Features

Simultaneous recording of extracellular signals across 64 channels without pulling glass electrodes. 

• Evoked potentials or spontaneous activity (fEPSPs, spiking) are acquired with 64 planar microelectrodes patterned on the patented MED probe (Multi-electrode array).
• Any of the 64 electrodes can be used for stimulation (up to four simultaneously). 

• Stimulus sites can be switched quickly and easily on the front panel of the MED64 amplifier without stopping the recording.

Low noise and High S/N recording

• The impedance of the planar microelectrodes patterned on the MED probe is very low, typically 7-10 k ohms at 1 kHz (the lowest on the market!). Because of the low-impedance electrodes, the MED64 system is relatively unaffected by exogenous noise. The MED64 system does not usually require a Faraday cage or vibration isolation tables. You can install it on your bench and be ready for your everyday experiment quickly and easily.
• The low-impedance electrodes enable the system to achieve very low Johnson noise. The measured noise level (Vn) is as low as 2-3 µV r.m.s at the bandwidth of 10 kHz and can be reduced to less than 1 µV r.m.s applying the 3 kHz low-pass 9 pole Bessel filter provided by the MED64 Mobius software. High-quality signals can be acquired easily even from acute slices.

Effective stimulation

• The planar microelectrodes coated with platinum black have tremendously high capacitance values (50,000 pF for 50 x 50 µm microelectrodes, 22,000 pF for 20 x 20 µm microelectrodes), enabling high-frequency stimulation with large current amplitudes (up to 200 uA / 0.1msec).
• The stimulus artifacts have very short durations, returning to 0 mV within 0.5 ms at non-stimulated channels. Clean, high-quality electrically evoked signals can be recorded soon after without its interference.
• The stimulation-control panel in front of the MED64 amplifier allows you to change the stimulation channel without stopping the recording. You can look for the best stimulation point quickly and easily.

Long-term observation without damage to tissue by noninvasive electrodes

• Dissociated cells, slices and explants can be cultured directly on the MED probe.
• The MED probe and connector can be placed in an incubator with 100% humidity. Responses can be recorded for days to months without risking damage to tissue by the planar microelectrodes.

Various applications

• The MED64 system is well suited for acute slices as well as slice cultures and dissociated cells. Its low-noise and user-friendliness make it an extremely powerful tool for research and drug testing. 
• The low-impedance microelectrodes enable acquisition of slow-wave signals typical of fEPSPs, signals from smooth muscle tissue (with an approximate frequency of 0.1 Hz) as well as high-frequency signals such as spike activities.
• The MED64 integrated amplifier has a bandwidth of 10 kHz and analog low-cut filter settings at 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 Hz, The system can be shared by users carrying out a variety of experiments.

On-line analysis with powerful software

• The MED64’s Mobius software allows you to program your experiment easily using task- specific control panels, as well as perform on-line (real-time!) analysis at all recording channels.
• Mobius is available as an Evoked Potential Measurement or Spike Sorter package, as well as a full (combined) package.
• Mobius has an abundant set of analysis functions. Evoked Potential measurements allow users to measure various waveform parameters such as amplitude, slope and area (both on-line and off-line.) Spike sorter allows collection, extraction and sorting of spikes both on-line and off-line.

Components

Amplifier

• Reliable, low-noise, 64 channel amplifier based on Panasonic  high fidelity audio technology
• High-bandwidth of 0.1Hz-10kHz allows users to record several types of extracellular potentials
• Low cut fiilter: 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 Hz
• Samples at a max rate of 20 kHz/ch
• Built-in stimulator allows users to study the effects of realistic spatio-temporal stimulation patterns by programming complex induction sequences from any of the four built-in stimulation units and two external inputs
• Fast, easy switching of simulation sites

• Used for communication between the MED64 probe and amplifier
• Provides a stable platform for the MED64 probe
• Multi-layer electrical shielding rejects hum noise and provides excellent signal-to-noise ratios
• No onboard electrical circuits; connectors can be placed in high-humidity environments

• Biological acute or culture preparations are placed directly into the MED probe
• The MED probe allows users to stimulate and record from samples using planar microelectrodes
• Several types of arrays are available:
  • 8x8 (64) electrode arrays are available with four different inter-electrode spacing’s; 100, 150, 300 and 450 µm. Each patented microelectrode measures 50 µm x 50 µm - except for the 100 µm spacing configuration, with microelectrodes measuring 20 um x 20um.
  • 61 electrode hexagonal arrays are available with 70 µm inter-electrode spacing. The electrodes are circular (20 µm diameter).
  • Two special arrays, designed specially for simultaneously stimulating/recording from the dentate gyrus (DG), CA3 and CA1 are available for mouse (8 weeks old) and rat (16 weeks old).
• Probes come in 5 mm (for use with synchronized glass electrode recording) and 10 mm well heights

• MED64 Mobius™ software is the data acquisition and analysis software for
  the MED64 system with an abundant set of analysis functions. It is a highly-sophisticated software and suits several types of experimental needs.
• MED64 Mobius™ is available in various package including "EP measurement" and "Spike Sorter" as well as a combined package. It is flexible software consisting of various "modules". Users can design their own experimental workflow by using "Mobius editor", while they start with simple experiment quickly by using various "Mobius templates".