USB-ME16-FAI-System
Manual
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.
© 2017 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. All rights reserved.
Printed: 09. 03. 2017
Multi Channel Systems
MCS GmbH
Aspenhaustraße 21
72770 Reutlingen
Germany
Fon +49-71 21-90 92 5 - 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 trademark.
iii
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 About this Manual 1
2 Important Safety Advice 3
2.1 Important Safety Advice 3
2.2 Guarantee and Liability 4
2.3 Operator's Obligations 4
3 Welcome to the USB-ME16-FAI-System 5
3.1 ME Product Line 5
3.2 Welcome to the USB-ME16-FAI-System 6
4 Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System 7
4.1 Setting Up and Connecting the USB-ME16-FAI-System 7
4.2 Front Panel 7
4.3 Rear Panel 8
4.4 Setting up and Connecting the USB-ME16-FAI-System 10
4.5 Software Installation 10
4.6 Multi Channel Experimenter 12
4.7 MC_Rack 15
5 System Components 17
5.1 Miniature Preamplifier (MPA8I) 17
5.2 Setting up and Connecting the MPA8I 18
5.3 Testing the Noise Level of the MPA8I 19
5.4 Connecting 16-Electrode NeuroNexus Probe 20
5.5 Connecting Chronic Probe from NeuroNexus 21
5.6 MPA8I Pin Layout 22
5.7 Service and Maintenance 24
6 Integrated Filter Amplifiers (FA) 25
7 Integrated Data Acquisition 27
8 Digital Input / Output, System Synchronization 28
9 Troubleshooting 31
9.1 About Troubleshooting 31
10 Appendix 33
10.1 Technical Support 33
10.2 Pin Layout USB-ME16-FAI-System 34
10.3 Technical Specifications 36
10.4 Contact Information 37
10.5 Ordering Information 38
10.6 Scope of Delivery 41
1
1 Introduction
1.1 About this Manual
It is assumed that you already have a basic understanding of technical and software terms. No special skills
are required to read this manual.
If you are using the device for the first time, please read the Important Safety Advice before installing
the hardware and software, where you will find important information about the installation and first
steps.
The device and the software are part of an ongoing developmental process. Please understand that the
provided documentation is not always up to date. The latest information can be found in the Help.
Check also the MCS Web site (www.multichannelsystems.com) for downloading up-to-date manuals
and Help files.
3
2 Important Safety Advice
2.1 Important Safety Advice
Warning: Make sure to read the following advice prior to installation or use of 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: Always obey 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.
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 power supply agrees with the specifications
of the product.
Check the power cord 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.
Liquids may cause short circuits or other damage. Always keep the device and the power cords dry.
Do not handle it with wet hands.
Requirements for the installation
Make sure that the device is not exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place anything on top of the device,
and do not place it on top of another heat producing device, so that the air can circulate freely.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
4
2.2 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 / her 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.
2.3 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.
5
3 Welcome to the USB-ME16-FAI-System
3.1 ME Product Line
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 (microelectrode) and STG (stimulus generator) product lines, Multi Channel Systems provides
complete solutions for stimulation, recording, and data acquisition from up to 32 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, for example NeuroNexus probes recordings.
USB-ME16-FAI-System
The USB-ME16-FAI-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 following components are part of the USB-ME16-FAI-System. Please make sure that you have carefully
studied the documentation on the single components before setting up your system. All manuals can be
found on the installation volume shipped with the system. Updated versions can also be downloaded from
the MCS web site.
Single components of USB-ME16-FAI-System
Web link to the manuals download page on www.multichannelsystems.com
Product
Manual / Reference (PDF on CD)
2 x 8-channel miniature preamplifiers (MPA8I)
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual or MPA8I Manual
16-channel filter amplifier and data
acquisition
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
Data acquisition and analysis software
Multi Channel Suite, MC_Rack and
MC_DataTool
Multi Channel Suite Manual,
MC_Rack Manual and MC_Rack Tutorial
ADPT-NN-16
Adapter for connecting the NeuroNexus Probe
NN16 to two MPA8Is Datasheet
USB-ME-FAI-System
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
6
3.2 Welcome to the USB-ME16-FAI-System
The USB-ME16-FAI-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, also a laptop. The size of the complete system is small enough
to fit into a laptop bag together with the computer.
The system includes two 8-channel miniature preamplifiers (MPA8I). The MPA8I is connected to
the microelectrodes to provide the initial tenfold amplification stage. Adapters to contact standard
microelectrodes such as probes from NeuroNexus are available as accessories. Custom adapters are
available on demand.
Data is recorded, graphed, analyzed, and reviewed with the powerful and easy-to-use Multi Channel
Suite, the newest software package from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH or the well-proved MC_Rack
program. You can export the data in standard formats.
USB-ME16-FAI-Sytem with integrated 16-channel filter amplifier and integrated data acquisition with
A / D converter, and connectors for two 8-channel miniature preamplifiers MPA8I.
7
4 Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System
4.1 Setting Up and Connecting the USB-ME16-FAI-System
Warning: Please read the separate 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 USB-ME16-FAI-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.
4.2 Front Panel
2 x Analog Input for MPA8I
On the front panel of the USB-ME16-FAI are two MPA8I analog inputs (Female D-SUB 15
Connector) available. The left one is for software channel 1 to 8, the right one is for channel
9 to 16.
Power LED
The power LED should light up as soon as the system is connected to the power supply and the
I / O toggle switch at the rear panel is switched to status "I = On".
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
8
4.3 Rear Panel
DIGITAL IN / OUT
A Digital IN / OUT for 16 digital in- and output bits is available (68-pin MCS standard connector).
The Digital IN / OUT connection accepts or generates standard TTL signals. 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 1 (HIGH).
The Digital OUT allows generating a digital signal with up to 16 bits and read it out, for example,
by using a Signal Divider SD16 from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. You can utilize this
digital signal to control and synchronize other devices with the USB-ME16-FAI. Bit 0 of the Digital
OUT is separated and available as Lemo connector DIG OUT D0. So if you need only one bit of
the digital signal, you don’t need the additional signal divider SD16. Please read chapter "Pin
Layout" (Digital IN / OUT connector) in the Appendix for more information.
The Digital IN can be used to record additional information from external devices as a 16-bit
encoded number. The Digital IN is most often used to trigger recordings with a TTL signal from
a stimulator.
The 16 bit digital input channels is a stream of 16-bit values. The state of each bit (0 -15) can be
controlled separately, the state can be HIGH (1) or LOW (0). Standard TTL signals are accepted as
input signals on the digital inputs. Unused input bits, which have an undefined state, should be
masked in the Trigger Detector of MC_Rack.
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.
Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System
9
DIG OUT D0
The Bit 0 of the Digital OUT D0 is also accessible independently from the 68-pin Digital IN / OUT
connector. The digital output channel D0 is generally used for synchronizing the USB-ME16-FAISystem with a stimulus generator, or with another data acquisition system, for example, an
imaging or a patch clamp system. The DIG OUT D0 generates standard TTL pulses.
DIG IN D0
The Bit 0 of the Digital IN D0 is parallel to Bit 0 of the DIG OUT independently available from the
68-pin Digital IN / OUT connector. The digital input channel D0 is generally used for synchronizing
the USB-ME16-FAI with another device, or with another data acquisition system, for example, an
imaging or a patch clamp system. The DIG IN D0 accepts standard TTL pulses.
AUDIO
To the AUDIO OUT (3.5 mm phone jack) you can connect an audio system to make the electrical
activity audible. In contrast to the sound tool of MC_Rack, this audio output is real time. There
is almost no time delay between the detection of a signal by the recording electrode and the
corresponding sound. Headphones or a speaker can be connected directly to the AUDIO OUT.
Only one channel can be converted into sound. This channel can still be selected by using the
sound instrument of MC_Rack. You can listen only to electrode raw data in real-time. The quality
of the sound is mono.
Note: You can add only one sound instrument to your rack, and you can convert only one
channel into sound.
USB
The USB connector is used to transfer the digitized data from all data channels and the additional
digital channels to any connected data acquisition computer via USB High Speed 2.0 (type
A - mini B) cable.
POWER IN
Connect here the power supply unit. This power supply powers the USB-ME16-FAI main unit
only. The device needs 12 V and 1.1 A / 13.2 W.
I / O
Toggle switch for turning the device on and off. The power LED on the front panel should light
up as soon as the system is connected to the power supply and the I / O toggle switch is switched
to status "I = On".
GROUND
If an additional ground connection is needed, you can connect this plug with an external ground
using a standard common jack (4 mm).
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
10
4.4 Setting up and Connecting the USB-ME16-FAI-System
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 (with installed software program).
Set up the MPA8I as described in chapter "Setting Up and Connecting the MPA".
Set up the computer (with installed software program).
Set up the MPA8I as described in chapter "Setting Up and Connecting the MPA".
Connect the MPA8Is to the main unit of the USB-ME16-FAI-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 and the I / O toggle switch on the rear panel is "On". If not, check the power source
and cabling.
Install the software program from the installation volume if it is not already installed.
Start the software and select the USB-ME16-FAI-System as the data source. Please see the
software help or manual for more details on how to define the data source.
4.5 Software Installation
Please check the system requirements before you install the software. Multi Channel Systems
MCS GmbH cannot guarantee that the software works properly if these requirements are not
fulfilled. Please see the software manual or help for more information. It is recommended that
you check the MCS web site for software updates on a regular basis.
System Requirements
Software: One of the following Windows operating systems is required: Windows 8.1, Windows
7, VISTA or XP (English and German versions supported) with the NT file system (NTFS). Other
language versions may lead to software errors.
Hardware: (Not required for offline analysis or demo mode) The data acquisition board USBME16-FAI-System. If no USB-ME16-FAI-System is present, MC_Rack opens in a simulation mode.
A computer with low performance may lead to performance limits more often; therefore, MCS
recommends an up-to-date computer optionally with a separate hard disk. Please note that there
are sometimes hardware incompatibilities of the USB-ME16-FAI-System and computer
components; or that an inappropriate computer power supply may lead to artifact signals. Please
contact your local retailer for more information on recommended computer hardware.
Important: You need to have installed the latest USB-ME16-FAI-System driver to operate the
USB-ME16-FAI-System, which is automatically installed with the software. The installation may
be invalid if the USB-ME16-FAI-System does not respond. Please contact Multi Channel Systems
or your local retailer in this case.
Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System
11
Recommended BIOS Settings
Recommended operating system settings
The following automatic services of the Windows operating system interfere with the data
storage on the hard disk and can lead to severe performance limits in the software. These
routines were designed for use on office computers, but are not very useful for a data acquisition
computer.
Turned off Screensaver.
Manual management of automatic Windows Update.
Power Options: Power scheme: Never turned off monitor, hard disk and system standby.
It is also not recommended to run any applications in the background when using the software.
Remove all applications from the Autostart folder.
Be careful when using a Virus Scanner. These programs are known to disturb the software,
and even data loss may occur.
Driver Installation
The USB-ME16-FAI-System is a plug and play device. The driver is automatically installed together
with the software program. It is easier to connect the USB-ME16-FAI-System first to the data
acquisition computer and then install the software.
Important: Please make sure that you have full control over your computer as an administrator.
Otherwise, it is possible that the installed hardware does not work properly.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
12
4.6 Multi Channel Experimenter
Doubleclick the Multi Channel Experimenter icon or select Multi Channel Experimenter from
the "Start" menu. The program starts. The main window opens automatically: "Multi Channel
Experimenter (Instance: 1)". It is possible to open up to four instances in parallel. Operation is
independent for each instance.
This is your virtual rack configuration in the "Experiment Setup" window, which is blank after
program start. On the left side five classes of instruments are provided: "Data Sources",
"Recorder" and "Stimulators" are hardware components. The virtual instruments available
up to now are divided in "General" and application specific "Neuro".
The header of the dialog contains five buttons: "Start DAQ", "Start Recording", "Load
Experiment" and "Save Experiment" in the main toolbar on the left and the "Menu" button
on the right. In the bar down under the "Recording Time" and the "DAQ Time" are registrated.
Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System
13
Building a Rack
It is very easy to build a rack: Please click onto the button of the desired instrument and move it via
drag and drop from the left to the right side of the main window!
It is also easy to connect the instruments: Please click onto one of the symbols on the lower part of
an instrument button to connect this output port via drag and drop with the input port (symbol on
the upper side) of the target instrument. Please read the next chapter.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
14
Conventions for Building a Rack
Please consider the rules for connecting the instruments. The Multi Channel Experimenter program
allows only connections between output ports at the lower side of the device to the input port on
the upper side of the target device. The input and output ports of the devices are color coded for
a better assignment of the instruments. The blue symbol represents the port for the "Electrode
Raw Data". The green symbol represents the port for the "Auxiliary Analog Data". The red symbol
represents the port for the "Digital Data".
Three color coded output ports of the MEA2100 data acquisition device.
Example: Click on the blue symbol output port of the data source and connect it by drag and drop
with the blue symbol input port of the filter. The electrode raw data stream will flow from the data
source to the filter. Connect the blue symbol output port from the filter with the black symbol
input port of the recorder. The electrode raw data stream will flow from the filter to the recorder.
The black input port of the recorder accepts all types of input data streams and you can connect
more than one data stream.
The Multi Channel Experimenter Rack
Move as many instruments as you need via drag and drop into the “Experiment Setup” window.
It is possible to use the virtual tools more than one time.
Operating the USB-ME16-FAI-System
15
4.7 MC_Rack
It is also not recommended to run any applications in the background when using MC_Rack.
Remove all applications from the Autostart folder.
Warning: The operating system settings of the data acquisition computer were pre-configured
by MCS and should not be changed by the user. Changing these settings can lead to program
instabilities and data loss.
Installing MC_Rack with the USB-ME16-FAI-System connected to the computer
The Windows operating system detects a new hardware when the USB-ME16-FAI-System is
connected to the computer, if the program has not been installed beforehand. Please make sure
the device has power, that is, the power LED is lighting. Simply cancel the "Found New Hardware
Wizard" and proceed with the installation of the MC_Rack program.
Connecting the USB-ME16-FAI-System to a computer with installed MC_Rack
If MC_Rack had already been installed on the computer before the hardware was connected, the
operating system needs to load the driver once. After this procedure, the USB-ME16-FAI-System
will be automatically recognized by the operating system.
Connect the USB-ME16-FAI-System to the USB port of the data acquisition computer.
Switch the computer on.
The "Found New Hardware Wizard" is displayed.
Choose the option "No", not this time and continue with "Next".
Choose the option “Install” the software automatically (Recommended) and continue with
"Next".
The Wizard will automatically find the appropriate USB-ME16-FAI-System driver. Continue with
"Next".
The driver installation is finished.
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 Manual for more information. It is recommended that you check the MCS web
site for software updates on a regular basis.
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 USB-ME16-FAI-System driver and MC_Rack are installed (or updated) automatically.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
16
Setting up MC_Rack
Please refer to the MC_Rack Manual for more information.
Start MC_Rack.
Open the file MPA8I_NoiseTest.rck on the installation volume (see folder Tutorial). This rack
contains 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. In Data Source, select USB-MEA from the left drop
down menu and USB-ME16 from the right drop down menu.
1. Add the USB-ME16-FAI to your virtual rack.
2. In the tree view pane of the virtual rack, select the USB-ME16-FAI-System 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 10 and a following filter amplifier with a gain of 100,
the total gain is 1000.
3. Select an input voltage range of –819.2 to 818.8 mV and a sampling rate of 10000 Hz.
4. On the Edit menu, click Add Data Display to add a raw data display to your virtual rack.
5. 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 to 16.
6. Adjust the display ranges to 500 ms and +/–50 µV.
7. 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.
8. On the Edit menu, click Add Parameter Display to add a Parameter Display to the virtual rack.
9. In the virtual rack tree view, select the Display 2 and click the Layout tabbed page.
Set up a channel map with all channels that were assigned to the Analyzer.
10. Click the Ranges tabbed page and enter 0 to 10 s for the x range and 0 to 100 µV
for the y-range.
17
5 System Components
5.1 Miniature Preamplifier (MPA8I)
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 microelectrodes such as
NeuroNexus probes are available. The miniature preamplifiers small size allows easy placement. The metal
housing prevents the amplifier from picking up external noise.
The MPA8I is a differential (type I) amplifier, that is, it includes additional common ground and reference
electrode 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.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
18
5.2 Setting up and Connecting the MPA8I
General Setup Recommendations
In the following, you find general recommendations for the installation. If you are using NeuroNexus
probes, adapters are available from MCS, please refer to the following chapters for more information.
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.
11. 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.
12. 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.)
13. 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 background 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.
14. Connect the recording electrodes to the recording channels of the miniature preamplifier. You can either
use single electrodes or multi electrodes with the miniature preamplifier. MCS provides adapters for
standard probes.
15. Connect all unused recording channels to the GND input or to the reference electrode, if ground and
reference are short circuited 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.
16. 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 via power plug, too. Also, connect the data acquisition computer’s metal case with
a thick ground wire to the ground of the setup (for example, the metal table), preferably with a 4 mm plug.
System Components
19
5.3 Testing the Noise Level of the MPA8I
A terminal plug that connects all inputs to ground, and a test model probe that mimics the
electrode impedance are available for testing the noise level of the setup.
Note: Please note that the test model probe has to be ordered separately.
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 MCS GmbH recommends
running these tests before you start your real experiments.
17. Shorten the inputs of one MPA8I with the terminal plug, and connect the test model probe to the other
MPA8I as shown in the picture (do not mismatch the polarity).
18. Connect the MPA8I with the test model probe to channels 1 to 8.
19. Connect the MPA8I with the terminal plug to channels 9 to 16.
20. 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".
Typical Results of Noise Level Test
Typical results of this test are shown in the following screen shot.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
20
The noise level is 60 µV peak to peak with the provided test model probe (channels 1 to 8) and 20 µV peak
to peak with grounded inputs (channels 9 to 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 of the test laboratory).
5.4 Connecting 16-Electrode NeuroNexus Probe
Connecting the 16-electrode NeuroNexus probe from NeuroNexus Technologies via adapter ADPT-NN-16
to two MPA8Is.
Insert one pin array of the NeuroNexus probe adapter into one MPA8I, and the other into the second
MPA8I. Make sure that the orientation of the MPA8I is correct (see illustration).
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 to 8) of the MPA8I.
Channel assignment, input pins, connected to the probe.
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 to 8) of the MPA8I.
Please see the MPA8I Manual for details.
G and R have been connected together as factory-default settings. You can change this connection
to meet your requirements.
System Components
21
Important: Operation of the MPA8I is differential. The reference channel R has to be used for obtaining
a proper signal.
5.5 Connecting Chronic Probe from NeuroNexus
Connecting two MPA8Is to the chronic probe from NeuroNexus Technologies.
Adapter ADPT-NNCP-16 from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.
Shown are the output pins of the adapter that are connected to the miniature preamplifiers MPAI when
looking directly at the pins. The labelled channels are the ground channels (G), the reference channel (R),
and the 8 recording channels (1 to 8) of the MPA8I. Please see the MPA8I Manual for details.
The photo shows the top of the adapter NNCP from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.
To insert the chronic probe from NeuroNexus Technologies C16 into the adapter you have to turn
the chronic probe upside down. It is only one way possible to plug in the probe.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
22
5.6 MPA8I 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 the unit.
MPA8I Input Connector
Please note that the black side is considered the bottom side.
Pin 1
Ground (GND)
Pin 2
Reference input
Pin 3 to 10
Recording channels 1 to 8
Pin 11
Ground (GND)
MPA8I Output (Male D-SUB 15 Connector)
Pin 1
Ground (GND)
Pin 9
Signal ground*
Pin 2, 10, 3, 11,
4, 12, 5, 13
Recording channels 1 to 8
Pin 6, 14, 7
Ground (GND)
Pin 8
Negative supply voltage
Pin 15
Positive supply voltage
* = Connected to the ground of the amplifier. The signal ground is used as the reference for the following
filter amplifier.
System Components
23
Test Model Probe
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 probe 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 mega ohm
Dynamic resistance
330 kilo ohm
Capacitance
150 picofarads
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
24
5.7 Service and Maintenance
Cleaning the Connectors
Warning: It is recommended to avoid the use of cleaning solutions to avoid corrosion. If 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 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 to 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
Warning: Do not autoclave or sterilize miniature preamplifiers by high heat (above 70 °C) or vapor. The
resin is not heat-stable and may deform under heat. Vapor can lead to a 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.
25
6 Integrated Filter Amplifiers (FA)
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 to 5000 Hz is suitable for a broad range of applications, such as spike and field
potential recording from neurons or recording of cardiac signals. The digital filter of the software program
can be used to adjust the pass band and filter the raw data. Please see the software manuals or helps 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 "Integrated Data Acquisition" for more
information. For slow signals like field potentials, a bandwidth of 1 to 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, 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, the 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.
27
7 Integrated Data Acquisition
Analog input signals are acquired from the data source and digitized by the 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 High 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.
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 manual for more information.
DC Offset Correction
An offset correction is generally not necessary, because the intrinsic DC offsets of the USB-ME16-FAISystem is very low in comparison to the signals of interest. You can use the MC_Rack offset correction
feature to remove even this low offset and reset all channels to zero. Please refer to the MC_Rack Help
or 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 a rule 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 NyquistShannon 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 frequency 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.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
28
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.
8 Digital Input / Output, System Synchronization
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 to 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 a STG (stimulus generator) to one of the digital input bits.
If 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 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 µs. Therefore, TTL input pulses must be at least 100 µs 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 manual for
more details.
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
29
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 within reach during an experiment.
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 USB-ME16-FAI-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 USB-ME16-FAI-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 Manual for more details.
31
9 Troubleshooting
9.1 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 circumstances. 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 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.
No Computer Connection / No Recording Possible
You cannot establish a connection to the computer. The USB-ME16-FAI 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 solve 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 USB-ME16-FAISystem 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 USB-ME16-FAI-System directly to a USB port, not via a hub.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
32
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 USB-ME16-FAI-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 USB-ME16-FAI 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.
? The software settings for the Trigger Detector do not match with the hardware configuration.
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 manual for more details.
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
33
10 Appendix
10.1 Technical Support
Please read the chapter "Troubleshooting" of the manual first. Most problems are caused by minor
handling errors. Contact your local retailer immediately if the cause of trouble remains unclear. Please
understand that information on your hardware and software configuration is necessary to analyze and
finally solve the problem you encounter. Please keep information on the following at hand:
Description of the error (the error message text or any other useful information) and of the context in which
the error occurred. Try to remember all steps you had performed immediately before the error occurred.
The more information on the actual situation you can provide, the easier it is to track the problem.
The serial number of the device. You will find it on the backside of the housing. Or you can see the serial
number when starting MC_Rack software. Click Edit > Data Source Setup > Data Source. The serial number
will be displayed in the right drop down menu.
The amplifier type and serial numbers of the connected amplifiers. You will find them on the devices.
The operating system and service pack number of the connected computer.
The hardware configuration (microprocessor, frequency, main memory, hard disk) of the connected
computer. This information is especially important if you have modified the computer or installed new
hard- or software recently.
The version of the recording software. On the "Help” menu, click "About" to display the software version.
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
34
10.2 Pin Layout USB-ME16-FAI-System
MPA8I Input to USB-ME16-FAI
MPA8I Input (Female D-SUB 15 Connector)
MPA8I Input 1
MPA8I 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 USB-ME16-Layout in the MC_Rack program. See the MC_Rack Manual or Help
for details.
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
35
Digital IN / OUT Connector
68-Pin MCS Standard Connector
Pin 1:
GND channels bit 0 - 7
Pin 2:
GND
Pin 3 - 10:
Digital output
Pin 11 - 14:
GND
Pin 15 - 22:
Digital output channels bit 8 - 15
Pin 23 - 26:
GND
Pin 27 - 34:
Digital input channels bit 0 - 7
Pin 35 - 38:
GND
Pin 39 - 46:
Digital input channels bit 8 - 15
Pin 47 - 48:
GND
Pin 49 - 63:
Not connected
Pin 64 - 66:
GND
Pin 67:
Positive supply voltage output
Pin 68:
Negative voltage supply output
D0 OUT
Digital Out D0 Bit 0 of the 16 bit digital output channels (Pin 3)
D0 IN
Digital In D0 Bit 0 of the 16 bit digital input channels (Pin 27)
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
36
10.3 Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
© 2017 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
USB-ME16-FAI System
Technical Specifications
Operating temperature 10 °C to 50 °C
Storage temperature 0 °C to 50 °C
Relative humidity 10 % to 85 %, non-condensing
Dimensions (W x D x H) 227 x 166 x 60 mm
2 x 8-Channel Miniature Preamplifier (MPA8I ):
Dimensions (W x D x H) 17 mm x 25 mm x 2 mm
Weight 1.3 g w/o cable and plug,
21 g with cable and plug
Maximum tensile strength of cable 2 kg
Input connector type Single-row precision sockets,
50 mil (1.27 mm) grid pattern,
for 0.35-0.45 mm round pins
Number of input channels 8
Input voltage ± 500 mV (with respect to a
supply voltage of 5 V)
Input impedance 10
12
Ω ║10 pF
Input noise < 1.5 μV
RMS
(1 Hz to 5 kHz,
inputs short-circuited)
Noise density e
n
= 15 nV / √ Hz
Number of output channels 8
Output voltage within supply voltage range
Output current max. ± 10 mA
Output impedance 0 Ω
Bandwidth DC to 50 kHz
Gain 10
16-Channel filter amplifier:
Number of input channels 16
Input voltage AC coupled
Input impedance 300 Ω
Input noise < 1 μV
RMS
(full bandwidth,
inputs short-circuited)
Noise density @ 1 kHz e
n
= 9 nV / √ Hz
Bandwidth 1 - 5000 Hz
Filter slope 80 db / decade
Gain 100 (other gain / filter settings available
on request)
16-Channel data acquisition:
Sampling frequency Up to 50 kHz (software controlled)
Data resolution 16 bit
Crosstalk (channel to channel) typical 0.01 %, max. 0.1 %
Number of analog input channels 16
Number of digital input channels 16
Input signals TTL (CMOS 3.3 V TTL level)
Number of digital output channels 16
Output signals TTL (CMOS 3.3 V output)
Interface and connectors:
2 analog inputs 15 Pin Sub D for MPA8I
16 digital input and output bits 68-Pin MCS Standard connector
USB USB 2.0 High Speed cable (type A – mini B)
Digital OUT D0 OUT Lemo connector, EPL 00 250 NTN
Digital IN D0 IN Lemo connector, EPL 00 250 NTN
Audio Stereo jack 3.5 mm
Ground Common jack 4 mm, banana plug
Power supply Barrel connector 0.7 x 2.35 mm
Data transfer USB 2.0 High Speed (true USB 2.0 transfer
rate)
Power supply unit (MPU 30):
Input voltage 90 – 264 VAC @ 47 – 63 Hz
Output voltage 11 – 13 V
Max. Power 30 W
Software:
Operating system Microsoft Windows ® 8, 7, Vista or XP with NTFS
English and German versions supported
Multi Channel Suite Version 1.2.2 and higher
MC_Rack Version 3.7.0 and higher
MC_DataTool Version 2.4.5 and higher
Warning: The device may only be used together with MEA-Systems or ME-Systems
from Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH, and only for the specified purpose. Damage
of the device and even fatal injuries can result from improper use. Do not open the
data acquisition box and do not change hardware configuration as it could lead to
improper behaviour of the system.
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
37
10.4 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 the opportunity for you to exchange your experience
or thoughts with other users worldwide.
Mailing list
If you have subscribed to the General Electrophysiology Mailing List, you will be automatically informed
about new software releases, upcoming events, and other news on the product line. You can subscribe
to the list on the contact form of the MCS web site.
www.multichannelsystems.com
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
38
10.5 Ordering Information
Please contact your local retailer for pricing and ordering information.
Amplifiers
Product
Product
Number
Description
Miniature preamplifier with
2 electrode inputs
MPA2I
Small sized and light weight head stage with common
ground and additional indifferent reference electrode
input, input type I, gain = 10.
Miniature preamplifier with
8 electrode inputs
MPA8I
Miniature preamplifier with
32 electrode inputs
MPA32I
Miniature preamplifier with
32 electrode inputs
for FlexMEAs only
MPA32IFlex
Small sized and light weight head stage with common
ground and additional indifferent reference electrode
input, input type I, gain = 10. With special connector for
use with FlexMEAs only.
Filter amplifiers with 4, 8,
16, 32, 48, or 64 channels
and input type S or I
FANNX
NN is the total number of channels, X is the input type
(S or I), with custom gain and bandwidth.
Amplifier with
programmable gain,
16 channels
PGA16
Gain programmable from 10 to 5000.
Amplifier with
programmable gain,
32 channels
PGA32
Amplifier with
programmable gain,
64 channels
PGA64
Amplifier with
programmable gain,
16 input
and 32 output channels
PGA1632
Gain programmable from 10 to 5000, with two different
pass bands.
Amplifier with
programmable gain,
32 input
and 64 output channels
PGA3264
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
39
ME-Systems
Product
Product
Number
Description
Data acquisition system with 16
analog channels
ME16
System
Complete with data acquisition computer with
MC_Card and IPS10W, and software package
Data acquisition system with 32
analog channels
ME32
System
Data acquisition system with 64
analog channels
ME64
System
Data acquisition system with 128
analog channels
ME128
System
ME recording system with
16 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
USB-ME16FAI System
Stand-alone system for extracellular recordings,
complete with 2 x MPA8I, integrated FA16I,
integrated 16-channel data acquisition, USB 2.0 data
transfer to computer, and software package
ME recording system with
32 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
USB-ME32FAI System
Stand-alone system for extracellular recordings,
complete with 4 x MPA8I or 1 x MPA32I, integrated
FA32I, integrated 32-channel data acquisition, USB
2.0 data transfer to computer, and software package
ME recording system with
16 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
ME16-FA
System
Complete with 2 x MPA8I, SC8x8, FA16I, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
32 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
ME32-FA
System
Complete with 2 x MPA32I, SC2x32, FA32I, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
64 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
ME64-FASystem
Complete with 2 x MPA32I, SC2x32, FA64I, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
128 analog channels and filter
amplifier with fixed gain
ME128-FASystem
Complete with 4 x MPA32I, 2 x SC2x32, 2 x FA64I,
data acquisition computer with MC_Card and
IPS10W, and software package
ME recording system with
16 analog channels and filter
amplifier with programmable gain
ME16PGASystem
Complete with 2 x MPA8I, SC8x8, PGA16, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
32 analog channels and filter
amplifier with programmable gain
ME32PGASystem
Complete with 2 x MPA32I, SC2x32, PGA32, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
64 analog channels and filter
amplifier with programmable gain
ME64PGASystem
Complete with 2 x MPA32I, SC2x32, PGA64, data
acquisition computer with MC_Card and IPS10W,
and software package
ME recording system with
128 analog channels and filter
amplifier with programmable gain
ME128PGASystem
Complete with 4 x MPA32I, 2 x SC2x32, 2 x PGA64,
data acquisition computer with MC_Card and
IPS10W, and software package
USB-ME16-FAI-System Manual
40
Accessories
Product
Product
Number
Description
Power supply
with 40 W
power
and ± 7 V
output voltage
PS40W
For supplying power to programmable gain amplifiers, for custom
setups that lack an internal power supply, or for other custom
applications
32-Channel
Cactus Needle
Adapter
ADPT-CN-32
Allows a direct connection of electrodes with cactus needles
to a 32-channel miniature preamplifier MPA32I.
NeuroNexus
Probe adapters
for 16, 32, or 54
channels
ADPT-NN-16
ADPT-NN-32
ADPT-NN-54
The 16-Electrode NeuroNexus Probe Adapter allows a direct
connection of 16-Electrode acute probes from NeuroNexus
Technologies to two 8-channel miniature preamplifiers MPA8I.
The 32-Electrode NeuroNexus Probe Adapter allows a direct
connection of 32-Electrode acute probes from NeuroNexus
Technologies to a 32-channel miniature preamplifier MPA32I.
The 54-Electrode NeuroNexus Probe Adapter allows a direct
connection of 54-Electrode acute probes from NeuroNexus
Technologies to two 32-channel miniature preamplifiers MPA32I.
Signal collector
for 8 x MPA8I
SC8x8
Collects the 8 channels from each of the up to 8 miniature
preamplifiers MPA8I and leads them to the amplifier via a
68-pin MCS standard cable
Signal collector
for 2 x MPA32I
SC2x32
Collects the 32 channels from each of the up to 2 miniature
preamplifiers MPA32I and leads them to the amplifier via a 68-pin
MCS standard cable
Signal collector
with blanking
circuit for 8 x
MPA8I
SC8x8BC
Collects the 8 channels from each of the up to 8 miniature
preamplifiers MPA8I and leads them to the amplifier via a
68-pin MCS standard cable, the voltage outputs are held constant
during the TTL blanking signal, stimulus artifacts are avoided
Signal dividers
with 16, 32, or
64 channels
SD16, SD32,
SD64
Placed between amplifier and MC_Card, permits to select any
channel, does not interfere with the data acquisition
Signal grounding
unit
GND64
For silencing defective electrodes. Single channels can be switched
off with small toggle switches. Inputs not in use are grounded.
Spare parts
Product
Product Number
Description
0.5 m 68-pin MCS Standard cable
C68x0.5M
For MEA- or ME-Systems
1 m 68-pin MCS Standard cable
C68x1M
2 m 68-pin MCS Standard cable
C68x2M
3 m 68-pin MCS Standard cable
C68x3M
Digital Input/Output, System Synchronization
41
Microelectrode Arrays
A broad range of microelectrode probes are available from several 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 Channel Systems or your local retailer for compatibility.
Product
Description
Supplier
Flexible
microelectrode
array
(FlexMEA36)
With 36 electrodes in total: 32 electrodes arranged in
a 6 x 6 grid + 2 reference electrodes + 2 ground electrodes.
30 µm electrode diameter, 300 µm interelectrode distance.
TiN electrodes and gold tracks embedded in flexible polyimide
foil.
Multi Channel
Systems MCS GmbH
www.multichannel
systems.com
Flexible
microelectrode
array
(FlexMEA72)
With 72 electrodes in total: 32 electrodes arranged in
a 9 x 8 grid + 4 reference electrodes + 4 ground electrodes.
30 µm electrode diameter, 625 - 750 µm interelectrode
distance. TiN electrodes and gold tracks embedded in flexible
polyimide foil.
Flexible
microelectrode
array
(EcoFlexMEA36)
With 36 electrodes in total: 32 electrodes arranged in
a 6 x 6 grid + 2 reference electrodes + 2 ground electrodes.
50 µm electrode diameter, 300 µm interelectrode distance.
Gold electrodes and gold tracks embedded in flexible printed
circuit board foil.
Flexible
microelectrode
array
(EcoFlexMEA24)
With 28 electrodes in total: 24 electrodes arranged in
a 10 x 2 + 4 grid + 2 reference electrodes + 2 ground
electrodes. 80 µm electrode diameter, 300 µm interelectrode
distance. Gold electrodes and gold tracks embedded in
flexible printed circuit board foil.
NeuroNexus acute
or chronic probes
16-, 32-, 64-channel silicon probes
NeuroNexus
Technologies
www.neuronexus
tech.com
10.6 Scope of Delivery
1
USB-ME16-FAI
2
8-channel miniature preamplifier MPA8I
1
ADPT-NN-16
1
ADPT-NN-16 datasheet
1
USB 2.0 High Speed cable (type A - B)
1
Power supply unit with country specific power cord
1
Data acquisition and analysis software Multi Channel Suite
1
Data acquisition and analysis software MC_Rack
1
Data export software MC_DataTool
1
USB-ME16-FAI Manual
1
USB-ME16-FAI Data Sheet
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