Description

Invilog stimulator is a compact 2 channel computerized pulse generator designed for a long lasting scheduled or externally triggered electrical or optical stimulation in behaving animals using Invilog wireless stimulators or conventional stimulus isolation units.

Two external electronic or optical (via motion recognition software) triggers per each channel and calculation of statistics of the triggers’ activation makes this stimulator exceptionally useful in animal behavioral studies.

With all the functions of the standard lab stimulator and with an addition of the two triggers per channel, quad-core Intel Atom computer with a touch screen, statistical analysis and motion recognition software it is also affordable for any lab.

Key features

• Two output channels deliver TTL level square wave pulses with a specified length and frequency
• Two external triggers for each stimulation channel – one initiates stimulation, another is a reference one; activity of both triggers (occurrence, length) is recorded for statistics
• The triggers are activated either by electronics or by visual events, like grooming, moving, crossing the lines in predefined directions or entering in the selected area
• Control Unit calculates distribution of the triggers’ occurrences and preference in their activation over predefined time of integration
• Pulse generation can be initiated by an external triggering or by a schedule
• The scheduled stimulation delivers pulses of predefined width, burst length, and intervals between bursts during specific time and then automatically stops

 

Specifications

Number of channels

 

2 channels

 

Pulse frequency

 

1 – 500 Hz (1 Hz step), common for both channels

 

Pulse duration

0.2 – 40 ms (0.1 ms step), individually adjusted for each channel (0.5 – 40 ms at 1-3 Hz)

 

Pulse amplitude

 

4.8 V (TTL level)

 

Burst length0.1 s – 12 hours (0.1 s step), common for both channelsIntervals between bursts (for scheduled stimulation)0.2 s – 12 hours (0.1 s step)

Length of scheduled stimulation

 

1 s – 48 hours (1 s step)

Accuracy of stimulation

 

≤ 2% for length and frequency

 

Number of electronically activated triggers

 

4 (two per channel)Electronic trigger’s inputs< 20 ms, regulated level of triggering (0 – 5V)Time lag for triggered stimulation

0.1 – 0.2 s (depends on frequency of stimulation)

 

Visual motion recognition trigger’s inputs are activated by:

– occurrence of motion or immobility in the predefined place (active zone)

– intensity of motion in the active zone

– direction of motion

– satisfying conditions of logical connections between activation of several active zones

 

Recorded statistical data

– number of electronic or visual  triggers’ occurrences

– cumulative time of triggers’ occurrences per interval of integration

– preference in activation of a particular trigger per interval of integration (%) independently for occurrence and time

 

Interval of integration for triggers’ statistics

 

from 1 s to 48 hoursOutput format of dataASCII file with tab delimiterStimulator control unit and its components and connectors

– touch screen, 7 inch

– HD USB camera

– two free USB slots for optional mouse and keyboard

– HDMI output for optional monitor

 

Dimensions (W x D x H)

– Control Unit :17 x 12 x 4 cm

– Switch Box: 17 x 13 x 8 cm

 

Connectors of the switch box

BNC connectors for all triggers’ inputs and stimulation outputs

USB type B connector for the Control Unit

 

Power Supply115/220V, 50/60Hz