Internal Research Project 2 is aimed at understanding this degradation, and developing ways to prevent or remedy it. We hope to bring chronic probes into the general distribution effort in the near future. In this configuration, the probe shank is inserted into tissue and the flexible cable forms the interconnect to the percutaneous connector. Probes have also been packaged for investigators in non-floating chronic configurations. In this case, a non-cabled probe is attached directly to the percutaneous connector.
Some investigators wish to obtain devices which are designed specifically for their application.
Custom design is a service which is offered by the Center to investigators who, through experience with existing designs, have determined that a special design is required for their study. New design runs occur approximately once a year with up to 20 designs per run. Typically, the smaller sites are used for recording and the larger for stimulation. All sites are made of sputtered iridium. Typical impedance ranges are 2 to 3 megohms for recording sites and several hundred kohms for stimulation sites.