Multichannel Systems USB-MEA256-System Manual - Manual (Page 8)

USB-MEA256-System Manual
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1.2 Welcome to the USB-MEA256-System
The USB-MEA256-System is a compact and portable stand-alone solution for MEA recordings
with integrated amplification, data acquisition, and analog / digital conversion.
It is a highly flexible system: The system acquires data from up to 252 electrode channels,
four additional analog channels, and 16 digital IN / OUT channels. The digitized electrode data
is 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, also a laptop.
Data is recorded, graphed, analyzed, and reviewed with the powerful and easy-to-use MC_Rack
program from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. You can export the data in standard formats
to other programs with the software MC_DataTool. Instead of MC_Rack any other common data
processing program or custom software can be used.
The integrated filter amplifier supports 252 electrode channels. The amplification factor
of 1100 is fixed. The bandwidth of 1 Hz to 5 kHz is suitable for a broad range of applications,
such as spike and field potential recording from neurons or recording of cardiac signals.
Electrode raw data are acquired from the 256MEA and digitized by the analog / digital
converter board that is integrated into the main unit. Recorded signals are converted in real
time into digital data streams at sampling rates of up to 40 kHz per channel. You will not miss
even fast biological signals. Data is transferred to the computer via High Speed USB 2.0 port.
The USB-MEA256-System features a heating element with a PT100 temperature sensor.
If you connect a temperature controller TCX to the heating element via D-Sub 9 connector,
the heating element guarantees constant temperature conditions for the biological sample,
placed on the 256MEA (Microelectrode Array with 252 recording electrodes and four reference
electrodes) or on the 256ThinMEA or the 256-9wellMEA respectively.
To control the biological sample on the 256MEA inside the amplifier optically, you can use either
an upright microscope or an inverted microscope.
A 16-bit digital input / output (TTL) is available. You can use the digital TTL inputs, for example,
for synchronizing stimulation and recording, or for synchronizing the USB-MEA256-System with
other systems. The digital TTL outputs can be used for triggering other devices, for example,
an imaging setup.
The 16 bit Digital IN / OUT channel can be contacted with a 68-pin MCS standard connector.
The bits 0 from the D IN and the D OUT, respectively, are also accessible independently by
the D0 IN and D0 OUT Lemo connectors.
The additional analog inputs 1 to 4 are intended for recording additional information from
external devices, for example, for recording patch clamp in parallel to the MEA recording,
for monitoring the temperature, or for recording voice.
To the Audio Out (3.5 mm phone jack) you can connect an audio system to make the electrical
activity audible. This audio output is real time. Headphones or a speaker can be connected directly
to the AUDIO OUT. Only one channel at a time can be converted into sound.