Sniffs and Spikes

My next technical challenge in the lab is to set up simultaneous recording of sniffing and of neural spikes.  I am planning on putting together a compound device integrating a silicone probe for measuring neural activity and a pressure sensor for measuring sniffing simultaneously.  The trick will be to have all inputs and output go through a single tether wire.  Currently my thinking is that I can use a TDT ZIF-Clip with 64 channel capacity and use 32 of the channels for the electrodes and 4 channels for the pressure sensor (+V, -V, Gnd, Out).  For a commutator, I am thinking of getting a 36 channel slip ring system from the orbex group.

UPDATE:  Turns out there are issues with integrating other inputs/outputs into the ZIF-Clip from TDT.  Currently, the clip uses nearly all of its channels for electrode signals and it is difficult to break any channels out.  My alternate solution is to just put up with a second (third) wire to the head and continue attaching the sniff sensor via a magnet.  We are now miniaturizing our sniff sensor so that it may fit better on the head alongside the electrode and micro drive.

Cheap(ish) Commutator for Tethered Recordings

A friend pointed me to a very useful product for those of us who connect wires to freely moving animals.  It is a slip ring commutator manufactured in china by Hangzhou Prosper Mechanical and Electrical Technology Co and sold here in the US by adafru.it.  This commutator moves quite freely and is available with many channel options (the 6 channel goes for $17.50).  I got my hands on a few and am now contemplating using this as my commutator for ephys recordings.  The company makes a 32 channel version which is sold for about $350.  I will first test the one I have with my sniff sensor.