A Multichannel High-Frequency Power-Isolated Neural Stimulator With Crosstalk Reduction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Electrical crosstalk is a significant limitation in multielectrode array stimulation for neuroprostheses.
• Simultaneous stimulation on multichannel arrays is crucial for advanced neuroprosthetic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and present a multichannel stimulator that minimizes electrical crosstalk.
• To enable fully independent operation and flexible neural modulation protocols.

Main Methods:

• Developed a multichannel stimulator combining high-frequency current stimulation with a biphasic charge-balanced chopped pulse profile.
• Integrated a switched-capacitor power isolation method for reduced crosstalk.
• Fabricated the stimulator using 0.6 μm CMOS high-voltage technology.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant crosstalk reduction with electrodes in physiological media.
• Validated the efficacy of the high-frequency stimulator chip through in vivo experiments.
• Achieved fully independent operation across multiple stimulation channels.

Conclusions:

• The proposed design effectively minimizes crosstalk in multichannel neuroprosthetic stimulators.
• The high-frequency, power-isolated stimulator is suitable for fully integrated realization.
• This technology offers enhanced performance and flexibility for neural modulation applications.