MultiChannel uPA16, uPA32 User Manual

Micro Preamplifier Manual

μPA16
μPA32

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of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.

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author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of
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© 2016 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. All rights reserved.

Printed: 27. 07. 2016

Multi Channel Systems

MCS GmbH

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Table of Contents

1 Important Information and Instruction 1

1.1 Operator's Obligations 1

1.2 Guarantee and Liability 1

1.3 Important Safety Advice 2

2 Welcome to the μPA 3

3 Setting Up and Connecting the μPA 4

3.1 General Setup Recommendations 4

3.2 Multi Channel Experimenter  6

3.3 Setting up MC_Rack 9

3.3.1 Noise Level Test 9

3.3.2 ME/W-SG Test 10

3.4 Service and Maintenance 11

3.4.1 Cleaning the Connectors 11

3.4.2 Sterilization 11

4 μPA16 12

4.1 Pin Layout μPA16 13

4.1.1 Input Connector 13

4.1.2 Output Connector 14

4.2 Technical Specifications μPA16 15

5 μPA32 16

5.1 Pin Layout μPA32 17

5.1.1 Input Connector 17

5.1.2 Output Connector 18

5.2 Technical Specifications μPA32 19

6 Contact Information 20

Important Information and Instruction

1

1 Important Information and Instruction

1.1 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 only work on the device under the supervision
of an experienced person.

1.2 Guarantee 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 Guarantee 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.

Guarantee 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.

Micro Preamplifier Manual

2

1.3 Important Safety Advice

Warning: Make sure to read the following advices prior to install or to use the device and the software.
If you do not fulfill all requirements stated below, this may lead to malfunctions or breakage of
connected hardware, or even fatal injuries.

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 device 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.

 Any physical damage of the cable, such as a broken cable, causes a physical damage of the micro

preamplifier that cannot be repaired.

 Protect the device from heat. Do not autoclave!

 You can clean the connectors with distilled water in an ultrasonic bath, but keep the cable away

from the fluid. Dry the device with compressed air.

 Use and keep the device always in a dry environment. Do not expose it to fluids or vapor for a longer

period of time.

3

2 Welcome to the μPA

The μPA micro preamplifier with 16 or 32 electrode inputs is connected to the microelectrode probes
for providing the initial tenfold amplification stage. Gain might be different from default value
according to customer specification. The use of a headstage preamplifier unit optimizes the signal to
noise ratio.

The micro preamplifier is equipped with an Omnetics socket for NeuroNexus probes. It has an additional
common ground and a 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 metal case provides electrical shielding. The very high input impedance ensures stable long-term

recordings.

Ideally, the input impedance would be infinite to minimize electrical current. 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 micro preamplifier has a high input impedance to avoid this problem. Adapters for all standard
microelectrodes such as NeuroNexus probes (from NeuroNexus ®) for acute and chronic
implantations ensure a close proximity to the probe to minimize signal loss and cross talk. Adapters are
not included in the standard scope of delivery and have to be ordered separately. For custom adapters,
please ask your local retailer or contact Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.

To start working with the μPA and to learn how to handle the system the ME/W Signal Generator
is a convenient tool. The ME/W Signal Generator can produce analogue signals identical to those from
a variety of biological samples and is therefore a convenient method to test the functionality of the
recording system. The ME/W-SG is not included in the standard scope of delivery and has to be ordered
separately. Please read the ME/W-SG data sheet for more information.

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4

3 Setting Up and Connecting the μPA

3.1 General Setup Recommendations

In the following, you find general recommendations for the installation.

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.

1. 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.

2. Connect the GND input of the micro preamplifier to the common ground of the setup. The ground
input is internally connected to the metal case of the preamplifier.