CMOS front-end amplifier dedicated to monitor very low amplitude signal from implantable sensors

• Published in: Analog integrated circuits and signal processing Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 29 - 41
• Main Authors: Hum Y, Sawan, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2002
• ISSN: 0925-1030
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1020380912251

We describe in this paper a low-noise, low-power, and low-voltage analog front-end amplifier dedicated to very low amplitude signal recording and processing applications. Our main focus is acquiring action potentials from peripheral nerves to recuperate lost functions in paralyzed patients. Low noise and low DC offset are realized using the Chopper stabilization (CHS) technique. In addition, due to the use of a rail-to-rail input stage, low power supply (1.8 V) and wide common mode input range (01.8 V) are achieved also. It features a gain of 51 dB and a bandwidth of 4.5 kHz. The equivalent input noise is about 56 nV/sq rt(rm Hz). The proposed preamplifier includes a matching clock generator, a fourth-order continuous-time low-pass filter and an instrumentation amplifier. The proposed design has been implemented in 0.35-m double-poly n-well CMOS process with an active die area of 450 x 1150 sq m. The total data acquisition device consumes only 775 W. (Author)