A neural amplifier with high programmable gain and tunable bandwidth

Abstract

A neural recording amplifier having programmable gain and bandwidth is presented. The gain can be digitally programmed using 6 bits from 100x to 1100x in steps of 100x. The low-frequency cutoff can be varied from less than 10Hz to above 100Hz to accept or reject field potentials while the high-frequency cutoff is fixed at 9kHz. The input referred noise of this amplifier is 4.8microV(rms) and it consumes 50microW operating from +/-1.5V. Implemented in a 0.5microm technology, the amplifier occupies an area of 0.098mm(2). This amplifier has been successfully demonstrated in-vivo and compared to a commercial amplifier.