The 8 channel miniature head stage preamplifiers MPA8I is connected directly to the microelectrodes in the test model to provide the first amplification stage of 10 Adaptors for standard multielectrodes such as Michigan probes or the 8 Trode are available The miniature preamplifiers small size allows easy placement The metal housing prevents the amplifier from picking up external noise The MPA I is a differential type I amplifier that is it includes additional common ground and reference elec
34. trode inputs The reference electrode is ideally identical to the recording electrodes and placed into a comparable but inactive area or tissue Background or noise signals that are picked up by both the reference electrode and the recording electrodes are removed The metal case provides electrical shielding Electrode damage is prevented by the very low bias current The high input impedance ensures stable long term recordings Ideally the input impedance would be infinite As low voltages are generally recorded a high current would flow if the input impedance were low As a result the amplifier would not be able to deliver the current and the voltage would break down The miniature preamplifier has a high input impedance to avoid this problem 11 4 1 1 4 1 2 13 14 15 16 17 ME 16 USB System User Manual Setting Up and Connecting the MPA General Setup Recommendations In the following you find general recommendations for the installation If you are using Michigan probe or 8 Trode adapters available from MCS please refer to the following chapters for more information Miniature preamplifier setup Pin assignment gt Reference input Always connect to reference electrode Recording electrodes Recording inputs Connect all un used recording channels to REF GND Ground Connect GND to ground of experimental setup Metal table ground of
35. u can display the raw data of all channels while recording only the raw data of the channels of interest and the extracted parameters of all channels This saves computer performance and hard disk space 23 ME 16 USB System User Manual MC Rack is not limited to special applications but can be flexibly adapted to a wide range of applications The mcd data format is support by several third party programs for further analysis You can also easily convert recorded data to universal formats such as ASCII with the MC_DataTool program 4 4 Digital Input Output System Synchronization A 4 4 1 4 4 2 TTL stands for Transistor Transistor Logic A TTL pulse is defined as a digital signal for communication between two devices A voltage between 0 V and 0 8 V is considered as a logical state of 0 LOW and a voltage between 2 V and 5 V means a 1 HIGH See Digital IN OUT Connector in the Appendix for information on the pin layout Warning A voltage that is higher than 5 Volts or lower than 0 Volts that is a negative voltage applied to the digital input would destroy the electronics Make sure that you apply only TTL pulses 0 5 V to the digital inputs Triggering MC Rack The digital input accepts TTL pulses This feature can be used for triggering MC Rack for example for synchronizing stimulation and data acquisition For example you can connect the Sync Out of an STG stimulus generator to one of the digital input bits I
36. ual components Each instrument is shipped with a separate user manual The information in the individual user manuals fully apply to the complete system This manual is only to be understood as an additional information Read all user manuals thoroughly before setting up the system Warning Obey always the rules of local regulations and laws Only qualified personnel should be allowed to perform laboratory work Work according to good laboratory practice to obtain best results and to minimize risks The product has been built to the state of the art and in accordance with recognized safety engineering rules The device may only be used for its intended purpose be used when in a perfect condition Improper use could lead to serious even fatal injuries to the user or third parties and damage to the device itself or other material damage Warning The devices and the software are not intended for medical uses and must not be used on humans Malfunctions which could impair safety should be rectified immediately High Voltage Electrical cords must be properly laid and installed The length and quality of the cords must be in accordance with local provisions Only qualified technicians may work on the electrical system It is essential that the accident prevention regulations and those of the employers liability associations are observed Each time before starting up make sure that the mains supply agrees with the specifications of th
37. ure to remove even this low offset and reset all channels to zero Please refer to the MC_Rack Help or User Manual for more information Note If you observe a large offset on any channel s you should contact your local retailer for troubleshooting The offset correction is not intended for removing large offsets because the offset correction will decrease the input voltage range Sampling Rate It is recommended to adjust the sampling rate according to your signals because the higher the sampling rate the bigger the file size will be As arule of thumb the sampling rate should equal five times the highest signal frequency for a good digitized representation of the continuous analog signals If the sampling rate is too low you will miss signals and or see artifacts For example this means approximately 15 kHz for spike recording or 10 kHz for cardiac signals which have fast and slow waveform components Please note that the sampling rate also depends on the amplifier s bandwidth According to the Nyquist Shannon sampling theorem the sampling rate should be at least twice the bandwidth of the analog hardware low pass filter that is 10 kHz sampling rate when using a filter amplifier with a cutoff frequency of 5 kHz The 1 2 bandwidth frequency is also called Nyquist frequency You should not lower the sampling rate when using a low pass digital filter This is the case because the whole amplifier bandwidth is recorded and then high frequ
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