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One of KonteX’s core philosophies is value-centric design. While our primary goal is to achieve the best performance (e.g., the smallest headstage), we carefully evaluate trade-offs to find an optimal balance. For the X-Headstage™, we researched commercially available connectors and compared them to the miniature, challenging-to-use Omnetics connectors to identify the most suitable interface for our data acquisition system. The µHDMI connector emerged as an ideal choice: it is readily available, cost-effective, has a sufficient number of pins, features a keyed orientation plug-in design, and is relatively compact. Although not smaller or lighter than Omnetics connectors, the µHDMI connector’s size and weight are comparable and do not limit overall miniaturization.

The widespread use of HDMI connectors ensures their mechanical reliability. In electrophysiology research, researchers often face challenges with connector alignment and force when plugging in devices for data collection. Omnetics connectors, while standard for awake and behaving research, can be difficult to handle due to their small size and high pin density. Mistakes during the plug-in process can lead to damage to expensive equipment or even the premature termination of experiments if the head cap or implant falls off. This often necessitates anesthetizing the animal, which can be time-consuming and impact performance in cognitive tasks. The HDMI X-Headstage™, by contrast, offers a straightforward and stress-free connection with its reliable lock-in feedback and keyed orientation, making data collection more dependable compared to the 12-pin Omnetics alternative.

KonteX also ensured that the communication path of the X-Headstage™ is largely compatible with standard HDMI systems, allowing some consumer HDMI cables to be used with the X-Headstage™ and XDAQ™. Our $50 HDMI cable is as flexible as the blue Intan SPI cable, which helps manage the cost of consumables. However, not all consumer HDMI cables are compatible, so it is crucial to use only KonteX’s validated stock HDMI cable to ensure compatibility with the XDAQ™.

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