A multi-channel peripheral nerve stimulator with integrate-and-fire encoding.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Prosthetics

Background:

• Advanced prosthetic limbs require neural stimulators for tactile and proprioceptive feedback.
• High spatial selectivity, dynamic range, and resolution are crucial for effective peripheral nervous system (PNS) fiber activation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-channel application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for PNS fiber activation.
• To enable encoding of external pressure signals for sensory feedback in prosthetics.

Main Methods:

• A novel multi-channel ASIC was designed with a wide dynamic range (10 nA-5 mA) and high resolution (30 nA step, 100 ns pulse accuracy).
• The ASIC was tested for PNS fiber activation, encoding pressure signals via an integrate-and-fire method.
• Electrophysiological data of compound nerve action potentials were recorded to benchmark ASIC performance.

Main Results:

• The developed ASIC demonstrated precise current stimulation with low power consumption (0.73-2.75 mW at 3 V).
• The ASIC successfully encoded external pressure signals, mimicking sensory input.
• Performance benchmarking confirmed the ASIC's efficacy compared to existing neural stimulators.

Conclusions:

• The developed ASIC offers a promising solution for advanced bidirectional prosthetic limbs.
• This technology can significantly enhance sensory feedback, improving user experience and control.
• The ASIC's capabilities pave the way for more intuitive and responsive prosthetic devices.