Tetrode Assembly Station User Manual
Contents
1. Neuralynx High Density Electrophysiology MX Systems Tetrode Assembly Station User Manual Document Revision 2 3 Last Revised October 28 2010 Neuralynx Inc 105 Commercial Drive Bozeman MT 59715 Phone 406 585 4542 Fax 866 585 1743 www Neuralynx com Revision Error Unknown document property name support Neuralynx com Error Unknown document property name Table of Contents Lo Document Over vie Wire i823 erica Vi ae penne cateti csv a a a te etuaetaone 2 Tetrode Assembly Station Overview 3c Unpacking cds sie err R rA ER A e AA AAR RANE E RENERE 4 5 Assembling the Tetrode Station siris assirian i E ER E EE Eri Making Tetrodes Didi Prepatation sssierot rar en eA ERa EE EREE EEE ET E E N2 NOITA T One Dare Ar EE ENEA A E E a A E E 5a Assemb ynna 5 3 1 Cutting and Securing Wires 5 3 2 Winding and Bonding Wires i 5 3 3 Finishing Up Para 6 Testing and Plating wl 3 6 1 Shorts dB 6 2 CONNY E sentences cose lesayt NETE R EE ER O 14 6 37 Final Git sirenas r e E R R a sect E SN RE EAER 14 64 A Platin aR R SEER E ORE E NERE E ERRARE 15 List of Figures and Tables Figure 4 1 Components of the Assembly Station ssssssssesssssssesisessestrsestsessesessssenessene 4 Figure 5 1 Side View of Tetrode Station cece ce eecssecsecseessesscsseesessecseessesseseeeeeaees 5 Bigure 5 1 Wire Holder rrarena niena iee e a oa etetdssces R R EET 6 Fig re 6 2 Storage BOR seana ya REA E AA2. Figure 4 1 Side View of Tetrode Station Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 5 5 Making Tetrodes 5 1 Preparation 1 3 We recommend that you wash and dry your hands before handling tetrode wire or the wire spool Open the wire dispenser Figure 4 1 and remove tetrode wire from its box locating the wire end Figure 5 1 Wire Holder Insert spindle into hole on outside of wire dispenser through center of tetrode wire spool and out hole on other side of wire dispenser Bar should protrude evenly out both sides Tetrode wire should come off the bottom of the spool Slowly unwind a strand of wire to begin by applying light even tension on the wire end while rotating spindle Spool can rotate on the spindle freely but rotating the spindle as well keeps the tension from breaking or overstressing the wire Press the end of the wire down onto a piece of double stick or paper tape placed just outside the dispenser to secure it Close dispenser and leave closed to protect the remaining unused wire Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 6 6 Because a typical tetrode wire is quite small and can be difficult to see we recommend setting up your tetrode station in front of a white wall You could also secure white paper behind the spinner susp
3. R RO EE T Figure 6 3 Tetrode Wire Placement and Cutting s ssssssssessesseesisetsestrsestseesesesssenessene 8 Figute 6 4 Tetrode Wire Cup ise cssesicess siseiscsspacsrdes ideas svcoaconesansereunesssedeentoeessenespoagueposestten 9 Figure 6 5 Correct Wire Length and Tension 10 Figure 6 6 Heat Gun cece eeee wll Figure 7 1 Delrin Plating Rinsing Towers ccccccseseesceseeseeecsseesesseesessesseeneenseees 14 Bigure 722 Delin TOWELS aeset EEA E AE VE ES EES E causes ETS 15 Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 2 1 Document Overview This document will give an overview of all setup procedures for the Tetrode Assembly Station It will outline all parts that should be included in the packaging set up and manufacturing procedures for making tetrodes Disclaimer All techniques presented in this manual are compiled through research which is based on our experience in different labs Many labs have their own tetrode assembly procedures This manual should be used as a starting point only If you have any questions when making your tetrodes please contact Neuralynx Feedback and suggestions are welcome They can help us continue to improve this document Note For information on the Tetrode Spinner 2 0 please go to www neuralynx com and download the newest version of this manual 2 Tetrode Assembly Stat
4. Tetrode Wire Holder Holds full 4 Suspension Bar Holder Holds the spool of tetrode wire 240 support rod 5 Motorized Tetrode Wire Spinner Not Shown Automatically adjustable spinning 10 Heat Gun device counter For more 11 Magnifying Glasses information on the Motorized 12 Tetrode Cutting Scissors Tetrode spinner please refer to the 13 Syringe Tetrode Spinner 2 User Manual 14 Gold Plating Solution 6 Adjustable Angle Brackets 15 Rinse Containers Supports to hold the Suspension bar Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 4 4 Assembling the Tetrode Station 1 Clear an appropriate sized horizontal work surface for construction of the tetrodes This should be done in a low traffic area of the lab away from doors dust debris sources and fume hoods in particular 2 Place the station base in your work area with the wire holder to the left and the suspension bar holder in the back middle Unit has non slip feet on bottom side than can be adjusted slightly if surface is not completely level 3 Screw threaded rod into base the suspension bar holder Use a wrench for secure mounting 4 Attach suspension bar to threaded rod using thumb screw The height depends on the desired tetrode length 5 Place tetrode spinner with center of rotation directly under the small notch in the top of the metal portion of the suspension bar
5. aDrive User Manual After you have completed loading your particular microdrive continue to Section 6 Testing and Plating 6 Testing and Plating It is always good practice once a drive is loaded to test all connections for continuity and for short circuits before implanting the device For this testing you should mount your drive securely in a micromanipulator or custom drive holder available soon from Neuralynx CAUTION The testing and plating phase is the most vulnerable time for a tetrode and the microdrive The drive should always be held or mounted securely You should always be aware of where tetrodes are protruding from the bottom of the drive and how you are holding the microdrive 6 1 Shorts To test for shorts connect each pair of individual wires across an impedance meter Impedance meters checks impedance by outputting a small say 1nA current sine wave at a relevant frequency say 1 kHz Pure resistance is not a good test of electrodes and doesn actually relate well to their ability to transmit biological signals One systematic way to check all possible pairs is to put one lead of the impedance tester in a hole in the EIB top connector then put the other lead in all remaining holes and test one by one If you have a connection of less than 5 Megaohms you have a short or you touched the leads together If you have a short it is probably at the top where the wires are loaded Look for exposed wires touching each ot
6. d size tetrodes long enough for loading a hyperdrive with 1cm travel Feel free to make the tetrode longer e g 55cm to give yourself more working room You will be cutting them down to size in the end Try to keep some tension on the wire at all times so it doesn wrap back up the spool but do turn the spindle handle to let out more wire Oo 50 55cm If the end of the wire is all curled up then it has sprung back from too much tension Cut off the curled part with the tetrode scissors and discard Don worry if the wire springs back a little bit when you let it go 1 slow curves are just fine and will straighten out during the wrapping heating phase kinks and very tight curls will not ad al Figure 5 3 Tetrode Wire Placement and Cutting 3 Press the wire down onto the paper or double sticky tape in front of the dispenser opening to hold the end for the next wire Don worry about the tip of the wire getting oily or sticky youd be cutting it off and discarding it soon Using the tetrode scissors make a swift and sharp cut just after the point where the wire was stuck down 4 Take one end of the wire between the thumb and middle finger of each hand fold the wire in half and bring the two ends together Hold both free ends with one Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 8 hand Cut loop at the bottom with the tet
7. e Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 15 The point of having two towers is to remind you to do this step After washing let the tetrode dry for about 25 minutes before retracting the tetrodes back into the drive If you accidently pull gold solution up into the drive tip it will dry up and leave a sticky residue that will prevent your tetrodes from being able to move out of the drive After all channels of all tetrodes are plated washed and dried it is a good idea to check for shorts caused by over plating If you find shorts between tetrodes where you didnd before the tips are probably still wet Plating is best done on the day of surgery Though most tetrodes will stay plated over time some do not If left unused overnight or longer Neuralynx recommends retesting your tetrodes as close to surgery as possible Pull the tetrodes to just inside the drive and start getting ready for surgery Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 16
8. ension bar area 5 2 Storage Before making tetrodes you need to have a safe place to store them A simple cardboard box lined with white copier paper is adequate Fold the paper so that it has a ridge or two to support the tetrodes and make them easier to pick up later then tape the paper down to the box with paper tape Figure 5 2 Be careful not to leave any exposed sticky surface from the tape as it will snag the tetrodes It is best to use a box that closes completely so that a draft doesn blow the tetrodes out of the box and into oblivion whenever someone opens the lab door Le es Figure 5 2 Storage Box Closing the lab doors and hoods before beginning is a good idea to reduce drafts that can catch tetrode wire during the construction process 5 3 Assembly There are many different ways to make tetrodes Each procedure depends on the desired length of the tetrodes and the type of tetrode wire 5 3 1 Cutting and Securing Wires Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 7 1 Take the end of the tetrode wire between the thumb and middle finger of your right hand and pull it out along the surface of the station base with slow even tension while slowly rotating the spindle with left hand to match the speed of the wire leaving the spool 2 Pull wire out to about the 45 50cm mark on the right hand side of the station base for standar
9. flow This should give the outside of the HML sufficient heat to bond together Do this at three different angles for roughly 5 seconds 5 3 3 Finishing Up 1 After the wire insulation is melted cut the tetrode just above the clip with the tetrode scissors 2 Carefully lift the tetrode off the adjusting bar and place it in your tetrode storage box 3 Open the clip and discard the small remaining end pieces You do not need to separate the wires or strip the insulation off the ends at this point That is usually best done just before loading of the microdrive 4 Close your tetrode storage box and start the next tetrode A good tetrode is stiff and straight with a small oval loop of no more than 1 2 cm in diameter The tip should look like one solid wire even under magnification If there are any splits at the end or along the way the tetrode should be discarded If any tetrode wires break or curl up during the procedure discard the tetrode It does not matter how expensive the wire is it is never worth trying to use a broken or questionable tetrode Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 12 In general it is a good idea to make twice as many tetrodes as you think you need Usually the next step in this process is loading of the microdrive For specifics in loading Neuralynx drives please refer to the NLX 5 9 18 User Manual and the Vers
10. her Remember that a few of the connections such as the grounds on each headstage are connected to the EIB itself If the impedance measured is in the Megaohms range the short is most likely at the bottom un plated tetrode impedance is approximately 2 3 Megaohms In this case it is probably just some extra debris on the tip of the tetrode Snip off the very end and make sure it is completely dry before checking again Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 13 6 2 Continuity Once you have determined that there are no shorts you must test each channel for continuity 1 Fill the cups in both Delrin towers of the Plating Wash Unit with water gt Figure 6 1 Delrin Plating Rinsing Towers 2 Slowly and carefully lower the drive by hand with tetrodes extended until the tips of the tetrodes to be tested but not the tip of the microdrive is clearly in the water in the plating side The plating side is the one with the stainless steel lead exiting the bottom 3 Connect one probe of the impedance tester to the plating side lead and alternate touching the other to the connections on top of the EIB to test for continuity Any finite impedance confirms continuity readouts will differ with impedance testers 4 Be sure that tetrode tips are in the water Test individually to be sure Record which wires fail the continuity test When a
11. ing The last stage of microdrive preparation before implantation is to plate the ends of the tetrode wire with gold chloride solution This reduces tetrode impedance and more importantly tip capacitance between the tetrode wire and brain Figure 6 2 Delrin Towers This stage proceeds similarly to the testing phase but now the plating Delrin tower cup is filled with gold chloride solution AuCI Tetrodes can be plated individually or in groups For each channel alternate between impedance testing and running negative current through each wire approximately 2 uA works well You want to plate each channel down to about 200 300kQ impedance If you do over plate and short the wires you can either cut the end of the tetrode shortening it unfortunately or reverse the direction of the current for 20 seconds or so to blow off the plating and start again If an electrode will not plate reversing the current or cutting off the very end can also be an effective remedy Replacing the whole tetrode works too It is also important to note that recent findings and research have been done with additives This can greatly reduce the impedance from 200 300k to down below 100k If you would like more information on these methods please contact support neuralynx com IMPORTANT After plating each tetrode wash off the excess gold solution by dipping it in the water filled Delrin tower cup Revision Error Unknown document property nam
12. ion Overview The Tetrode Assembly Station is a tool to help you in creating your own tetrodes This device will allow you to customize each tetrode with specific lengths and twists The following document is a full comprehensive overview on how to make a tetrode plate and later load into a microdrive 3 Unpacking Before assembly unpack the assembly station parts and verify that all are present Your Tetrode Assembly Station contains the following Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 3 3 Suspension bar for plating 2 Delrin plating wash unit 4 Suspension bar holder 5 Motorized tetrode wire spinner 1 Station base engi 6 Adjustable angle brackets 9 Tetrode wire holder 8 Suspension bar for 7 24 inch support rod making tetrodes Figure 3 1 Components of the Assembly Station 1 Station Base 160x 360 Mounts for plating and the suspension bar for all equipment from the station base making tetrodes Printed ruler for measuring the 7 24 Support Rod This rod supports lengths of the tetrodes all adaptive equipment 2 Delrin Plating Wash Unit For 8 Suspension Bar for Making plating and washing tetrodes Tetrodes Allows you to loop the 3 Suspension Bar for Plating Allows tetrode wire through grooved end to user to move an EIB up and down hold the wire in place while spinning into plating solution 9
13. irection For example if you wound 80 turns in the forward direction for a 50cm wire unwind about 40 turns in reverse Figure 5 6 Heat Gun 3 When Using Platinum Iridium wire with HML VG Bong Coating HML is a Heavy Polyimide and the VG is a bond coat that is coated on top of the polyimide The bonding temperature of the VG Bond Coat is 180 200 degrees Celsius The maximum temperature that should be used for the Polyimide is 240 degrees These temperatures should not be exceeded at a close range The heat gun has two settings a high 585 C and a low position 400 C Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 11 When using the VG bond coat use the low position and have the gun a few centimeters away from the wire Using a heat higher than this will cause a rapid heating of the HML This could cause micro holes in the insulation which will lead to cross talk between the wires 4 With the tip of the heat gun approximately 1 2 cm away from the wires heat ONLY the straight part of the wire bundle Take about five seconds to heat from beneath the loop down to the clip Be sure to heat right down to the clip so the individual wires don splay out at the ends after being cut 5 Move up and down your wire at an even rate making sure to heat evenly on all sides of the tetrode wire Move the heat gun up and down the wire at a steady rate with a medium
14. ll continuity testing is done raise the drive and let it dry for at least 25 minutes Water in the drive tip will cause shorts 6 3 Final Cut When you have confirmed that all tetrode wires are continuous it is time to cut the tetrodes Cut each tetrode down to where they just pull into the drive tip with the drives screwed all the way up One way to do this is to lower all the drives down a set amount such as 3 mm and make one clean cut across all the wires 3mm from the drive tip This ffinal cutOis best done by holding the drive horizontally in one hand and the tetrode scissors in the other Holding one blade still and hoppingddown in a swift smooth Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 14 motion with the other usually works best for cutting all tetrodes without bending them If you like you can do them one at atime A final cut can also be made with a sharp scalpel Neuralynx recommends discarding the scalpel after using it for a single cut The blade must be as sharp as possible Once youdve made the final cut you can either begin plating or bring the tetrodes up into the drive by holding the drive upside down and screwing the drive screws up one at a time until the tetrodes just go into the drive tip The closer you can get the tetrodes to the end of the drive the better you will know the depth to which you are in brain later on 6 4 Plat
15. rode scissors to make two equal length pieces Take the two cut ends with the other hand and gently wrap the wire over the adjusting bar so that two wires go down each side of the bar The metal piece of the bar has a small notch on the top to hold the wire in place Placing the four strands of wire into this notch will hold them in place during wrapping Take all four ends together between two fingers at the bottom applying very light tension to keep the wires on the bar If the wires are not tight together at the bottom you can spin the portions that protrude below where you are holding it with your fingers to get them to hold together Place all four ends as vertically as possible in the middle of the spinner clip The clip should hang directly down not favoring one side or the other An Mevralynx Figure 5 4 Tetrode Wire Clip Reconfirm that all four wires are in the notch in the adjustment bar at the top Let the spinner clip hang free There should be tension on all four wires If you see any wire Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 9 diverging from the others Figure 5 5 it has not been caught by the clip or is not the correct length Readjust and re clip until all four wires are straight The clip should float on top of the Delrin piece with the two embedded magnets with the new Tetrode Spinner 2 0 there will g
16. uide posts to help you align this process Please note that with the new Tetrode Spinner 2 the receptacle that houses the clip is slightly different All techniques thus far are the same For further information please refer to the Tetrode Spinner 2 0 User Guide Correct Incorrect Figure 5 5 Correct Wire Length and Tension 7 Place clip with wire ends in the holder on the tetrode spinner The clip should hang down freely without resting on the sides or bottom The middle of the clip should be positioned directly above the center of the spinner for even winding 5 3 2 Winding and Bonding Wires 1 Turn spinner switch to Right to begin winding in the forward direction At approximately 1 revolution per second the clip should turn smoothly and evenly without significant wobble If the clip wobbles stop spinning and reposition the clip or spinner base If you are using the new Tetrode Spinner 2 0 please refer to user manual for complete instructions on how to operate the spinner Wind wire in forward direction for approximately e 90 turns for a 55cm initial length tetrode wire e 80 full turns for a 50cm wire Revision Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Error Unknown document property name Page 10 e 60 turns for a 40cm wire Stop spinner when finished 2 Turn switch to Left position Unwind wire to relieve rotational tension for half as many turns as it was wound in the forward d
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