A low noise multichannel integrated circuit for recording neuronal signals using microelectrode arrays

This paper reports on the development of a fully integrated 32-channel integrated circuit (IC) for recording neuronal signals in neurophysiological experiments using microelectrode arrays. The IC consists of 32 channels of low-noise preamplifiers and bandpass filters. and an output analog multiplexer. The continuous-time RC active filters have a typical passband of 20-2000Hz; the low and the high cut-off frequencies can be separately controlled by external reference currents. This chip provides a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio for neuronal signals with amplitudes greater than 50 muV. For the nominal passband setting, an equivalent input noise of 3 muV rms has been achieved. A single channel occupies 0.35 mm(2) of silicon area and dissipates 1.7 mW of power. The chip was fabricated in a 0.7 mum CMOS process. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.