Plexon welcomes Alex Kirillov, author of Neuroexplorer, to the Plexon staff

Plexon is happy to announce that Alex Kirillov is returning to the Plexon staff. Alex Kirillov is the creator of the very popular NeuroExplorer data analysis program that many neuroscientists use on a daily basis.
 
Alex worked with Plexon in the late 1990s during the development of the original MAP control software. We are excited that Alex has decided to rejoin the Plexon team and know that he will make a significant contribution toward future product development at Plexon.

Plexon Social Networking

Plexon understands the need for staying informed, therefore we are working to make it easier for you to get your Plexon news and information. 

We are implementing an RSS feed, which you subscribe to via our home page at www.Plexon.com. 

We have also started Facebook and Twitter pages, Please visit and become a fan of Plexon! 

This will keep you in the know about new product offerings and software upgraes, as well as interesting news and events from Plexon.

    

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6/1/2010

Plexon June 2010 Newsletter

Introducing the BioCAM4096 by 3Brain - the first commercially available high-resolution MEA platform with 4096 microelectrodes


BioCam
 
BioCAM4096™ from 3Brain is a complete system for high-resolution in-vitro electrophysiology. BioCAM4096™ integrates 4096 microelectrodes in an active area of 7mm².
 
Based on patented CMOS technology, the BioCAM4096™ enables real-time acquisition of extracellular signals from in-vitro electrogenic cultures and brain slices at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.

BioCAM4096™ is designed to be mounted in a microscope stage for combined electrophysiological recordings and imaging. The small platform is accessible from the front as well as from either side, facilitating the integration of the BioCAM4096™ system within custom experimental setups in the lab. 

The BioCAM4096™ platform consists of:
1. APS MEA NeuroChips
2. BioCAM4096 Acquisition System
3. BrainWave Software
 
For more information about the BioCAM4096 product, see the Plexon website (www.plexon.com/product/BioCAM4096.html) or contact a Plexon representative at +1-214-369-4957.

Technical Workshop 2010

   

Group Photo


Plexon had a great Technical Workshop and Training Session in Dallas, Texas in March 2010. 
 
We received positive feedback from the attendees on the quality of material presented and the detailed, practical discussions and hands-on training that occurred at the meeting.

Featured guest speakers included:
 
  • Alex Kirillov, the author of NeuroExplorer
  • Hemant Bokil from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on the topic of Chronux and field potential coherence analysis
  • Rob Rennaker from UT Dallas on new 4-ch and 8-ch microdrives for rodent
  • Bruce Cumming from NIH on U-Probes
  • Andrew Klein from Plexon on microwire array implantation procedures in rat
  • Rebecca Burwell from Brown University on CinePlex functionality 
Pictures and power point presentations from the meeting have been posted on our website. We welcome you to a look at them and start making plans to attend the Technical Workshop in 2011.  Be on the lookout for a date announcement.

Official Launch of CinePlex Version 3

 

CinePlex CompPlexon has released the 3.0 version of the CinePlex video recording and tracking system.  all of the core image processing and position tracking algorithms have been completely re-written and improved. In addition, many new features have been added as described below.
CinePlex v3 will run on a standard PC along with the MAP control software, and includes several new hardware pieces for timing and triggering the cameras.
The names of the software modules have also changed in CinePlex v3:

New v2 Software Names
Old v2 Software Names
Function
CinePlex Studio
CinePlex Capture
Video capture and position tracking
CinePlex Editor
CinePlex Markup
Viewing video and neural data simultaneously; inserting events and intervals

Faster, Lower Noise, Triggered Cameras
  • Low noise AVT Stingray cameras (640x480 resolution, up to 80 frames/sec)
  • Triggered video capture, for more accurate timestamping of video frames (50 microsecond accuracy)
  • Removable infrared (IR) filter, for use of IR illuminator to visualize and track animal in dark environment (useful for seeing animal in low-light environment while tracking LEDs mounted on headstage)
  • MJPEG and MPEG files supported - MPEG video compression results in greatly reduced file sizes

Multiple Cameras
  • Record from TWO cameras simultaneously
  • Run each camera at up to 80 frames/sec

New CinePlex Studio Tracking Option Features

CinePlex Tracking Option

  • Both on-line and off-line position tracking - allows for adjusting image parameters after the initial video recording and re-running the tracking algorithms
  • Track up to 5 colors (either different colors or all the same color)
  • Create arenas of both simple and complex shapes

 

 

 

New CinePlex Behavior Option with Programmable Digital Output

CinePlex Behavior Option

  • Detection and event generation when:
    • an object enters or leaves a user-defined zone in the image
    • a threshold level is crossed for an object's speed or the angle between two markers (head direction)
  • Zones may be centered around objects being tracked - dynamic zones for use in social interaction studies, behavioral training paradigms, etc.
  • 24 programmable, event triggerable hardware digital output lines (screw terminal)
  • Logical AND/OR and Sequence operations on behavioral event variables to create complex events. E.g., create event and generate a digital output when an object
    • enters a certain combination of zones in a particular sequence
    • enters a particular zone and has a speed greater than a particular value
    • has a vector angle over or under a specified level
  • Real-time statistics and behavioral information, such as:
    • object speed
    • time spent in each zone
    • angle between two markers (head direction)

Note: the CinePlex Behavior option requires CinePlex Tracking Option to be enabled

Contact Plexon by phone +1-214-369-4957 or email for CinePlex v3 pricing and upgrade information.