Towards Neuromote: A Miniature, Impantable, Many-Channel, and Wireless Neural Recording, Processing, and Telemetry System

目的研究实现微型可植入多通道无线神经记录装置的技术和方法。方法是开发和组装子系统，这些子系统可以由神经科学家编程，以研究科学和医学相关的神经生理学。提出的无线神经记录系统由可扩展的子系统组成，可以配置以获取广泛的神经信号。此外，它还包括一个数字信号处理架构，可以在数字域执行片上尖峰检测和校准步骤，这些步骤通常在片外软件中执行。所提出的系统还必须在受不同电极条件（即阻抗和失调电压）影响的情况下运行，同时耗散不超过几毫瓦的功率，以避免组织加热并使（未来）无线电力传输方法成为可能。更广泛的影响建议工作的更广泛影响包括：(1)神经科学和神经学重要研究领域的技术变革；(2)更新和提高培养成为大脑研究人员或神经工程师的博士生的技术能力和经验；(3)来自代表性不足群体的本科工程专业学生的参与；(4)参加加州大学洛杉矶分校每年夏季举办的继续教育活动的加州高中教师和社区大学教师的通识教育。

ObjectiveThe objective of this research is to develop technologies and methods towards realizing a miniature implantable many-channel wireless neural-recording device. The approach is to develop and assemble sub-systems that can be programmed by neuroscientists to investigate scientifically and medically relevant neurophysiology.Intellectual MeritThe proposed wireless neural recording system consists of scaleable sub-system components that can be configures to acquire a broad range of neural signals. Furthermore, it includes a digital-signal-processing architecture that performs on-chip spike detection and alignment steps in the digital domain, which are typically performed off-chip in software. The proposed system also must operate while being subject to varying electrode conditions (i.e., impedance and offset voltage) while dissipating no more than several milliwatts of power to avoid tissue heating and enable (future) methods of wireless power transfer.Broader ImpactThe broader impacts include of the proposed work include: (1) technological transformation of important fields of research in neuroscience and neurology, (2) updating and enhancing the technological capabilities and experience of doctoral students training to be brain researchers or neuroengineers, (3) the involvement of undergraduate engineering students from underrepresented groups, and (4) the general education of California high-school teachers and community-college instructors that participate in annual UCLA-sponsored continuing-education events during the summer.