Open-Hardware Support

Riding the wave of the recent DIY and open-source hardware trend, NeuroGig offers a service where it supports increased uptake of a select few, but commonly-used open-source Neuroscience instruments.

We are currently compiling a list of typical instruments we are able to build. Part of this process includes receiving nominations from the Neuroscience community.

Therefore, if your laboratory needs an open-source instrument, please get in touch. We may be able to assist.

How does this service work?

We provide you with a parts list and quotes from various suppliers according to the open-source design. You place the order and have it delivered to our workshop on the farm. NeuroGig handles assembly and testing at a nominal fee.

We also offer installation, training and technical support services as further options.

info@neurogig.com

How does this Calculator work?

Start by reading our blog on this calculator
Download the document below.
Input your required final external cage dimensions (and lengths for supports should you wish to build a free-standing cage)
Print your Bill of Materials from the design sheet of your choosing
Buy your Faraday Cage Kit from NeuroGig or directly from suppliers
In the document, click on the copper mesh and aluminium extrusion parts in the image for your chosen design to find the correct placement for each size cut
Lay out parts required for each panel and follow our installation guide for easy assembly
Install the cage in your lab and take great pride in your hard work

Where do I buy the parts and materials required for the Faraday Cage?

We have listed our trusted suppliers in the Bill of Materials Calculator document.

Alternatively, buy a hassle-free Faraday Cage Kit from us and we will even label the parts for you to simplify the build even more.

NeuroGig Faraday Cage Kit

Get in touch with our helpful team and we will recommend the best Faraday Cage solution for your project and send you a ready to build Faraday Cage Kit.

Buy a Kit

Need support with the assembly?

Our technicians would be happy to help in assembly of each cage panel and provide support with installation of the cage.

Open-Hardware Support

Openspritzer

The NeuroGig Open-Source Solution for precise delivery of picolitre volumes

The ability to precisely deliver picolitre volumes has always been a vital part of Biological research, until now this has required a significant investment of up to £4,500 into an established brand.

The Openspritzer (developed, described and published by Forman et al., 2017) serves as an alternative open-source micro-ejection/puffer system with similar performance and reliability that you would expect from leading brands, but at a fraction of the cost.

As with the more familiar models on the market, the Openspritzer is a self-contained system that has been designed to be intuitive, with simple functionality. Featuring a built-in ejection control system which is easily adjusted using a rotary switch you have complete control of the ejection duration; you also have the option of controlling the duration via a remotely generated TTL pulse. Ejection pressure is adjusted via the built-in regulator along with an accurate monitoring gauge. The Openspritzer is also supplied with a foot switch for added ease of operation.

NeuroGig's Open-Hardware Support now offers the Openspritzer, to order as a complete unit (component kit, plus assembly and testing). We can further leave the purchasing of the components to you, and have it delivered to our workshop to handle assembly, testing and installation/support.

Buy a Kit

Openspritzer Specifications

Valve Type -

114mA Fast switching Solenoid

MHE2-MS1H-32G-M7

Power supply -

24V DC supply for solenoid valve

Control -

1mA/5V Internally generated pulses from Arduino Nano microcontroller

Externally delivered TTL pulses via BNC connector

Foot switch -

Yes

Air regulator -

Festo LRP-1/4-4

TTL trains -

Yes, at 10Hz TTL train with altered line pressure generated action potentials, but not at 2 or 5Hz

*single puff of glutamate insufficient to activate action potential

Shortest command pulse -

2ms

*to reliably generate a detectable puff

*in comparison with 4ms for Picospritzer

Puff pressure -

0-4 bar

Line pressure -

1.4 bar

Precision -

Millisecond precision with highly conserved puff volumes

Tested for use -

*Evoking and suppression of action potentials

*In vitro whole cell patch clamp recordings

*Microinjections of infectious agents

*Viral delivery of opsins for optogenetics

*Single molecules to whole bacteria

*Inoculate brain tissue slices with BCG-GFP

*In rodent and human brain slices

Differences between Openspritzer and other commercially available options

1) A lateral offset between normalised peak intensities, where e.g. the Picospritzer can deliver smaller doses for a given puff duration

*this difference could also be due to small differences in pressure. Whilst both instruments were set to 1.4bar, there could be internal pneumatic differences in the complete systems

2) Variability of the dosage on repeated puffs

The Openspritzer sometimes delivers slightly higher doses at the same settings as the Picospritzer, but this could also be an artefact

*Openspritzer puffs were set at one second delays in between pulses whilst Picospritzer pulses were set and triggered manually

3) Absence of intermediate pressure to prevent back filling in the off state

*this function could easily be added with another regulator at port 3 of the solenoid valve

4) Vacuum holding capacity to hold cells in place

*this could easily be accomplished with another Openspritzer in tandem

5) Complete access to the source code for the control of the Openspritzer

*this provides users with an increased range of parameters for controlling timing and puff duration

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

The NeuroGig Open-Hardware Support service now has the complete kit for the Openspritzer to order. The kit includes all parts and materials in the correct amounts/sizes, for an efficient and cost-effective instrument assembly.

Request a Quote

Where can I access the Bill of Materials (BOM) for the Openspritzer?

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

If you would like to purchase the items directly from multiple suppliers, please let us know and we will send you the BOM.
Please remember that we are always happy to assist with assembly, testing and installation.

Send me the BOM

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

For more information on the Open-Hardware Support we offer, please see our short introduction video.
Please get in touch for an itemised quote for the Openspritzer, or book a meeting should you have any further questions.

Book a Meeting

Can you assist me with the assembly of the Openspritzer?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

Definitely. NeuroGig offers assembly, testing and a workmanship warranty. So, if you have already purchased the parts or the NeuroGig complete kit, but you struggle to find the time for the build or just don't have the patience...we are ready to help.

Get in Touch

Open-Hardware Support

Want to learn more?

Faraday Cage - Bill of Materials Calculator

How does this Calculator work?

Where do I buy the parts and materials required for the Faraday Cage?

NeuroGig Faraday Cage Kit

Need support with the assembly?

Download the Faraday Cage - Bill of Materials Calculator

Openspritzer

The NeuroGig Open-Source Solution for precise delivery of picolitre volumes

Openspritzer Specifications

Differences between Openspritzer and other commercially available options

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

Where can I access the Bill of Materials (BOM) for the Openspritzer?

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

Where can I purchase a kit including all the parts required for the build of the Openspritzer?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

Can you assist me with the assembly of the Openspritzer?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

How and where can I purchase the Openspritzer as a ready to use instrument?

More Open-Source Hardware coming soon...