32 CHANNEL TELEMETER FOR NEUROPHYSIOLOGY

对于大多数神经生理学家来说，记录自由行为动物体内植入的许多微电极的神经波形是一项艰巨的任务。虽然前置放大器磁头级解决了大多数电气问题，但后置放大器的多线布线会给行为自由的小动物(如老鼠、鸟类、昆虫和鱼)带来严重的机械问题。为了消除电缆连接，将开发、评估和销售用于神经波形记录的32通道遥测仪。在第一阶段，将开发和评估8通道遥测仪的原型。拟议的遥测仪的创新部分是使这项技术成为可能的集成电路编码器。该编码器将从8个微电极输入神经波形，并输出编码数据流的单脉冲流。它在2.5伏电压下需要低于80微安，才能实现每个通道10 kHz的带宽和低于3微Vms的噪声。第一阶段的数据传输将采用光学技术。遥测电源将由微型助听器电池或光电二极管阵列提供。第二阶段将把渠道容量扩大到32个，纳入合作的神经生理学实验室的建议和批评。电力和数据传输选择将扩大到包括无线电频率方法。系统部件和制造技术将得到改进，以最大限度地减少成本并促进技术的传播。拟议的商业应用：一旦开发出来，这种仪器应该适用于所有目前进行电生理记录的神经生理学实验室。特别是，它将填补在自由行为的小动物中从多电极阵列进行长期记录的技术需求。这种仪器在神经生理学教学中也很有市场。从长远来看，这项技术可能会导致神经假体装置在脊髓损伤中的临床应用。

Recording neural waveforms from many implanted microelectrodes in freely behaving animals is a difficult task for most neurophysiologists. While preamplifier head stages solve most electrical problems, multi-wire cabling to post-amplifiers causes significant mechanical problems for freely behaving small animals such as mice, birds, insects and fish. To eliminate the cabling, a 32-channel telemeter for neural waveform recording will be developed, evaluated and marketed. During Phase-I, a prototype 8-channel telemeter will be developed and evaluated. The innovative part of the proposed telemeter is the integrated circuit encoder that enables this technology. This encoder will input neural waveforms from 8 microelectrodes and will output a single pulse stream of encoded data. It will require less than 80microA at 2.5 volts to achieve a 10kHz bandwidth per channel with less than 3microVms noise. Phase-I data transmission will be by optical techniques. Telemeter power will be provided optionally by miniature hearing aid batteries or photodiode arrays. Phase-II will expand the channel capacity to 32, incorporating suggestions and criticisms from the collaborating neurophysiology laboratories. Power and data transmission options will be expanded to include radio-frequency methods. System components and fabrication techniques will be improved to minimize cost and facilitate distribution of the technology. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: When developed, this instrumentation should be marketable to all neurophysiology laboratories that currently make electro-physiological recordings. In particular it will fill the technology need for long term recording from multielectrode arrays in freely behaving small animals. This instrumentation would also be marketable for neurophysiology teaching. In the long term, this technology may lead to neuroprosthetic devices for clinical applications in spinal cord injury.