A | B | C | D | |
Part | Material | Versions | File and location | |
Cassette | Aluminium | Standard DualProbe prototype | CAD/Cassette/Cassette.step CAD/Cassette/Prototypes/DualProbeParallel.step | |
Posts | Aluminium | Standard is 11mm in length. Some users have extended this to 13mm. | CAD/ post/post.step | |
Cover | PLA | Standard Simplified “Box and base” Additional protection and miniaturization | CAD/Cover/Standard/Cover.step CAD/Cover/Simplified/Cover_simplified.step CAD/Cover/BoxBaseCover/Cover_BoxAndBase.step | |
Headstage holder | PLA | Neuropixels 1.0 Neuropixels 2.0 with cover | CAD/HeadStage Holder/headstage_holder_npx1.step CAD/HeadStage Holder/headstage_holder_cover_20.step | |
Connector | PLA | Standard Some user preferred a thicker version which requires sanding. There is also an 8mm slot. | CAD/Connector/Connector.step CAD/Connector/Connector_ThickerPlugs.stl CAD/Connector/Connector_8mm.stl | |
Stereotaxic rod | Stainless steel. Attach connector to this. | 6mm is standard. Though if a different diameter fits your stereotax, it is easy to change the diameter of the connector-slot to match those needs, e.g. the Connector_8mm.stl fits an 8mm stereotaxic rod. | ||
M1 screws | Stainless steel, M1x3 |
A | B | C | D | |
Part | Use | Supplier | Alternatives | |
Probe holder | Hold the arm while applying the probe to cassette | Fisso | Noga | |
Box with graph paper x2 | Align probe | |||
Light source | Cast a shadow from the probe and connector to the graph paper to check alignment of shanks of the probe | Any flashlight, e.g. use your phone. | ||
Tweezers | Curved is easiest for holding the M1 screws | Fine Science Tools (e.g. 91117-10) | ||
Soldering iron | Short the GRN and REF on the probe. Solder to the ground screw. | |||
Waveform generator | Optional, for testing probe after explantation |
A | B | C | D | |
Part | Use | Supplier | Alternatives | |
Blu-Tack | Temporarily hold and cushion probe PCB to the cassette, before applying epoxy | Bostik | ||
Rapid Epoxy Syringe 24ml | Epoxy probe to cassette | Araldite | Gorilla Epoxy 25 ml | |
Weighing boats | For mixing epoxy | |||
Blunt needle and syringe | For applying epoxy, e.g. 30G | |||
DiI | Fluorescence for shank track tracing, if using | 1 mM in isopropanol, Invitrogen | ||
Vaseline | Ensure posts don’t stick on explantation | |||
Sandpaper | If needed to sand connector teeth, depending on exact 3D print and how snug the connector sits in the holes of the cassette. | |||
Silver or stainless steel wire | For grounding and e.g. for shorting the GRN and REF: optional depending on experimental needs. | World precision instruments | ||
Headplate | Optional | |||
Tergazyme | 1%, see standard protocol for cleaning Neuropixels | Alconox | ||
Dowsil cleaning solvent | For cleaning probe, optional | DOWSIL DS-2025 Silicone Cleaning Solvent | ||
PBS | For cleaning probe |
A | B | C | D | |
Part | Use | Supplier | Alternatives | |
Scissors | Some users prefer making their incision with scissors | Fine Science Tools | ||
Scalpel | Making incisions | |||
Bone scraper | Roughen skull for cementing | Fine Science Tools | ||
Stereotaxic frame, incl arms | Precision targeting | Kopf Instruments | ||
Micro manipulator | Slowly move the probe into the brain | Sensapex | Luigs-Neumann micromanipulator | |
Thermometer, heating pad, and other measures for the anesthesia | Maintaining body temperature | Harvard Apparatus |
A | B | C | D | |
Part | Use | Supplier | Alternatives | |
Drugs | In accordance with local guidelines and rules, for anaesthesia, analgesia. Consider dexamethasone as anti-inflammatory. | |||
Hibiscrub | Sterilization | |||
Puralube | Eye lubricant | |||
Phosphoric acid gel | Etching the skull, optional | Enamel Etchant Gel | ||
Ground screw | 1mm ground screw | ThorLabs | ||
Drill and drill bits | e.g. 1-mm dental drill, or alterntives, up to users | Meisinger, HP 310 104 001 001 004 | ||
Sugi tips, Q tips | Absorbent | Questalpha | ||
Sterile saline and pipette | Irrigate the craniotomy during the prolonged lowering of the probe | |||
Cyanoacrylate | Skin closure | VetBond, World Precision Instruments | Histoacryl, Braun Medical | |
Fibrolar | Optional, if risk of bleeding | |||
Dura-Gel | Artificial dura | Cambridge NeuroTech | 3-4680, Dow Corning | |
SuperBond | Cementing headplate and feed | C&B SuperBond | Sun Medical | |
RelyX | Cementing feet and building craniotomy well. | Norland Optical Adhesives #81, Norland Products | ||
Dental acrylic | Cementing feet, alternative to RelyX | Simplex Rapid, Kemdent | ||
UV gun | Curing UV cement, e.g. RelyX | |||
Kwik-cast or Kwik-sil | World Precision Instruments | |||
Coban band | Wrapping implant | 3M | Surgical tape |