A Brain Implantable Microsystem with Hybrid RF/IR Telemetry for Advanced Neuroengineering Applications

A prototype cortical neural interface microsystem has been developed for brain implantable neuroengineering applications, featuring hybrid RF (radio- frequency) inductive and IR (infrared) optical telemetries. The system is aimed at neural recording from primates by converting cortical signals to a digital stream of IR light pulses, while acquiring clock signal and electrical power through RF induction. The implantable unit employs a flexible LCP (liquid crystal polymer) substrate for integration of analog, digital, and optoelectronic components, while adapting to the anatomical and physiological constraints of the environment. An ultra-low power analog CMOS chip, which includes preamplifier and multiplexing circuitry, is directly flip-chip bonded to the microelectrode array to form the immediate cortical neuroprobe device. A 16-channel version of the probe has been tested in various in-vivo animal experiments, including measurements of neural activity in somatosensory cortex of a rat.