Electrode driving device and signal acquisition system

Abstract

The utility model relates to an electrode driving device and a signal acquisition system, and the electrode driving device comprises an electrode wire, an electrode wire moving module, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a circuit board connector, and an amplifier interface. Wherein the first circuit board is fixed on the electrode wire moving module, the circuit board connector is used for connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the amplifier interface is fixed on the second circuit board, a first end of the electrode wire is connected with the first circuit board, and a second end of the electrode wire is connected with the second circuit board. The second end of the electrode wire is implanted into a signal acquisition part; the electrode wire moving module can drive the electrode wire to move so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire implanted into a signal acquisition part; the second circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrode technology, and more specifically, to an electrode driving device and a signal acquisition system. Background Art

[0002] In order to study the activity mechanism of neurons in the brain, researchers need to record the activity of neurons from a variety of different angles and methods. For small animals, invasive extracellular electrophysiological techniques can directly record the extracellular electrical activity of single neurons with high temporal resolution, and can be applied to animal experiments with awake activity, so they are widely used. At the same time, optogenetics can control neurons by regulating ion channels.

[0003] When conducting extracellular electrophysiological recordings of neurons in specific brain regions, the electrodes need to be accurately implanted in the corresponding brain regions. However, due to the elasticity of brain tissue, the depth of the electrode tip is difficult to control. Therefore, it is necessary to design an electrode drive device that can adjust the depth. However, such a mechanical mechanism greatly increases the weight of the device on the head of the small animal. For small animals, which are light experimental animals, the neck cannot bear a large weight. An overly heavy device on the head will cause the small animal to be unable to perform behavioral tasks in a natural way, thus affecting the progress of the experiment.

[0004] In existing electrode drive devices, the amplifier interface is usually fixed to the driver by a hard connection. Repeated plugging and unplugging of the amplifier will cause a slight displacement of the electrode implantation depth. This displacement is larger than that of neurons, which will lead to a decrease in the quality of the recorded electrophysiological signals. Utility Model Content

[0005] One purpose of the utility model is to provide a new technical solution for an electrode driving device.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the utility model, an electrode driving device is provided, comprising: an electrode wire, an electrode wire moving module, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a circuit board connector, and an amplifier interface; wherein:

[0007] The first circuit board is fixed on the electrode wire moving module, the circuit board connector is used to connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the amplifier interface is fixed on the second circuit board, the first end of the electrode wire is connected to the first circuit board, and the second end of the electrode wire is implanted in the signal collection part;

[0008] The electrode wire moving module can drive the electrode wire to move so as to control the depth at which the second end of the electrode wire is implanted in the signal collection site;

[0009] The second circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

[0010] Optionally, the electrode wire moving module includes an electrode wire moving module body, a first moving component and a second moving component; wherein,

[0011] The second moving part is connected to the first moving part, and the electrode wire is fixed on the second moving part.

[0012] The electrode wire moving module body is provided with a through hole, and the first moving component can move along the through hole to drive the second moving component to move, thereby driving the electrode wire to move.

[0013] Optionally, the first moving component is a screw, and the second moving component is a nut; wherein,

[0014] The through hole formed in the electrode wire moving module body is a threaded hole, and the screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move.

[0015] Optionally, there are multiple electrode wires, and the electrode driving device further includes multiple electrode separator tubes, and the electrode wires are allocated and sleeved in corresponding electrode wire separator tubes; wherein,

[0016] The electrode wire separator tube is fixed on the second moving component.

[0017] Optionally, the electrode driving device further comprises a guide tube; wherein the electrode wire separator tube portion is sleeved in the guide tube.

[0018] Optionally, the first circuit board is provided with a through hole; wherein,

[0019] The first end of the electrode wire can pass through the through hole, and the electrode wire and the hole wall of the through hole are in a fitted and conductive state.

[0020] Optionally, the electrode driving device further includes a reinforcement plate; wherein,

[0021] The reinforcement plate is fixed on the second circuit board, the reinforcement plate and the amplifier interface are respectively fixed on two surfaces of the second circuit board, and the fixed position of the reinforcement plate on the second circuit board and the fixed position of the amplifier interface on the second circuit board are located in the same area.

[0022] Optionally, the electrode driving device further comprises an optical fiber; wherein,

[0023] The first end of the optical fiber is connected to an external device, and the second end of the optical fiber is implanted in a signal collection site. The external device is used to stimulate or inhibit neuronal activity in the signal collection site through the optical fiber.

[0024] Optionally, the electrode wire moving module can drive the optical fiber to move so as to control the depth at which the second end of the optical fiber is implanted in the signal collection site.

[0025] According to the second aspect of the utility model, a signal acquisition system is provided, comprising an amplifier, a terminal device and an electrode driving device as described in any one of the first aspects; wherein the amplifier is connected to the amplifier interface of the electrode driving device, and the amplifier is connected to the terminal device.

[0026] The electrode driving device provided in the embodiment of the utility model has an overall structure that reduces the overall weight of the device, especially the second circuit board is a flexible circuit board, so that small animals can move normally and naturally when wearing the electrode driving device and complete various behavioral tasks. At the same time, the second circuit board in the embodiment of the utility model is a flexible circuit board. The use of a flexible circuit board greatly reduces the impact of the plug-in amplifier on the main body of the electrode driving device, ensures the stability of electrophysiological signal acquisition, and improves the accuracy of electrophysiological experiments.

[0027] Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present specification will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the specification and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments of the specification.

[0029] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode driving device according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0030] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode driving device according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0031] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode driving device according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0032] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode driving device according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0033] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode driving device according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0034] Figure 6 It is a principle block diagram of a signal acquisition system according to an embodiment of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Various exemplary embodiments of the present specification will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the embodiments of the present specification and its application or uses.

[0037] It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters refer to similar items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrode driving device is provided. The electrode driving device provided in the embodiment of the present invention is used in animal experiments, specifically for collecting extracellular electrophysiological activities of neurons in the animal brain.

[0039] according to Figure 1 As shown, an electrode driving device of this embodiment includes an electrode wire 110, an electrode wire moving module 120, a first circuit board 130, and a circuit board connector 140 ( Figure 1 ), a second circuit board 150 , and an amplifier interface 160 .

[0040] The first circuit board 130 is fixed on the electrode wire moving module 120. The circuit board connector 140 is used to connect the first circuit board 130 and the second circuit board 150. The amplifier interface 160 is fixed on the second circuit board 140. The first end of the electrode wire 110 is connected to the first circuit board 130, and the second end of the electrode wire 110 is implanted in the signal collection part.

[0041] Figure 1 The connection between the first end of the electrode wire 110 and the first circuit board 130 is not shown, nor is the implantation of the second end of the electrode wire 110 into the signal collection site.

[0042] The electrode wire moving module 120 can drive the electrode wire 110 to move so as to control the depth at which the second end of the electrode wire 110 is implanted in the signal collection site.

[0043] The second circuit board 150 is a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

[0044] The circuit board connector 140 is located behind the first circuit board 130. Figure 1 The perspective shown does not directly show the circuit board connector 140, which can be seen Figure 3 .

[0045] In one embodiment, the electrode wire 110 is an enameled nickel-chromium wire.

[0046] In one embodiment, the electrode wire moving module 120 is a component formed by 3D printing using resin material.

[0047] The electrode driving device provided in the embodiment of the utility model has an overall structure that reduces the overall weight of the device, especially the second circuit board integrates multiple components of the old design, so that small animals can move normally and naturally while wearing the electrode driving device and complete various behavioral tasks. At the same time, the second circuit board in the embodiment of the utility model is a flexible circuit board. The use of a flexible circuit board greatly reduces the impact of the plug-in amplifier on the main body of the electrode driving device, ensures the stability of electrophysiological signal acquisition, and improves the accuracy of electrophysiological experiments.

[0048] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 The electrode wire moving module 120 includes an electrode wire moving module body 121, a first moving part 122 and a second moving part 123. The second moving part 123 is connected to the first moving part 121. The electrode wire 110 is fixed on the second moving part 123. The electrode wire moving module body 121 is provided with a through hole, and the first moving part 122 can move along the through hole to drive the second moving part 123 to move, and then drive the electrode wire 110 to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire 110 implanted in the signal collection part.

[0049] See also Figure 1 , the first moving part 122 is a screw, and the second moving part 123 is a nut. The through hole provided in the electrode wire moving module body 121 is a threaded hole. The screw can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move, and then drive the electrode wire 110 to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire 110 implanted in the signal collection part. The movement of the screw along the threaded hole is the movement caused by manually rotating the screw.

[0050] See also Figure 1 The electrode wire moving module body 121 is also provided with a slide groove. The screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move in the slide groove, thereby driving the electrode wire 110 to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire 110 implanted in the signal collection part.

[0051] In one embodiment, the wire electrode 110 may be bonded and fixed to the second moving component 123. For example, the wire electrode 110 may be bonded and fixed to the second moving component 123 using epoxy resin.

[0052] In one embodiment, see Figure 1The electrode wire moving module 120 further includes a hanging ear 124. When the first end of the electrode wire 110 is connected to the first circuit board 130, since the electrode wire 110 is usually thin and there are many of them, the electrode wire 110 can be passed through the hanging ear to play a role of converging the electrode wire when the first end of the electrode wire 110 is connected to the first circuit board 130.

[0053] In one embodiment, when there are multiple electrode wires, see Figure 2 The electrode driving device further includes a plurality of electrode separator tubes 170. The plurality of electrode wires are arranged in corresponding electrode separator tubes. The electrode separator tubes 170 are fixed on the second moving part 123. Since the electrode wires are relatively thin, this can play a role in converging the electrode wires, making it easier to operate the electrode wires.

[0054] In one embodiment, the wire separator tube 170 may be bonded and fixed to the second movable member 123. For example, the wire separator tube 170 may be bonded and fixed to the second movable member 123 using epoxy resin.

[0055] In one embodiment, the number of electrode wires is 32, and one electrode wire separator tube is sheathed with 4 electrode wires, so the electrode wires are distributed and sheathed in 8 electrode wire separator tubes.

[0056] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 The electrode driving device further includes a guide tube 180. The electrode wire separation tube 170 is partially sleeved in the guide tube 180. This can play the role of converging the electrode wire separation tube, so that the electrode wires can be implanted in parallel with each other in the signal collection part.

[0057] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 The guide tube 180 includes a guide tube body 181 and a guide tube housing 182. The guide tube body 181 is partially inserted into the guide tube housing 182, so that the electrode wires can be implanted in parallel with each other at the signal collection site. In this way, when the second end of the electrode wire 110 is implanted in the signal collection site, the guide tube housing 182 can protect the electrode wire.

[0058] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first circuit board 130 is provided with a through hole 131 . The first end of the electrode wire 110 can pass through the through hole 131 , and the electrode wire 110 and the hole wall of the through hole 131 are in a contacting and conducting state, so that the electrode wire 110 and the first circuit board 130 are in conduction.

[0059] In one embodiment, the electrode driving device further comprises a gold needle ( Figure 1 and Figure 2(not shown). The gold needle may pass through the through hole 131 to squeeze the electrode wire 110 , so that the electrode wire 110 and the hole wall of the through hole 131 are in a contacting and conducting state, so as to achieve conduction between the electrode wire 110 and the first circuit board 130 .

[0060] In one embodiment, the through hole 131 is treated with tin spraying so that a tin layer is generated on the surface of the hole wall of the through hole 131, which can reduce the surface hardness, facilitate deformation, and easily achieve close contact between the electrode wire 110 and the hole wall of the through hole 131, thereby achieving a fitted and conductive state.

[0061] In one embodiment, the number of through holes 131 provided in the first circuit board 130 is determined according to the number of electrode wires 110. When the number of electrode wires is 32, the number of through holes 131 provided in the first circuit board 130 is 32, so that one electrode wire passes through one through hole.

[0062] In one embodiment, see Figure 3 The electrode driving device further includes a reinforcing plate 190. The reinforcing plate 190 is fixed on the second circuit board 150. The reinforcing plate 190 and the amplifier interface 160 are respectively fixed on two surfaces of the second circuit board 150, and the fixing position of the reinforcing plate 190 on the second circuit board 150 and the fixing position of the amplifier interface 160 on the second circuit board 150 are located in the same area.

[0063] The amplifier interface 160 is fixed on the second circuit board 150. Since the second circuit board 150 is a flexible circuit board, the amplifier interface 160 is prone to the problem of loose support. In addition, the amplifier interface 160 is also connected to an amplifier. When performing animal testing, the amplifier will be repeatedly plugged in and out of the amplifier interface. Since the second circuit board 150 is a flexible circuit board, repeated plugging and unplugging operations may damage the second circuit board 150. Therefore, a reinforcing plate 190 is fixed at the position where the amplifier interface 160 is fixed on the second circuit board 150 to play the role of supporting the amplifier interface 160, which can also avoid the problem of damage to the second circuit board 150 caused by repeated plugging and unplugging of the amplifier.

[0064] Specifically, the second circuit board 150 includes two surfaces, a front surface and a back surface. When the amplifier interface 160 is located on the front surface of the second circuit board 150 , the reinforcement plate 190 is located on the back surface of the second circuit board 150 .

[0065] In one embodiment, the reinforcement plate 190 is a metal reinforcement plate.

[0066] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 and Figure 2The electrode driving device further includes a first base 210 and a second base 220 . The first base 210 is fixedly connected to the electrode wire moving module 120 , and the second base 220 is fixedly connected to the second circuit board 150 .

[0067] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first base 210 is a cross-shaped base. The first base 210 can also be a base of other shapes.

[0068] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second base 220 is a horseshoe-shaped base. The second base 220 can also be a base of other shapes. The second base 220 can be a component printed from high-strength nylon.

[0069] When the electrode driving device is used to perform animal experiments, the first base 210 and the second base 220 are both fixed on the animal's skull. Specifically, the first base 210 and the second base 220 can be fixed on the animal's skull using dental cement.

[0070] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 The electrode driving device further includes an electrode wire moving module housing 230. The electrode wire moving module housing 230 is buckled on the electrode wire moving module 120 to protect the electrode wire moving module 120.

[0071] In one embodiment, the electrode driving device further comprises an optical fiber, the first end of which is connected to an external device, the second end of which is implanted in a signal collection site, and the external device is used to stimulate or inhibit neuronal activity in the signal collection site through the optical fiber.

[0072] In one embodiment, the optical fiber is fixed on the second movable component, and the first movable component can move along the through hole to drive the second movable component to move, thereby driving the optical fiber to move.

[0073] Specifically, see Figure 4 The first moving part 122 is a screw rod, and the second moving part 123 is a nut. The through hole provided in the electrode wire moving module body 121 is a threaded hole. The screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move, and then drive the electrode wire and the optical fiber 410 to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire and the optical fiber 410 implanted in the signal collection part.

[0074] See also Figure 4 The electrode driving device further includes a third base 230. The third base 230 is used to support the optical fiber 410. The optical fiber is vertically implanted in the brain tissue. The plugging and unplugging of the optical fiber and the external device will also affect the signal collection and recording of the electrode wire. By supporting the optical fiber with the third base 230, the influence of the plugging and unplugging of the optical fiber and the external device on the signal collection of the electrode wire can be effectively prevented.

[0075] In one embodiment, the optical fiber 410 may be bonded and fixed to the second movable component 123. For example, the optical fiber 410 may be bonded and fixed to the second movable component 123 using epoxy resin.

[0076] In one embodiment, the electrode driving device is a double-sided electrode driving device, including an electrode wire, an electrode wire moving module, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a circuit board connector, and an amplifier interface.

[0077] Specifically, see Figure 5 , there are two first circuit boards 130, both fixed on the electrode wire moving module 120. There are two second circuit boards 150. There are two circuit board connectors 140, which are used to connect the first circuit board 130 and the second circuit board 150 respectively. There are two amplifier interfaces 160. Each amplifier interface 160 is fixed on a second circuit board 150. The electrode wires 110 are divided into two groups. The first end of each group of electrode wires 110 is connected to the corresponding first circuit board 130, and the second end of each group of electrode wires 110 is implanted in the corresponding signal collection part ( Figure 5 The connection relationship between the two ends of the electrode wire is not shown). The electrode wire moving module 120 can drive the two groups of electrode wires 110 to move, so as to control the depth of the second ends of the electrode wires 110 implanted in the signal collection site. The second circuit board 150 is a flexible circuit board.

[0078] See also Figure 5 The electrode wire moving module 120 includes an electrode wire moving module body 121 , a first moving component 122 , a second moving component 123 , a third moving component 124 , and a fourth moving component 125 .

[0079] The second moving part 123 is connected to the first moving part 121 . The fourth moving part 125 is connected to the third moving part 124 .

[0080] One group of electrode wires is fixed on the second moving member 123. Another part of another group of electrode wires is fixed on the fourth moving member 125.

[0081] The main body of the electrode wire moving module is provided with a first through hole and a second through hole. The first moving component can move along the first through hole to drive the second moving component to move, thereby driving a group of electrode wires to move, thereby controlling the depth of the second ends of the corresponding group of electrode wires implanted in the signal collection part. At the same time, the third moving component can move along the third through hole to drive the fourth moving component to move, thereby driving another group of electrode wires to move, thereby controlling the depth of the second ends of the corresponding group of electrode wires implanted in the signal collection part.

[0082] For example, the first moving part and the third moving part are both screws, and the second moving part and the fourth moving part are both nuts.

[0083] The first through hole and the second through hole provided in the electrode wire moving module body are both threaded holes. The screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move, thereby driving the electrode wire to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire implanted in the signal collection part. The movement of the screw rod along the threaded hole is the movement caused by manually rotating the screw rod.

[0084] The electrode wire moving module body is also provided with a first slide groove and a second slide groove. The screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move in the corresponding slide groove, thereby driving the electrode wire to move, so as to control the depth of the second end of the electrode wire implanted in the signal collection part.

[0085] An embodiment of the present invention provides a signal acquisition system. Figure 6 The signal acquisition system 600 includes an amplifier 610, a terminal device 620, and an electrode driving device 630 provided in any of the above embodiments. The amplifier 610 is connected to the electrode driving device 630, and the amplifier 610 is connected to the terminal device 620.

[0086] Specifically, the amplifier 610 is connected to the amplifier interface of the electrode driving device 630.

[0087] The signal acquisition system provided by the utility model transmits the signal collected by the electrode wire to the terminal device through the first circuit board, the circuit board connector, the second circuit board, the amplifier interface and the amplifier in sequence.

[0088] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. For the device embodiment, its related parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiment.

[0089] The embodiments of the present specification have been described above, and the above description is exemplary, not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the described embodiments. The selection of terms used herein is intended to best explain the principles of the embodiments, practical applications, or improvements to the technology in the market, or to enable other persons of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An electrode driving device, characterized in that: include: Electrode wire, electrode wire moving module, first circuit board, second circuit board, circuit board connector, amplifier interface; wherein, The first circuit board is fixed on the electrode wire moving module, the circuit board connector is used to connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the amplifier interface is fixed on the second circuit board, the first end of the electrode wire is connected to the first circuit board, and the second end of the electrode wire is implanted in the signal collection part; The electrode wire moving module can drive the electrode wire to move so as to control the depth at which the second end of the electrode wire is implanted in the signal collection site; The second circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

2. The electrode driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode wire moving module comprises an electrode wire moving module body, a first moving component and a second moving component; wherein, The second moving part is connected to the first moving part, and the electrode wire is fixed on the second moving part. The electrode wire moving module body is provided with a through hole, and the first moving component can move along the through hole to drive the second moving component to move, thereby driving the electrode wire to move.

3. The electrode driving device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first moving part is a screw, and the second moving part is a nut; wherein, The through hole formed in the electrode wire moving module body is a threaded hole, and the screw rod can move along the threaded hole to drive the nut to move.

4. The electrode driving device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: There are multiple electrode wires, and the electrode driving device also includes multiple electrode separator tubes. The electrode wires are allocated and sleeved in corresponding electrode wire separator tubes; wherein, The electrode wire separator tube is fixed on the second moving component.

5. The electrode driving device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electrode driving device also includes a guide tube; wherein the electrode wire separation tube portion is sleeved in the guide tube.

6. The electrode driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first circuit board is provided with a through hole; wherein, The first end of the electrode wire can pass through the through hole, and the electrode wire and the hole wall of the through hole are in a fitted and conductive state.

7. The electrode driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode driving device also includes a reinforcement plate; wherein, The reinforcement plate is fixed on the second circuit board, the reinforcement plate and the amplifier interface are respectively fixed on two surfaces of the second circuit board, and the fixed position of the reinforcement plate on the second circuit board and the fixed position of the amplifier interface on the second circuit board are located in the same area.

8. The electrode driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode driving device also includes an optical fiber; wherein, The first end of the optical fiber is connected to an external device, and the second end of the optical fiber is implanted in a signal collection site. The external device is used to stimulate or inhibit neuronal activity in the signal collection site through the optical fiber.

9. The electrode driving device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The electrode wire moving module can drive the optical fiber to move so as to control the depth at which the second end of the optical fiber is implanted in the signal collection site.

10. A signal acquisition system, characterized in that: It comprises an amplifier, a terminal device and an electrode driving device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; wherein, The amplifier is connected to the amplifier interface of the electrode driving device, and the amplifier is connected to the terminal equipment.

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