Subcutaneous Transmitter (A3047) Manual

Contents

Description

[07-JUN-25] The Subcutaneous Transmitter (A3047) is an implantable telemetry sensor for small animals. It provides amplification and filtering for up to four independent biopotentials as well as a body temperature measurement. When equipped with a CR2330 battery, its mass is 6.7 g, making it suitable for implantation in adult rats. All versions of the A3047 operate within our Telemetry System. All of them turn on and fof with a magnet.

Figure: Subcutaneous Transmitter A3047A3D-C. Pink and Brown are X1+ and X1−, 200 mm long for EMG. Yellow and Green are X2+ and X2−, 100 mm long for ECG. Orange and Purple are X3+ and X3−, 100 mm long for EGG. Red and Blue are X4+ and GND, 200 mm for EEG. The X4 channel always uses the GND input as its reference potential. All leads have bare wire terminations.

The A3047 can be equipped with as few as two and as many as eight leads for detecting biopotentials. All versions are equipped with a loop antenna in addition to the leads. One lead is always a low-impedance ground connection, which we call GND. This lead is always blue. Channel X4 uses the GND lead as its reference potential. The ground lead anchors the potential of the transmitter to the animal body. We must attach the ground lead to some part of the host animal. The cerabellum is a popular ground potential location because we can anchor the ground lead to the skull, which stops the ground potential being corrupted by movement artifact. Amplifiers X1, X2, and X3 each have two input connections Xn+ and Xn−. We can connect these to two points in the animal body to measure an independent potential, or we can leave one of them disconnected, in which case there will be no lead present for that input, and the A3047 amplifier will connect that disconnected input to GND. We can have four amplifiers sharing the same GND reference potential, or we can have four amplifiers with separate reference potentials, or some combination of the two.

Figure: Subcutaneous Transmitter A3047A2C-B. All four channels X1-X4, these being pink, yellow, orange, and red respectively, share the same reference potential, GND, which is blue. All leads have bare wire terminations.

The A3047's thermometer is on the bottom side of the circuit board, opposite the battery. It's absolute accuracy is ±1.0°C and its stability and precision are better than ±0.1°C. With a one-point calibration at 37°C, the absolute accuracy improves to ±0.1°C. We use a processor like this in the Neuroplayer to translate the A3047's sixteen-bit output into a temperature, after which we can subtract an offset to obtain a calibrated measurement.

The A3047 transmits on up to five telemetry channels. Each analog input uses one channel and the thermometer, if enabled, uses one channel. These channel numbers will always be consecutive. The first channel number we call the base channel number. The label on the device will specify a batch number and the base channel number. The other telemetry channels are those immediately following the base channel number. The base channel number can be even or odd. All versions of the A3047 are covered by a one-year warranty against corrosion and manufacturing defect.

Ordering

[06-JUN-25] There are many possible configurations of the A3047 SCT. Each configuration becomes an established "version" when we manufacture it for a customer. We list the available A3047 versions in the section below. You will find our latest prices in our Price List. To determine which SCT is best for your application, feel free to consult the OSI Chatbot. To obtain a quotation for manufacture and delivery, or to ask us questions directly, please email us at info@opensouresintruments.com.

Versions

[02-JUL-25] The following versions of the A3047 are defined. We define new versions upon request. The full part number is of the form "A3047VnG-L", where capital letter V specifies the battery, number n specifies the sample rates of the four channels, capital letter G specifies the bandwidth and gain of each channel, capital letter L specifies the configuration of the leads. We use the table below to translate VnG codes into transmitter characteristics. The L code we present a separate Leads table. The operating life is the minimum time for which a newly-made transmitter will operate continuously. The shelf life is the time the transmitter can remain turned off in storage and still retain 90% of its operating life. For each analog input we specify the bandwidth, sample rate, input dynamic range in millivolts, and channel number offset. The channel number offset is the value we add to the base channel number of the device to obtain the channel number of the signal.

The sample rate of any one A3047 input must be an even power of two. Furthermore, if the inputs have different sample rates, the total sample rate must also be an even power of two. These restrictions are necessary to avoid cross-talk between the amplifiers and synchronous noise generated by the logic. If we try to make a transmitter with sample rates 512 SPS, 256 SPS, 128 SPS, and 64 SPS, we will see sustained, synchronous noise at 64 Hz of amplitude up to 10-40 μVpp in all four channels. We can, however, make a three-input version with the same sample rate on all three inputs. What is the sample rate of an A3047? What are the restrictions on sample rate in the A3047 inputs?

For each analog input we specify the bandwidth, sample rate, dynamic range, and channel number offset. In terms of ADC counts, the dynamic range is always 0-65535, as produced by the A3047's sixteen-bit ADC. The zero-value of an input is the sample we obtain when we short the input to its reference potential. The zero-value depends upon the battery voltage, VB, according to zero-value = 1.8 V · 65535 / VB. The dynamic range is the battery voltage divided by the gain of the amplifier. When we specify dynamic range, we assume VB = 3.0 V, which is true for almost the entire life of the lithium batteries we use with the A3047. When the amplifier gain is 100, the dynamic range is 30 mV and spans −18 mV to +12 mV.

For the thermometer, we specify the sample rate and the channel number offset. All thermometers provide the same accuracy and precision. We read out and digitize the temperature measurement with a fourteen-bit ADC. We add two zeros to the end of the fourteen-bit value to obtain a sixteen-bit value. The quantization step four our temperature measurement is four sixteen-bit ADC counts. The sensitivity of the digitized value to temperature is −5.25 mK/cnt. Because the minimum chnage in the sixteen-bit ADC value is four counts, the resolution of the thermometer is four times the magnitude of the sensitivity, or 0.021°C.

See the Battery Life chapter of our telemetry manual for an explanation of how operating life of A3047-family SCTs varies mass and sample rate. In almost all cases, we set the sample rate of an input equal to 3.2*B, where B is the bandwidth in Hz. This sample rate makes it possible for the low-pass filter to provide 20 dB attenuation at one half the sample rate, which is 1.6*B. Frequencies above one half the sample rate will be distorted by sampling, but the 20-dB attenuition ensures that such signals do not corrupt the signal we record from the SCT's passband.

See our Electrode Catalog for a list of available lead terminations, and also for a presentation of the various depth electrodes to which these terminations can be attached. See our Leads Table for a description of our several types of insulated, helical steel leads. See our Antennas table for a description of the various types of antenna we can deploy on our implants.

Analog Inputs

[08-JUN-25] The A3047 has nine pads for wires. One is reserved for the radio-frequency antenna. The other eight are analog inputs. The antenna lead is a stranded stainless steel wire insulated with clear silicone and tied in a loop. Its tip is joined to the base of the GND lead on the opposide side of the transmitter by a heat shring sleave and a silicone coating. The GND lead is always present, and must be connected to the host animal somewhere.

Figure: Analog Input Pads. There is no X4− pad because the X4 channel always uses GND as its reference.

We specify for each analog input its absolute dynamic range, which is the difference between the high and low potentials at which the amplifier saturates. The table below gives these high and low potentials for each standard A3049 input dynamic range.

The GND lead is the low-impedance ground potential for the amplifier inputs. The X1, X2, and X3 amplifiers will use GND as their reference potential if we leave their inverting inputs, X1−, X2−, and X−, disconnected. The A3047A2C-B is an example of an A3047 SCT in which all four amplifiers use GND as their reference. It requires only five leads.

Figure: Frequency Response of a single A3047A3D-C. The amplifiers in the A3D-C are: X1 2-80 Hz, 30 mV, X2 2-80 Hz 60 mV, X3 0.0-40 Hz 120 mV, X4 0.0-160 Hz 120 mV.

During our final quality control, we measure the frequency response of every A3047 amplifier. We apply a sinusoidal to all inputs and plot the amplitude of the transmitted signal versus frequency. You will find a database of such plots here.

Figure: Frequency Response of a Batch of A3047A1B-A SCTs. The amplifiers in the A1B are: X2 2-80 Hz 60 mV, X3 0.0-40 Hz 120 mV, X4 0.0-160 Hz 120 mV. The X1 amplifier is not used.

When we drop a transmitter in water and we allow the water to settle until it is still, we will see on our analog inputs the sum of two electrical signals. One is electrical noise generated by the transmitter circuit. The other is chemical noise generated by the electrode metals reacting with the water. With 316SS electrodes, no solder joints, the chemical noise is negligible. Analog inputs with dynamic range 30 mV will see roughly 5 μV of electrical noise in the range 1-160 Hz.

Figure: Spectrum of Electrical Noise Generated by Channel X4 in A3047A3D-C. These channels are 0.0-160 Hz, 120 mV range. We take the spectrum of a 32-s interval and plot in the Neuroplayer. Total noise is 5 μV rms.

In the figure below, we are driving each input of an A3047A3D-C with a 15-mVpp square wave. The step response of the amplifiers reveals not only the amplifier gain but also its passband. We test DC transmitters with slow square waves to confirm that they respond down to 0.0 Hz.

Figure: Step Response of A3047A3D to 15-mVpp Square Wave. Duration: 1 s. Range: 0-65535 counts. Brown: X1, 30 mV, 2-80 Hz. Salmon: X2, 60 mV, 2-80 Hz. Blue-Gray: X3, 120 mV, 0.0-20 Hz. Black: X5, 120 mV, 0.0-160 Hz. Gray: Temperature, 64 SPS.

In the following figure, we are driving each input of an A3047A1A-A with a 50-mVpp triangle wave. The triangle wave drives the X3 into saturation on both sides of the dynamic range, and drives X2 and X4 close to their limits. As the figure shows, the amplifiers are able to drive their outputs right to the positive and negative supply voltages. We see the X3 signal clipped on top and bottom, and also distorted after emerging from saturation. The current consumption of the amplifiers rises when their outputs are saturating. If, during the course of a DC recording, the amplifier output drifts out of range and saturates, its current consumption will increase from around 2 μA to 50 μA, which will causes a significant decrease in operating life. It is important, therefore, to make sure that our DC transmitters have sufficient dynamic range to accommodate the largest galvanic potentials our electrodes are going to generate during the course of a long recording.

Figure: Response of A3047A1A-A to 50-mVpp Triangle Wave. Duration: 4 s. Range: 0-65535 counts. Magenta: X2 60 mV 0.16-80 Hz, Brown: X3 range 30 mV 0.0-40 Hz, Salmon: X4 60 mV 0.0-160 Hz.

Each of the amplifiers X1-X4 are equipped with non-inverting and inverting inputs so as to permit a differential voltage measurment. The X4 inverting input is always GND, and GND must always be connected to the host animal's body. If we make no connection to the inverting input of the other three amplifiers, they will also use the GND potential as their inverting input. If we connect both inverting and non-inverting inputs to the same signal, their difference is zero, and the ideal amplifier output will be equal to the zero-value. Our amplifiers are not ideal, as we demonstrate with the following experiment. We connect X4+ and GND of an A3047A1A to the ground of our signal generator. We connect X2+, X2−, X3+, and X3− together and drive them all with the same 20 mVpp sine wave to measure the common mode gain of X2 and X3. We then connect X2− and X3− to GND to measure the differential gain. We divide the differential gain by the common mode gain to obtain the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR). We vary the frequency of the sinusoid to obtain the following plot of CMRR versus frequency.

Figure: Common Mode Rejection Ratio (dB) of the A3047 Amplifiers versus Frequency (Hz). We plot the amplitude of X2 and X3 in an A3047A1A as a Function of Frequency. We apply a 20-mVpp common-mode and differential sweep.

For common-mode signals below 7 Hz, common-mode signals will be attenuated at least a factor of one hundred. In the recording below, we have an A3047A1B-A immersed completely in a beaker saline. The X3 leads are on one side of the beaker and the X4 leads are on the other side. After a while, we see a chemical artifact on X4. This artifact is generated by a galvanic reaction on the metal at the exposed end of either the X+ or the GND lead. During the artifact, the X4 potential drops by 70 mV in a few seconds and returns to zero in two minutes. The potential of the saline with respect to the GND electrode must drop by 35 mV and recover in two minuts. So we have a 35-mV common-mode signal applied to the X+ and X− electrodes on the other side of the beaker. The drop in X3 is less than 10 μV, suggesting CMRR of roughly 80 dB for slow artifacts like these.

Figure: Chemical Artifact on X4 (Brown) but Not X3 (Pink) in an A3047A1B-A. Disturbance of X3 is <10 μV while X4 drops 70 mV. What is the common mode rejection ration of the A3047 inputs?

The distortion of a signal by an SCT is the extent to which the SCT alters the shape of its sinusoidal components. We apply a 20 mVpp sinusoid to X1 (0.0-160 Hz, 60 mV) and X3 (0.0-40 Hz, 120 mV) of an A3047BV2. We vary the frequency from 0.25 Hz to 200 Hz. For each frequency, we obtain the spectrum of the signal and measure the power outside the sinusoidal frequency as a fraction of the sinusoidal power using this script. We express the result in parts per million.

Figure: Distortion of 10-mVpp Sinusoid by A3047BV2 versus Frequency. As measured for A3047BV2 inputs X1 and X3. Distortion power in parts per million of signal power. Sine wave generated by BK Precision 4053B, specified total harmonic distortion <1 ppm.

The distortion of the X is dominated by random electronic noise. As we leave the pass-band of each amplifier, we see the apparant distortion increase because the amplifier's low-pass filter is attenuating the input. We see a second harmonic in the spectrum of a sixteen-second interval, as shown below, but the amplitude of this harmonic is below the maximum amplitude specified by our function generator, so it could be a genuine feature of our input signal.

Figure: Spectrum with 10-Hz, 10-mVpp Sinusoid. Horizonal: 5 Hz/div. Vertical: 0.4 μV/div. The fundamental harmonic amplitude is 4000 μV. The second harmonic amplitude at 20 Hz is 1.6 μV

The A3047 samples its signals uniformly, thus eliminating the scatter noise present in earlier transmitters such as the A3013, A3019, and A3028.

Thermometer

[11-NOV-24] The A3047 thermometer is on the bottom side of the board, on the opposite side from the battery. When we implant the A3047, the most natural orientation of the device is to place the battery facing outwards. The thermometer faces inwards, with a thin layer of epoxy and silicone between it and the animal's body temperature.

Figure: Subcutaneous Transmitter A3047A1A-A Before Encapsulation, Showing Location of Thermometer.

The absolute accuracy of the A3047's thermometer is ±1°C. Its stability and precision are better than ±0.1°C. When recording from an A3047, the NDF archive will contain the sixteen-bit temperature values in their own signal channel. We can translate these values into Centigrade using an interval processor. We can export the temperature signal to an EDF file, and in doing so perform the translation to Centigrade using the EDF header.

The temperature measurement transmitted by the A3047 is a sixteen bit number, but the lowest two bits are always zero. Nominal measurement at 25.0°C is 35226. The slope of its response is −190.5 cnt/K, or −5.25 mK/cnt. The noise is 5 cnt rms or 25 mK. The figure below gives sample value versus temperature, assuming nominal values for the temperature sensor itself and the power supply voltage to the analog to digital converter.

Figure: Typical Thermometer Sample Value versus Temperature for A3047 SCTs. We take the values from the data sheet, assume VC = 1.803 V, and digitize to sixteen bits.

To transform the sample value into a temperature, we use the tabulated values above, which we obtain by combining the manufacturer's data sheet, our measurement of the on-board reference potential VC = 1.803 V, and the linearity of the converter. In Tcl code we can assign the tabulated values to a table string and use our lwdaq linear interpolation routine to obtain the temperature, like so:

set T_table "41767 -10 39910 0 38044 10 36168 20 34285 30 32393 40 30492 50 28583 60"
lwdaq linear_interpolate 34970 $T_table
26.362188

If we find that the value obtained by the above calculation is offset from the correct value at our operating temeprature, we can subtract the offset from our calculated value and be confident that our adjusted measurement will be accurate to ±0.1°C within ±5°C of our operating temperature.

Figure: European Data Format (EDF) Export Configuration for Biopotential and Temperature Signals Produced by the A3047A1A SCT. How do I export A3047 SCT temperature measurements to an EDF file? How can I translate A3047 SCT temperature to Centigrade automatically?

When exporting from NDF to EDF in the Neuroplayer, we write into the EDF header a minimum and maximum value for temperature that directs our EDF viewer to provide an accurate translation of the raw measurements in the temperature range we are most interested in studying. In the case of animal body temperature, we set the temperature at the minimum measurement value to be 211.9°C and the temperature at the maximum measurement value to be −136°C.

Figure: European Data Format (EDF) Export of Voltages, Temperature, and Activity. These are taken from our EDF_Demo.zip recording. Magenta: X1 voltage. Brown: X2 voltage. Green: X3 voltages. Red: Temperature. Purple: Activity.

The above plots are derived from our EDF_Demo.zip example recording. To view EDF files, we use the free software EDF Browser.

Figure: Thermometer Moved into Warm Water. T1-T4: RTDs. Ts: SCT. Stirring 0-1 min, no stirring after.

The thermometer on the A3047 is the LMT70, a 0.9-mm square component on the bottom side of the transmitter circuit. The battery is loaded on the top side. When implanted, the thermometer is separated from the animal's body by approximately one millimeter thickness of epoxy and silicone. The A3047A1 transmits 128 SPS of temperature measurements. Measurement noise 25 mK rms. The speed with which the thermometer responds to changes in ambient temperature is dominated by the heat capacity of the transmitter. For the A3037A, with its CR2330 battery, the time constant is one minute in water.

Battery Voltage

[18-JUN-25] We refer you to the Battery Voltage chapter of our Telemetry Manual for a discussion of how we can measure an A3047's battery voltage during operation.

Battery Life

[30-JUN-25] Our A3047 SCTs are equipped with non-rechargeable lithium coin cells. The operating life of an A3047 how long it can amplify and transmit its input voltages when starting with a fresh battery. The shelf life of an A3047 is how long it can wait on the shelf in its sleep state before it has used 10% of its battery capacity. We specify the minimum operating life and shelf life of A3047-family SCTs in the A3047 Version Table. We provide a detailed discussion of SCT operating life in the Battery Life chapter of our Telemetry Manual. Here we present tables and measurements specific to the A3047 family.

The active current consumption of A3047 increases linearly with sample rate, but also varies from one A3047 to another. For each version of the A3047, there is a maximum active current that we will accept during quality control. The minimum operating life of this version is its nominal battery capacity divided by its maximum active current. To see how we calculate the maximum active current of a particular A3047 version, see the Battery Life chapter of our Telemetry Manual.

Implantation

[17-JUN-25] See the Implantation chapter of our Telemetry Manual for a presentation of implantation protocols for the A3047 and other families of implantable devices.

Synchronization

[17-JUN-25] When we want to mark in our recordings the time at which some event took place, such as the start of a video recording or the moment a stimulus was delivered, we can use an auxiliary SCT to add a synchronizing signal to our recording. See the Synchronization chapter of the Telemetry Manual for details.

Encapsulation

[29-NOV-23] All versions of the A3047 are encapsulated in black epoxy and coated with silicone. The silicone is "unrestricted medical grade" MED-6607, meaning it is approved for implants of unlimited duration in any animal, humans included. The A3047's leads and antenna are encapsulated with dyed silicone, then coated with the same unrestricted medical grade silicone. The only materials the transmitter and its leads present to the host animal's body are either unrestricted medical grade silicone or stainless steel. When we solder screws or pins to the ends of the leads, there is also solder. Solder reacts slowly with saline, so solder joints must be protected from body fluids by an insulating layer of cement during implantation.

Design and Development

[09-JUN-25] For design files and development logbook, see the A3047 design and development page at D3047.