Abstract
A fully-differential bandpass CMOS preamplifier for extracellular neural recording is presented in this paper. The capacitive-coupled and capacitive-feedback topology is adopted. We describe the main noise sources of the proposed preamplifier and discuss the methods for achieving the lowest input-referred noise. The preamplifier has a midband gain of 43 dB and a DC gain of 0. The −3 dB upper cut-off frequency of the preamplifier is 6.8 kHz. The lower cut-off frequency can be adjusted for amplifying the field or action potentials located in different bands. It has an input-referred noise of 3.36 μVrms integrated from 1 Hz to 6.8 kHz for recording the local field potentials (LFPs) and the mixed neural spikes with a power dissipation of 24.75 μW from 3.3 V supply. When the passband is configured as 100 Hz-6.8 kHz for only recording spikes, the noise is measured to be 3.01 μVrms. The 0.115 mm2 prototype chip is designed and fabricated in 0.35-μm N-well CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) 2P4M process.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hochberg L R, Serruya M D, Friehs G M, et al. Neural ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia. Nature, 2006, 442: 164–171
Nicolelis M. Brain-machine interface: Past, present and future. Trends Neurosci, 2006, 29: 536–545
Bai Q, Wise K, Anderson R. A high-yield micro-assembly structure for three-dimensional electrode arrays. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2000, 47: 281–289
Nordhausen C, Maynard E, Normann R. Single unit recording capabilities of a 100-microelectrode array. Brain Rev, 1996, 726: 129–140
Jochum T, Denison T, Wolf P. Integrated circuit amplifiers for multi-electrode intracortical recording. J Neural Eng, 2009, 6: 1–26
Harrison R, Charles C. A low-power low-noise CMOS amplifier for neural recording applications. IEEE J Solid State Circ, 2003, 38: 958–965
Najafi K, Wise K. An implantable multielectrode array with on-chip signal processing. IEEE J Solid State Circ, 1986, 21: 1035–1044
Olsson R, Wise K. A three-dimensional neural recording microsystem with implantable data compression circuitry. IEEE J Solid State Circ, 2005, 40: 2796–2804
Aziz J, Genov R, Derchansky M, et al. 256-channel neural recording microsystem with on-chip 3D electrodes. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, San Francisco, USA, 2007. 160–161
Harrison R, Greger B, Solzbacher F. A low-power integrated circuit for a wireless 100-electrode neural recording system. IEEE J Solid State Circ, 2007, 42: 123–133
Sodagar A, Wise K, Najafi K. A fully integrated mixed-signal neural processor for implantable multichannel cortical recording. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2007, 54: 1075–1088
Mohseni P, Najafi K. A battery-powered 8-channel wireless FM IC for biopotential recording applications. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, San Francisco, USA, 2005. 560–561
Wattanapanitch W, Fee M, Sarpeshkar R. An energy-efficient micropower neural recording amplifier. IEEE Trans Biomed Circ Syst, 2007, 1: 136–147
Farshchi S, Judy J. Low-noise amplifier circuit for embedded elecrophysiological recording with adjustable gain and high-pass filtering. In: Proceedings of the 16th Biennial University/Government/Industry Microelectronics Symposium, San Jose, USA, 2006. 105–108
Chen D, Harris J, Principe J. A bio-amplifier with pulse output. In: Proceedings of International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, San Francisco, USA, 2004. 4071–4074
Chae M, Liu W, Sivaprakasam M. Design optimization for integrated neural recording systems. IEEE J Solid State Circ, 2008, 43: 1931–1939
Olsson R, Gulari M, Wise K. A fully-integrated bandpass amplifier for extracellular neural recording. In: Proceedings of Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Conference on Neural Engineering, Capri Island, ltaly, 2003. 165–168
Harrison R. A versatile integrated circuit for the acquisition of biopotentials. In: Proceedings of IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, San Jose, USA, 2007. 115–122
Holleman J, Otis B. A sub-microwatt low-noise amplifier for neural recording. In: Proceedings of International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Lyon, France, 2007. 3930–3933
Gosselin B, Sawan M, Chapman A. A low-power integrated bioamplifier with active low-frequency suppression. IEEE Trans Biomed Circ Syst, 2007, 3: 184–192
Liu W, Jin X, Hu C, et al. BSIM3v3.2.2 MOSFET Model User’s Manual, 2005
Razavi B. Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. 212–213
Enz C, Krummenacher F, Vittoz E. An analytical MOS transistor model valid in all regions of operation and dedicated to low-voltage and low-current applications. Anal Integr Circ Signal Process, 1995, 8: 83–114
Nemirovsky Y, Brouk I, Jakobson C. 1/f noise in CMOS transistor for analog applications. IEEE Trans Electron Device, 2001, 48: 921–927
Aghtar S, Haslett J, Trofimenkoff F. Subthreshold analysis of an MOS analog switch. IEEE Trans Electron Device, 1997, 44: 89–97
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, X., Pei, W., Huang, B. et al. A low-noise fully-differential CMOS preamplifier for neural recording applications. Sci. China Inf. Sci. 55, 441–452 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-011-4333-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-011-4333-5