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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Design and Assembly of an Ultra-light Motorized Microdrive for Chronic Neural Recordings in Small Animals

Design and Assembly of an Ultra-light Motorized Microdrive for Chronic Neural Recordings in Small Animals

Published on: November 8, 2012

A lightweight feedback-controlled microdrive for chronic neural recordings.

A Jovalekic¹, S Cavé-Lopez, A Canopoli

¹Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland and Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.

Journal of Neural Engineering

|January 11, 2017

Summary

We developed a lightweight, motorized microdrive for precise neural electrode placement. This feedback-controlled device enables accurate chronic neural recordings, even with unreliable motors, advancing neuroscience research.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Instrumentation

Background:

Chronic neural recordings are crucial for understanding neural activity and behavior.
Existing microdrive systems can face challenges with precise electrode positioning due to motor unreliability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a miniaturized, motorized microdrive with precise electrode positioning capabilities.
To overcome limitations posed by potentially unreliable motors in neural recording devices.

Main Methods:

Designed a feedback-based motor control mechanism incorporating a magnetic array and Hall sensor for position readout.
Developed an extremely lightweight (<1g) motorized microdrive for remote electrode and pipette positioning along one axis.
Integrated headstage electronics for both extracellular and intracellular recordings, with a 3D repositioning mechanism.

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Author Spotlight: A Lightweight Drive Implant for Chronic Tetrode Recordings in Juvenile Mice

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Published on: June 2, 2023

Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Drive Fabrication

Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Drive Fabrication

Published on: April 20, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Design and Assembly of an Ultra-light Motorized Microdrive for Chronic Neural Recordings in Small Animals

Design and Assembly of an Ultra-light Motorized Microdrive for Chronic Neural Recordings in Small Animals

Published on: November 8, 2012

Author Spotlight: A Lightweight Drive Implant for Chronic Tetrode Recordings in Juvenile Mice

Author Spotlight: A Lightweight Drive Implant for Chronic Tetrode Recordings in Juvenile Mice

Published on: June 2, 2023

Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Drive Fabrication

Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Drive Fabrication

Published on: April 20, 2009

Main Results:

Achieved precise electrode positioning with 1 µm accuracy over a 6 mm range.
Demonstrated remote positioning of metal electrodes and glass pipettes.
Presented neural data from premotor areas in adult and juvenile zebra finches.

Conclusions:

Feedback-based microdrive control adds minimal size and weight.
This technology is suitable for integration into more complex multi-electrode systems.
Enables enhanced precision and reliability in chronic neural recording applications.