RHD Recording Headstages
General Information
We offer several types of RHD headstages that allow users to connect to electrodes (not included) and record electrophysiological signals from up to 128 low-noise amplifier channels.
Each headstage contains an Intan RHD amplifier chip, a few support components, a small connector to mate with a digital interface cable, and a connector to mate with a variety of commercial recording electrodes. Multiple headstages may be connected to an RHD recording controller or USB interface board using thin, flexible SPI interface cables. All signals are amplified and digitized directly on the headstage, so data on the interface cables is purely digital and immune to noise pickup.
Every RHD headstage has the following capabilities when used in an RHD recording system:
- Monitor and record signals from all amplifier channels at sampling rates up to 30 kSamples/s per channel.
- Reconfigure amplifier analog bandwidth from software over a range of 0.1 Hz to 20 kHz.
- Measure in situ electrode impedances at user-selectable frequencies.
Note: RHD headstages do not work with the RHS stim/recording controller. The RHD and RHS systems are not compatible.
RHD 16-Channel Recording Headstages
Our 16-channel recording headstages have 18-pin electrode connectors that mate with many commercially-available electrodes, including probes from the following companies:
- Atlas Neuroengineering (16ch semi-chronic, chronic probes)
- Doric Lenses (opto-electric cannulas)
- MicroProbes (most array types)
- NeuroNexus (CM16LP, OCM16LP, H16, HC16, OH16LP, DM16, MR_CM16, MR_H16, V16, OV16, VC16 and others)
- Plexon (CON/16o25m-18P, CON/16m-V, and others)
- Cambridge NeuroTech (ASSY-79 probes)
These headstages also mate with the following Intan custom electrode adapters:
The 16-channel headstages come in two versions: with and without a 3-axis accelerometer which can be used to synchronize electrophysiological data with headstage movement.
Technical Specs |
Part #C3334 RHD 16ch |
Part #C3335 RHD 16ch + accel |
|---|---|---|
| headstage inputs | 16 unipolar inputs, common reference, ground | |
| electrode connector | Omnetics A79041: 18 pins, 2 guide posts | |
| data cable connector | 12-pin RHD SPI cable connector; high-speed serial digital data |
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| 3-axis accelerometer | no | yes |
| size | 23 mm x 13 mm | 19 mm x 13 mm |
| mass | 0.79 grams | 0.92 grams |
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| RHD 16-channel headstage with ultra thin SPI interface cable |
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| RHD 16-channel headstage with accelerometer (top and bottom views). A 3-axis accelerometer is mounted on the bottom of the headstage. |
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The zero-ohm jumper R0 may be removed to disconnect the reference electrode from ground.
These headstages use a 32-channel RHD amplifier chip. Amplifier channels 0-7 and 24-31 are tied to ground.
RHD 16-Channel Bipolar-Input Recording Headstages
This headstage is optimized for recording applications where pairs of electrodes having similar impedances are used, such as surface EMG. The 16-channel bipolar-input recording headstages have independent in+ and in- inputs on each amplifier channel for paired differential recording.
These headstages mate with the following Intan custom electrode adapters:
The 16-channel bipolar-input headstages come in two versions: with and without a 3-axis accelerometer which can be used to synchronize electrophysiological data with headstage movement.
Technical Specs |
Part #C3313 RHD 16ch bipolar |
Part #C3323 RHD 16ch bipolar + accel |
|---|---|---|
| headstage inputs | 16 bipolar inputs (in+, in-), ground | |
| electrode connector | Omnetics A79025: 36 pins, 4 guide posts | |
| data cable connector | 12-pin RHD SPI cable connector; high-speed serial digital data |
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| 3-axis accelerometer | no | yes |
| size | 24 mm x 15 mm | 24 mm x 15.5 mm |
| mass | 0.94 grams | 1.03 grams |
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| RHD 16-channel bipolar-input headstage with SPI interface cable |
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| RHD 16-channel bipolar-input headstage with accelerometer |
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Note: Headstage version with accelerometer does not include 0.1" mounting hole.
Four redundant GND pins are provided on the electrode connector; only one needs to be connected.
RHD 32-Channel Recording Headstages
Our 32-channel recording headstages have 36-pin electrode connectors that mate with many commercially-available electrodes, including probes from the following companies:
- Atlas Neuroengineering (32ch semi-chronic, chronic probes)
- Blackrock Microsystems (Cereplex M connector)
- BMSEED (in vitro MEAs)
- Doric Lenses (opto-electric cannulas)
- MicroProbes (most array types)
- NeuroNexus (CM32, OCM32LP, H32, OH32LP, MR_CM32, MR_H32, V32, OV32, VC32, MR_H64, MR_HC64, MCM64, MH64, MSH64 and others)
- Plexon (CON/32m-V and others)
- Cambridge NeuroTech (ASSY-116 probes)
These headstages also mate with the following Intan custom electrode adapters:
The 32-channel headstages come in two versions: with and without a 3-axis accelerometer which can be used to synchronize electrophysiological data with headstage movement.
Technical Specs |
Part #C3314 RHD 32ch |
Part #C3324 RHD 32ch + accel |
|---|---|---|
| headstage inputs | 32 unipolar inputs, common reference, ground | |
| electrode connector | Omnetics A79025: 36 pins, 4 guide posts | |
| data cable connector | 12-pin RHD SPI cable connector; high-speed serial digital data |
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| 3-axis accelerometer | no | yes |
| size | 24 mm x 15 mm | 24 mm x 15.5 mm |
| mass | 0.94 grams | 1.03 grams |
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| RHD 32-channel headstage with SPI interface cable |
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| RHD 32-channel headstage with accelerometer |
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The zero-ohm jumper R0 may be removed to disconnect the reference electrode from ground.
Note: Headstage version with accelerometer does not include 0.1" mounting hole.
Two redundant REF pins and two redundant GND pins are provided on the electrode connector; only one needs to be connected.
RHD 64-Channel Recording Headstages
Our 64-channel recording headstages have two 36-pin electrode connectors that mate with many commercially-available electrodes, including probes from the following companies:
- Atlas Neuroengineering (64ch semi-chronic, chronic probes)
- MicroProbes (MBA brush array and others)
- NeuroNexus (H64LP, V64, MCM64, MH64, MSH64, MA128, MH128, MHS128)
- Cambridge NeuroTech (ASSY-156 probes)
These headstages also mate with the following Intan custom electrode adapters (two adapters are required):
The 64-channel headstages come in two versions: with and without a 3-axis accelerometer which can be used to synchronize electrophysiological data with headstage movement.
Technical Specs |
Part #C3315 RHD 64ch |
Part #C3325 RHD 64ch + accel |
|---|---|---|
| headstage inputs | 64 unipolar inputs, common reference, ground | |
| electrode connector | 2x Omnetics A79025: 36 pins, 4 guide posts each | |
| data cable connector | 12-pin RHD SPI cable connector; high-speed serial digital data |
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| 3-axis accelerometer | no | yes |
| size | 21 mm x 14 mm | 22 mm x 14 mm |
| mass | 1.30 grams | 1.38 grams |
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| RHD 64-channel headstage |
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| RHD 64-channel headstage with accelerometer |
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The zero-ohm jumper R0 may be removed to disconnect the reference electrode from ground.
Note: Headstage version with accelerometer does not include 0.1" mounting hole.
Two redundant REF pins and two redundant GND pins are provided on each electrode connector; only one needs to be connected for the entire headstage.
Units are in inches.
RHD 128-Channel Recording Headstage
Our 128-channel recording headstage has two 64-pin Molex SlimStack electrode connectors that mate with the following silicon probes:
- Atlas Neuroengineering (contact Atlas for specific probes)
- NeuroNexus (I128, IH128, I256, or IH256 connector)
- UCLA silicon probes from Prof. Sotiris Masmanidis
The UCLA probes must be electroplated using the RHD electroplating board that has been designed to work with this headstage. A cable from the electroplating board plugs into a small connector on the headstage and delivers currents to assist in plating electrode sites to reduce impedance prior to recording. Note: The RHD electroplating board was discontinued in February 2022.
The following datasheet provides more details on the operation of the 128-channel headstage.
Technical Specs |
Part #C3316 RHD 128ch |
|---|---|
| headstage inputs | 128 unipolar inputs, common reference, ground |
| electrode connector | 2x Molex SlimStack 502426-6410 |
| data cable connector | 12-pin RHD SPI cable connector; high-speed serial digital data |
| electroplating board connector | 6-pin connector; control cable from RHD electroplating board |
| size | 35 mm x 21 mm |
| mass | 2.05 grams |
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| RHD 128-channel headstage |
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| RHD 128-channel headstage with blue SPI interface cable and optional multicolored cable from RHD electroplating board |
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The zero-ohm jumper R0 on the bottom side of the headstage may be removed to disconnect the reference electrode from ground. Two mounting holes are provided. Center-to-center spacing of the two Molex connectors is 8.8646 mm (0.349 inches).
Related Products
- RHD recording system
- RHD SPI interface cables
- RHD dual headstage adapter
- Adapters for custom electrodes
- LVDS adapter board for custom hardware development
Supporting Documents
- Application note: Accelerometer calibration
- Application note: Adding an LED to headstages
- Application note: Interfacing a microphone to headstages
- Application note:
Adapting RHD SPI cables to a commutator
- RHD SPI cable/connector specification
- Complete schematics of all RHD headstages are available for download.
