Headstages

Plexon offers three main types of headstages: high-impedance, low-impedance, and wireless.

High-impedance Headstages

Plexon's high-impedance headstages are designed to record spikes and field potentials from high impedance electrodes.

Low-impedance Headstages

Plexon's EMG (low-impedance) headstages are designed for evoked potentials, EMG recordings using needle electrodes, surface electrodes, and electrode caps.

Wireless Headstages

The Plexon/TBSI wireless headstage system provides a wireless connection between implanted neural electrodes and Plexon's acquisition systems.

LED Headstages

LED Headstage - All Plexon headstages are available with mounted LEDs for use with Plexon's CinePlex video tracking system. The headstage shown is a HST/32o25-36P-2LED. The connector is a CON/32o25m-36P.

Locking Headstages

Locking Clip Headstages - Plexon 8o50 headstages are available with a special clip which enables them to lock to the mating (electrode) connector. The headstage shown is a HST/8o50-L. The connector is a CON/8o50-10P-L. (The "L" stands for locking clip.)

Plexon's neural (high-impedance) headstages are designed to record spikes and field potentials from high impedance electrodes. Please see the Plexon Headstage Connector Spec documentation in the Related Documents tab for headstage mating connector and input connector information.

Headstage Type	Description	Sample Image
Plexon o50 Headstages	8-, 16-, or 32-channel option with 1x or 20x gain available; Omnetics connectors with .050 spacing; image shows HST/8o50-G1 headstage
Plexon o25 Headstages	8-, 16-, or 32-channel option with 1x and 20x gain available; Omnetics connectors with .025 spacing; image shows HST/8o25-9P headstage
VLSI Headstages	16 or 32-channel eoption with 20x gain; image shows HST/16V-G20 headstage

Plexon's EMG (low-impedance) headstages are designed for evoked potentials, EMG recordings using needle electrodes, surface electrodes, and electrode caps.

Headstage Type	Description	Sample Image
Plexon 4-channel EMG Headstage	4 channels with 20x gain low impedance headstage; image shows HST/4EMG-8o50-G20 headstage
Plexon 12-channel EMG Headstage	12 channel with 20x gain low impedance headstage; image shows HST/12EMG-26H-G20 headstage
EMG/12D-SL-input	SafeLead Input panel for a full differential 12-channel EMG and EEG headstage

Guide to Plexon Headstage Cables

Plexon offers a variety of headstage cables to connect the headstage to the preamplifier. Headstage cables have a default length of 36", but many cables can be cut to custom lengths. Plexon headstage cables are also available with and without a wide-variety of wraps. Please contact Plexon at info@plexon.com if you do not see the headstage cable you require.

Headstage cable: standard

Headstage Cable Options:

Metal wrap: metal wrap is available for all Plexon headstage cables. The metal wrapping will protect the headstage cable from animal bites or other damage. The metal wrap is available in a flexible mesh and stiff metal coil versions.

Metal Mesh Wrap:

Metal Coil Wrap:

Plastic wrap: plastic wrap is available for all Plexon headstage cables. The plastic wrapping will protect the headstage cable from animal bites or other damage. The plastic wrapping is recommended for use with the Plexon non-motorized commutators. A plastic wrapped headstage cable will transmit torque to the commutator better than a non-wrapped headstage cable. This is not an issue for the Plexon motorized commutators. Y-shaped, clear plastic wrap cable pictured below.

Clear Plastic Wrap:

White Plastic Wrap:

Ultra-fine wire: all Plexon headstage cables are available with ultra-fine wire. This thinner headstage wire (36 gauge) is very light-weight. The ultra-fine wire headstage cable will not impede the behavior of smaller animals. The ultra-fine wire headstage cable is recommended when recording from very small (i.e. mice) freely-behaving animals.

Headstage Cables:

Headstage tester units can be used with any headstage Plexon sells for playing pre-recorded analog spike and field potential signals across artificial electrodes on the unit through the Multichannel Acquisition Processor or Recorder system. The units are available in 8, 16 or 32 channels.

Headstage tester unit for 8-channel Omnetics .050 headstage
Headstage tester unit for 16-channel VLSI headstage Headstage tester unit, 16-channel Omnetics .025 dual-row [18-pin]
Headstage tester unit, 32-channel VLSI headstage Headstage tester unit, 32-channel Omnetics .025 dual-row [36-pin]
Headstage tester unit for 12-channel EMG headstage, 26-pin Harwin connector
Headstage tester unit, 8o25
Headstage tester unit, 8-channel Microtech

Plexon/TBSI Wireless Headstage System

The Plexon/TBSI wireless headstage system provides a wireless connection between implanted neural electrodes and the Plexon preamp. This system enables untethered neural recording from freely-behaving animals via a high-channel-count wireless device that is small and lightweight.

The system consists of a headstage transmitter, a rechargeable battery integrated directly into the headstage, and a signal receiver/DSP-based signal-processing system. The rechargeable integrated battery powers the headstage transmitter for up to five hours. An optional battery pack delivers up to 24 hours of recording.

The receiver system consists of a radio-frequency (RF) receiver/baseband demodulator that is powered by an included AC to DC power adapter.

Headstage

The headstage transmitter is a wireless neural device that enables researchers to continuously and simultaneously monitor up to 31 neural electrodes. Experiments are no longer constrained by the need to wire a test subject to the recording system.

The headstage is available in two configurations:

• A 10-gram unit with the transmitter and battery integrated into the headstage
• An eight-gram unit with the transmitter integrated into the headstage and a 24-hour backpack battery

The headstage uses unique wireless ASIC technology and proprietary radio design techniques to provide high-channel count functionality that is both small and lightweight. The design incorporates neural preamplifier circuitry to create an extremely compact and powerful device that transmits neural activity from the test subject to the recording system.

Signal-Processing Unit

The RF receiver signal is demodulated by a proprietary signal-processing system that uses a high-speed analog to digital converter. The demodulated signal is then conditioned by a digital signal processor (DSP) and converted back to an analog signal for output via a DB37 female connector.

An illustration of a typical Plexon/TBSI wireless application using the 10-gram headstage with integrated battery.

The system incorporates a unique wireless ASIC design with neural preamplifier circuitry, which results in a unit that is small enough to mount on a subject’s head. The unit transmits neural activity from the test subject to the recording system.

System level diagram

• Wireless range of up to five feet
• Rechargeable battery delivers from five up to 24 hours of operation
• Supports up to 31 channels
• Headstage weighs less than 10 grams