Assembly Instuctions
The connector is a custom milled, press fit connector, fabricated at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. This connector, along with the pins we provide replace Omnetics SSB female connectors.
Here is everything needed to create your electrodes:
- Press fit connector (provided in kit)
- Customizable electrode spacer (provided in kit)
- Pins (provided in kit)
- Ground wire (optionally provided in kit)
- 4 lengths of electrode wire
- Sharp scissors
- Tweezers
- 5 minute epoxy (not shown)
Stick end of electrode wire (e.g. 100μm insulated nichrome wire) through pin hole in press-fit connector. The length sticking through should approximately = the length of the pins provided (~2mm)
Push pin into hole, allowing electrode wire to be pulled in as this is done. During insertion a ridge on the pin will automatically strip the electrode wire and form an excellent, durable connection.
Stick the free end of the electrode wire through the next hole of the press-fit connector.
Stick a pin into this hole as done previously.
Repeat a total of 8 times with electrode wire, forming four loops. Then use ground
wire for the last two holes (here seen on the right). Pull the
ground wire all the way through the two holes, so that it forms
a bridge between the two pins, with a single lead extending from
the bottom (side with the loops).Test goodness of electrical
connections between neighboring, connected pins (including the
ground pins) using a multimeter (test the resistance). If the
resistance between pairs connected by a loop is < ~ 100Ω,
then you know that there is good contact made between the wire
and pins.
Using scissors snip loops at their apex to create 8 individual electrodes.
Using a helping hands positioner, or something similar,
position the electrodes above the customizable electrode
spacer. Using tweezers slide one electrode at atime into the
desired holes of the electrode spacer. Once they are all in
place, use a tiny drop of superglue on the face of the guide to hold the
electrodes in place in order to prevent twisting.
When finished use 5 minute epoxy to keep customizable
electrode spacer in position near the press-fit electrode
connector. This will keep the electode array connector rigid
during insertion. The expoxy should form a complete bridge from
the plastic guide to the plastic connector.
Trim electrodes and using a syringe needle carefully move their tips into desired positions. Trim if desired.