Neural Drives

CyNexo designs, manufactures and customizes a series of microdrives for neuronal recording and optogenetic stimulation.
The team at CyNexo has collaborated for years with SISSA’s Tactile Perception and Learning Lab to develop the technologies necessary to have a highly reliable and customizable product that can be adapted to be implanted in different areas. Over the years and as a result of additional collaborations, these drives have been extended to cover different sized subjects and aimed at different parts of the brain.
The versatility of our solutions also allows us to manufacture drives for simultaneous recording and stimulation in multiple areas.

aoDrive
The aoDrive is a unique product, studied to use optogenetics in free moving experiments. It is a customized independently adjustable optogenetics drive made primarily through high precision 3D printing processes.
The methodology used during development has allowed obtaining the incredibly low weight of only 3 grams while incorporating many key features. The drive hosts up to 19 electrodes for neuronal registration combined with an optical fiber for optogenetic stimulation. The height of the electrode array and the optical fibre are independently adjustable.
The aoDrive can be provided in a single configuration (for the stimulation and recording in one area of the brain) or tandem configuration (for the simultaneous and independent stimulation and recording in two different areas of the brain).
The aoDrive is also completely customizable to suit specific research needs.

maDrive & maArray
The maDrive is a super low weight drive at only 1.4 grams, perfect for implantation in mice. The maDrive does not integrate the guide for the optical fiber but rather supports the use of a skull surface mounted LED for optogenetic stimulation.
Despite its extremely compact size it maintains the ability to move the electrodes to optimize the desired position even after implantation.
The maDrive is customizable for different entry angles and recording areas, even those most difficult to reach and is available in a multiple individual electrodes or tetrodes configuration.
If you want maximum lightness and you do not consider the adjustability of the electrodes to be necessary, then the maArray is the perfect solution. In this case the electrodes are fixed, but to the advantage of an unbeatable compactness and light weight at less than 1 gram.