The systemDrive: a Multisite, Multiregion Microdrive with Independent Drive Axis Angling for Chronic Multimodal Systems Neuroscience Recordings in Freely Behaving Animals

Abstract

Visual Abstract

The DMCdrive: practical 3D-printable micro-drive system for reliable chronic multi-tetrode recording and optogenetic application in freely behaving rodents

“…The 3D-printing in addition provides possibilities for desired customizations. While alternative implant designs report low fabrication costs 30,31 , the ~10USD/ DMCdrive includes not only six 3D-printed parts but also an EIB with an 18-pin Omnetics connector, eight screws and a nut, making our drive design a genuinely affordable alternative for many laboratories. The 3D-printed drive parts are configured for very straightforward assembly and reduced drive build time.…”

“…To date, various off-the-shelf and in-house-built devices to support chronic multiple tetrode recordings together with optical stimulation have been designed, including the VersaDrive (Neuralynx), systemDrive, SLIQ hyperdrive, flexDrive, and more 7,33,34 . Compared to the DMCdrive, these devices can carry a larger number of recording channels and allow positioning of each tetrode independently.…”

A Novel 3D-Printed Multi-Drive System for Synchronous Electrophysiological Recording in Multiple Brain Regions

“…Headley et al (2015) come up with a modular solution to move individual electrode groups independently in different locations. Billard et al (2018) developed a multisite microdrive dedicated to recording from multiple brain regions.…”

“…Instead of aiming at only one target, our system could have a set of custom locations. Also, compare to the systemDrive (Billard et al, 2018), no individual cannula needs to be pre-implanted for our system, and all electrodes could be implanted at once. This would require much less time for implantation surgery.…”

“…In this study, a modular independent microdrive system was proposed that could record from four regions from a rat (Headley et al, 2015). In a more recent study, a 14 microdrive system was designed, but only five of them were used due to the difficulty of the implantation procedure (Billard et al, 2018). The design of the multi-site multi-microdrive system is more challenging because the location of target areas, drive mechanisms, size, and weight, ease of use needs to take into consideration and are always trading-off with each other.…”