Skip to main content
Log in

An integrated multichannel waveform generator for large-scale spatio-temporal stimulation of neural tissue

  • Published:
Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present an ASIC designed for electrical stimulation of neural tissue using multielectrode arrays. The ASIC is foreseen for applications in systems that require simultaneous stimulation and recording of signals from various types of neural tissue, both in vitro and in vivo. The developed ASIC comprises 64 independent stimulation channels, which are capable to generate arbitrarily defined bipolar current or voltage waveforms, controlled in real time with time resolution of 12.5 μs and amplitude resolution of 7 bits. The amplitude range of output signal can be scaled over a very wide range, which ensures compatibility with various electrode arrays of different size and geometry. Each channel is also equipped with a stimulation artifact suppressor controlled in real time, which reduces the dead time of the system after each stimulation pulse.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rattay, F. (1999). The basic mechanism for the electrical stimulation of the nervous system. Neuroscience, 89, 335–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Merill, D. R., et al. (2005). Electrical stimulation of excitable tissue: Design of efficacious and safe protocols. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 141, 171–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sekirnjak, C., et al. (2006). Electrical stimulation of mammalian retinal ganglion cells with multi-electrode arrays. Journal of Neurophysiology, 95, 3311–3327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. McAdams, E. T., et al. (1995). The linear and non-linear electrical properties of the electrode–electrolyte interface. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 10, 67–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wagenaar, D. A., et al. (2004). Effective parameters for stimulation of dissociated cultures using multi-electrode arrays. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 138, 27–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Novak, L. G., & Boulier, J. (1998). Axons, but not cell bodies, are activated by electrical stimulation in cortical grey matter. Evidence from chronaxie measurements. Experimental Brain Research, 118, 477–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dabrowski, W., et al. (2005). Development of front-ed ASICs for imaging neuronal activity in live tissue. Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, 541, 405–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jimbo, Y., et al. (2003). A system for MEA-based multisite stimulation. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 50, 241–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Litke, A., et al. (2003). Large-scale imaging of retinal output activity Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, 501, 298–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bastos, J., & Marques A. M. (1998). A 12-bit ntrinsic accuracy high-speed CMOS DAC IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 33, 1959–1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gryboś, P., Dąbrowski, W., Hottowy, P., & Fiutowski, T. (2004). Low noise multichannel front-end electronics for recording signals from alive neuronal cells. In Proc. 11th International Conference “Mixed design of integrated circuits and systems” MIXDES 2004, Szczecin, Poland, pp. 214–219.

Download references

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science—Project no. 3 T11E 011 27.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Władysław Dąbrowski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hottowy, P., Dąbrowski, W., Skoczeń, A. et al. An integrated multichannel waveform generator for large-scale spatio-temporal stimulation of neural tissue. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 55, 239–248 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-007-9125-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-007-9125-x

Keywords

Navigation