Plexon Motorized Commutator
The Plexon Motorized Commutator is a highly sensitive, electro-mechanical device designed to all but completely eliminate the distractions and negative effects of tangled cables during freely behaving animal experiments. It is designed for use in high channel count neural recording with analog headstages.
The Plexon Motorized Commutator offers nearly noiseless actuation (both electrically and acoustically) with extremely low actuation forces as low as 300µNm. It is available in multiple channel counts up to 128 channels and is compatible with all Plexon analog headstages.
The exceptionally low actuation forces are attained through the incorporation of a magnetic Hall-effect sensor at the input connector. The highly sensitive sensor monitors the torque exerted at the input and signals a stepper motor that smoothly rotates the commutator and attached input connector, relieving any tension. The commutator then tracks the movement of the animal and untwists the wires. The Plexon Motorized Commutator’s highly-precise stepper motor has three step sizes with adjustable response and variable speed controls. These controls allow tuning of the commutator operation to match the animal’s behavior more closely. As part of an inclusive package, the Plexon Motorized Commutator includes the commutator, a controller to operate the commutator and a power supply.
This is the commutator to choose if using it with a high channel count:
- OmniPlex® D System utilizing either a DigiAmp™ or MiniDigi™ amplifier,
- OmniPlex System utilizing an analog amplifier, or even
- The original MAP system
In addition to this Motorized Commutator, Plexon offers a more compact Standard Commutator for lower channel counts. Should your research also require optogenetics, Plexon also offers the PlexBright® Dual LED + 16 Channel Commutator for the efficient management of mixed headstage and optical patch cables.
To further enhance your experience and results when using Plexon’s commutators, we offer a breadth of compatible connectors, headstages and headstage cables. If your research also calls for video tracking or behavioral analysis, you may be interested in our CinePlex® Behavioral Research System.
If you have further questions, a Plexon Sales Engineer will be happy to help.
The table below provides many of the most commonly requested specifications. If you have further questions, a Plexon Sales Engineer will be happy to help.
The illustration to below details Plexon’s 32 channel Motorized Commutator, and is used as an example with respect to the specifications table below.
| Feature | 32 Channels | 64 Channels | 96 Channels | 128 Channels | Remarks |
| Plexon data acquisition system compatibility | – OmniPlex® D System utilizing either a DigiAmp™ |