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ACO Motorized Commutators

TDT active slip-ring commutators (ACO) automatically sense torque to track rotation and prevent twisting or binding of a headstage cable. The ultra-sensitive encoder detects when the cable twists and automatically compensates with a motor driven counter-torque, eliminating tension at the subject’s end of the cable. The ACO also features a bore in the center to accommodate a fiber optic rotary joint for use in optogenetic stimulation.

The ACO comes in a Digital, 32 or 64 channel configuration, which is perfect for recording from an iD2/iD3 digital interface, iAn analog amplifier, and any other TDT amplifier.

Research Uses

Product Specs

Resources

  • Maze learning
  • Awake behaving, freely moving animals
  • Optogenetic stimulation

ACO Digital, ACO32 and ACO64 Commutators

The motorized design of our commutator includes built-in electrical shielding to ensure an ultra quiet environment for neural recording. Combined with lightweight cables and connectors to minimize the torque caused by subject motion, a TDT commutator is a must-have component for your awake behaving protocol.

Push buttons allow optional manual control and an input BNC can be used to inhibit the motor during critical recording periods. A banana jack provides access to ground, so that users can connect the commutator ground to an external ground, such as a faraday cage, to minimize ground loops.

Add-on Fiber Optics for Optogenetic Stimulation

A single channel, optical fiber assembly can be attached to allow optical targeting and excitation on neural circuits for artifact free electrical recordings in freely behaving animals. The fiber optic joint can pass wavelengths from 440-610 nm so a broad range of optogenetic tools are available to the end user. The assembly is user serviceable to allow for easy replacement of the optical fiber.