Development of a Highly Versatile Design for Implantable Neural Interface Systems

In this work, a design strategy for building wireless active implantable devices able to sense and modulate neural activity is proposed. Its focus is to overcome common shortcomings by combining components-off-the-shelf (COTS) reliant concepts with unconventional circuit designs. This way, the development time and costs can be minimized while pushing the integration level and performance to limits unreached by typical COTS systems. The here presented data and power circuits can transmit up to 13.56 Mbit/s (uplink) and 678 kbit/s (downlink) while supplying over 200 mW inductively with a minimal component count.

Several complete systems for applications like Electrocorticography (ECoG), single-unit recording with penetrating probes, and optogenetic stimulation were developed using the proposed design strategy and circuits to show their flexibility and adaptability. Furthermore, an in vivo study was conducted to demonstrate the usability of the ECoG systems.