A Wireless Implantable Opto-Electro Neural Interface ASIC for Simultaneous Neural Recording and Stimulation

Linran Zhao, Yan Gong, Wei Shi, Raymond Stephany, Wen Li, Yaoyao Jia

Abstract: Recent advances in optogenetics enable optical stimulation that uses light to reversibly control the activity of the genetically targeted specific neurons. Optical stimulation has distinct advantages of cell specificity, high temporal precision, and rapid reversibility, compared to electrical stimulation [1] –[4]. LEDs typically require high instantaneous current in the order of mA level to emit sufficient light for effective optical stimulation. Such a power-consuming function will challenge wireless power transmission. Wireless operation in terms of power delivery and data transmission is highly desired for eliminating tethers, batteries, and limitations during in vivo studies. Thus, energy-efficiency optical stimulation circuits are required. In addition, the stimulation-induced artifacts can corrupt neural recording and lead to saturation of sensing frontend (SFE) circuits. Neural interface ASIC for simultaneous neural recording and stimulation requires an SFE that can tolerate large artifacts. Hence, we present a novel wireless implantable opto-electro (WIOE) neural interface ASIC with features of artifact-tolerant SFE, energy-efficient optical stimulation, and wireless and battery-free operation.