Tungsten is a versatile and widely-used microelectrode material that offers a good balance between performance and cost.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Extremely strong and stiff metal provides probes with exceptional rigidity.
Great for acute and chronic recording due to biocompatibility and lower cost.
High corrosion resistance offers consistent long-term performance.
Does not provide the same degree of electrochemical performance or stability as platinum-iridium alloy, making it a poor alternative for microstimulation.
Lower charge transfer capacity of tungsten will result in larger, potentially unsafe interfacial potentials when applying the same stimulation current as to a platinum-iridium electrode.
Certain pH or stimulation conditions can lead to tungsten corrosion.
These Monopolar Microelectrodes of MicroProbes are also available in Platinum-Iridium, Elgiloy (an alloy similar to stainless steel), and Pure Iridium metal. As an alternative we provide them with a thin coat of Parylene-C insulation instead of the Polymide tubing. Each electrode is etched to a fine taper and tipped using a proprietary process to a specific impedance value. Four different tip profiles are available, see below.
The tip selection can provide subtle yet important changes to the performance of the electrode. It is recommended that first time users consider experimenting with different tip profiles to determine which works best for their recording or stimulation protocols.
Monopolar Electrodes, Tungsten, Standard Tip (75 µm × 3") With Polymide Tubing
Item
Length
Shaft Diameter
Tip Diameter
Impedance
Applications
Pkg of 10
WE3PT3X.XA3 (Assorted box)
76 mm
0.126 mm
2-3 µm
0.1 MΩ to 2.0 MΩ
General purpose recording
WE3PT30.01A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
0.01 MΩ
MultiUnit & ERP recording & Stim
WE3PT30.05A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
0.05 MΩ
WE3PT30.1A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
0.1 MΩ
WE3PT30.5A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
0.5 MΩ
Single & multiunit rec. & stim.
WE3PT31.0A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
1.0 MΩ
WE3PT31.5A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
1.5 MΩ
WE3PT32.0A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
2.0 MΩ
WE3PT32.5A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
2.5 MΩ
Greater Selectivity - Small Cells
WE3PT33.0A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
3.0 MΩ
WE3PT35.0A3
76 mm
0.126 mm
5.0 MΩ
Monopolar Electrodes, Tungsten, Standard Tip (125 µm × 3") With Polymide Tubing
Item
Length
Shaft Diameter
Tip Diameter
Impedance
Applications
Pkg of 10
WE3PT3X.XA5 (Assorted box)
76 mm
0.216 mm
2-3 µm
0.1 MΩ to 2.0 MΩ
General purpose recording
WE3PT30.01A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
0.01 MΩ
MultiUnit & ERP recording & Stim
WE3PT30.05A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
0.05 MΩ
WE3PT30.1A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
0.1 MΩ
WE3PT30.5A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
0.5 MΩ
Single & multiunit rec. & stim.
WE3PT31.0A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
1.0 MΩ
WE3PT31.5A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
1.5 MΩ
WE3PT32.0A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
2.0 MΩ
WE3PT32.5A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
2.5 MΩ
Greater Selectivity - Small Cells
WE3PT33.0A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
3.0 MΩ
WE3PT35.0A5
76 mm
0.216 mm
5.0 MΩ
Monopolar Electrodes, Tungsten, Standard Tip (250 µm × 3") With Polymide Tubing
Item
Length
Shaft Diameter
Tip Diameter
Impedance
Applications
Pkg of 10
WE3PT3X.XA10 (Assorted box)
76 mm
0.356 mm
2-3 µm
0.1 MΩ to 2.0 MΩ
General purpose recording
WE3PT30.01A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
0.01 MΩ
MultiUnit & ERP recording & Stim
WE3PT30.05A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
0.05 MΩ
WE3PT30.1A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
0.1 MΩ
WE3PT30.5A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
0.5 MΩ
Single & multiunit rec. & stim.
WE3PT31.0A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
1.0 MΩ
WE3PT31.5A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
1.5 MΩ
WE3PT32.0A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
2.0 MΩ
WE3PT32.5A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
2.5 MΩ
Greater Selectivity - Small Cells
WE3PT33.0A10
76 mm
0.356 mm
3.0 MΩ
Monopolar Electrodes, Tungsten, Standard Tip (125 µm × 5") With Polymide Tubing
Item
Length
Shaft Diameter
Tip Diameter
Impedance
Applications
Pkg of 10
WE5PT3X.XA5 (Assorted box)
127 mm
0.216 mm
2-3 µm
0.1 MΩ to 2.0 MΩ
General purpose recording
WE5PT30.01A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
0.01 MΩ
MultiUnit & ERP recording & Stim
WE5PT30.05A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
0.05 MΩ
WE5PT30.1A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
0.1 MΩ
WE5PT30.5A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
0.5 MΩ
Single & multiunit rec. & stim.
WE5PT31.0A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
1.0 MΩ
WE5PT31.5A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
1.5 MΩ
WE5PT32.0A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
2.0 MΩ
WE5PT32.5A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
2.5 MΩ
Greater Selectivity - Small Cells
WE5PT33.0A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
3.0 MΩ
WE5PT35.0A5
127 mm
0.216 mm
5.0 MΩ
Monopolar Electrodes, Tungsten, Standard Tip (250 µm × 5") With Polymide Tubing
Item
Length
Shaft Diameter
Tip Diameter
Impedance
Applications
Pkg of 10
WE5PT3X.XA10 (Assorted box)
127 mm
0.356 mm
2-3 µm
0.1 MΩ to 2.0 MΩ
General purpose recording
WE5PT30.01A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
0.01 MΩ
MultiUnit & ERP recording & Stim
WE5PT30.05A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
0.05 MΩ
WE5PT30.1A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
0.1 MΩ
WE5PT30.5A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
0.5 MΩ
Single & multiunit rec. & stim.
WE5PT31.0A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
1.0 MΩ
WE5PT31.5A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
1.5 MΩ
WE5PT32.0A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
2.0 MΩ
WE5PT32.5A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
2.5 MΩ
Greater Selectivity - Small Cells
WE5PT33.0A10
127 mm
0.356 mm
3.0 MΩ
Common Tip Profiles:
A - STANDARD TIP PROFILE The standard tip profile features a sharp yet robust point that offers versatile performance and an effective balance between penetration and durability.B - BLUNTED TIP PROFILE The blunted electrodes are engineered to have a more rounded, bullet-shaped tip. For many applications the blunted tip can offer superior stimulation performance.H - HEAT TREATED TAPERED TIP PROFILE The heat-treated electrodes are intended for those investigators who must penetrate their probes through tough membranes, such as the dura mater of larger mammals.F - EXTRA FINE TIP PROFILE The extra-fine tip profile features a significantly sharper taper as well as a thinner insulation layer.
