Sub-μW Front-End Low Noise Amplifier for Neural Recording Applications

Multi-channel neural recording systems are more and more required for neuroscience research and to cope with neurological disorders. Such systems are based on brain-implantable integrated devices with stringent requirements on supply voltage, power consumption and area footprint. A very low power, low noise fully differential front-end amplifier for neural signals processing is presented in this paper. The proposed amplifier architecture exploits two fully differential OTAs with Arbel topology operating in sub-threshold, and allows AC coupling with a high offset electrode while guaranteeing a very low high-pass cut-off frequency without increasing the equivalent input noise. The neural recording front-end has been designed referring to a 0.13-μm CMOS process. The proposed amplifier operates with a supply voltage as low as 0. 3V with a mid-band gain of 40dB and a -3dB bandwidth from 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz. Input referred noise and total power consumption are 11 μVrms and 277nW respectively.