Development of chip-less and wireless neural probe functioning stimulation and reading in a single device

作者：Kim Hyunsoo; Yves Petronil; Lee Keekeun^*

来源：Microelectronic Engineering, 2016, 158: 118-125.

DOI：10.1016/j.mee.2016.03.060

• Neural probe
• Neural stimulation
• Wireless reading
• SAW
• Reflective delay line

A chip-less, wireless neural probe system was developed for stimulation of neurons and for reading of neural communications in the brain. The developed neural probe system is composed of a one-port surface acoustic wave (SAW) reflective delay line, neural firing-dependent ferroelectric capacitor, two antennas, and a network analyzer for reading of neural communications, as well as Schottky diode,,static capacitor, and sharp metal tip for stimulation of neurons. The one-port SAW reflective delay line replaces existing wireless transceiver system composed of similar to 5000 electronic components and makes chip-less, wireless interrogation system possible. The probe for reading of neural signals employs PVDF ferroelectric capacitor which changes polarization and volume depending on neural firings. A 43 nH inductor was also connected between one-port SAW reflective delay line and reading probe to obtain a large linearity and high sensitivity through impedance matching effect. As electrical pulses imitating neural signals were applied to the reading probe at a 0.9% saline solution, amplitude changes in the reflection peaks were observed depending on the magnitude of applied electrical pulses. Good linearity and sensitivity were observed at the amplitude variations in terms of electrical pulses. The probe system for stimulation of neurons consists of Schottky diode, capacitor, and sharp metal probe. By modulating RF input power and the number of cycle from interrogator, stimulation amplitude and duration time of the resultant output pulses are manipulated. Coupling-of-mode (COM) modeling was also performed to predict device performances and to find optimal device parameters.

• 出版日期2016-6-1