A power-efficient analog integrated circuit for amplification and detection of neural signals

We present a neural amplifier that optimizes the trade-off between power consumption and noise performance down to the best so far reported. In the perspective of realizing a fully autonomous implantable system we also address the problem of spike detection by using a new simple algorithm and we discuss the implementation with analog integrated circuits. Implemented in 0.35-μm CMOS technology and with total current consumption of about 20 μA, the whole circuit occupies an area of 0.18 mm
²
. Reduced power consumption and small area make it suited to be used in chronic multichannel recording systems for neural prosthetics and neuroscience experiments.