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A Low-Power Current-Reuse Analog Front-End for High-Density Neural Recording Implants
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems
|March 24, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a novel, low-power analog front-end (AFE) for scalable in vivo brain activity recording. The new design achieves ultra-low noise and power consumption, enabling detailed neuron interaction studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Electrical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Simultaneous recording of bioelectrical signals from multiple microelectrodes is crucial for studying in vivo brain activity and neuron interactions.
- Existing analog front-end (AFE) designs face challenges in scalability, power consumption, and noise performance for high-density neural recordings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable, low-power analog front-end (AFE) for in vivo brain activity monitoring.
- To improve upon existing current-reuse amplifier topologies in terms of power consumption, noise, and silicon area.
- To demonstrate the AFE's capability in successfully recording low-amplitude extracellular action potentials.
Main Methods:
- Design and implementation of a novel current-reuse analog front-end (AFE) featuring a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and programmable gain amplifier (PGA) using a new fully differential current-mirror topology.
- Utilized T-network capacitive circuits to reduce input capacitor size and enhance gain accuracy.
- Fabricated a four-channel AFE prototype in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology for proof-of-concept validation.
Main Results:
- Achieved a theoretical noise efficiency factor (NEF) as low as 1.01, the lowest reported for an LNA topology.
- Measured performance includes 9 μW total power consumption per channel (4.5 μW for LNA, 4.5 μW for PGA) with 3.2 μVrms input-referred noise, yielding a measured NEF of 1.94.
- The AFE offers three selectable gains (35.04, 43.1, 49.5 dB), occupies 0.072 mm² per channel, and exhibits 54 dB inter-channel rejection.
Conclusions:
- The proposed current-reuse AFE offers a significant advancement in scalable, low-power neural recording systems.
- Demonstrated successful in vivo recording of low-amplitude extracellular action potentials from mouse hippocampus, validating its utility for neuroscience research.
- The AFE's compact size, low power, and excellent noise performance make it suitable for large-scale neural interface applications.
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