The module for function electrical stimulation （FES） of neurons is designed for the research of the neural function regeneration microelectronic system, which is an in-body embedded micro module. It is implemented by using discrete devices at first and characterized in vitro. The module is used to stimulate sciatic nerve and spinal cord of rats and rabbits for in-vivo real-time experiments of the neural function regeneration system. Based on the module, a four channel module for the FES of neurons is designed for 12 sites cuff electrode or 10 sites shaft electrode. Three animal experiments with total five rats and two rabbits were made. In the in-vivo experiment, the neural signals including spontaneous and imitated were regenerated by the module. The stimulating signal was used to drive sciatic nerve and spinal cord of rats and rabbits, successfully caused them twitch in different parts of their bodies, such as legs, tails, and fingers. This testifies that the neural function regeneration system can regenerate the neural signals.
A limiting amplifier (LA) IC implemented in TSMC standard 0.25μm CMOS technology is described.Active inductor loads and direct-coupled technology are employed to increase the gain,broaden the bandwidth,reduce the power dissipation,and keep a tolerable noise performance.Under a 3.3V supply voltage,the LA core achieves a gain of 50-dB with a power consumption below 40mW.The measured input sensitivity of the amplifier is better than 5m V _ pp .It can operate at bit rates up to 7Gb/s with an rms jitter of 0.03 UI or less.The chip area is only 0.70mm×0.70mm.According to the measurement results,this IC is expected to work at the standard bit rate levels of 2.5,3.125,and 5Gb/s.
