An Ultra-Low-Noise, Low Power and Miniaturized Dual-Channel Wireless Neural Recording Microsystem

• Published in: Biosensors (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 8; p. 613
• Main Authors: Wang, Haochuan, Ma, Qian, Chen, Keming, Zhang, Hanqing, Yang, Yinyan, Zheng, Nenggan, Hong, Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 08.08.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Bandwidths; Bluetooth; Bluetooth technology; Efficiency; full-differential front-end structure; Health aspects; hierarchical microassembly technology; Low noise; low-power system; Methods; Miniaturization; Nervous system; Neural recording; Neurons; Noise; Noise levels; Operational amplifiers; Power; Power consumption; Power management; Recording; Semiconductors; system miniaturization; ultra-low noise; Wireless communications; wireless neural recording; China; United States > US; Texas
• ISSN: 2079-6374; 2079-6374
• DOI: 10.3390/bios12080613

As the basic tools for neuroscience research, invasive neural recording devices can obtain high-resolution neuronal activity signals through electrodes connected to the subject’s brain. Existing wireless neural recording devices are large in size or need external large-scale equipment for wireless power supply, which limits their application. Here, we developed an ultra-low-noise, low power and miniaturized dual-channel wireless neural recording microsystem. With the full-differential front-end structure of the dual operational amplifiers (op-amps), the noise level and power consumption are notably reduced. The hierarchical microassembly technology, which integrates wafer-level packaged op-amps and the miniaturized Bluetooth module, dramatically reduces the size of the wireless neural recording microsystem. The microsystem shows a less than 100 nV/Hz ultra-low noise level, about 10 mW low power consumption, and 9 × 7 × 5 mm3 small size. The neural recording ability was then demonstrated in saline and a chronic rat model. Because of its miniaturization, it can be applied to freely behaving small animals, such as rats. Its features of ultra-low noise and high bandwidth are conducive to low-amplitude neural signal recording, which may help advance neuroscientific discovery.