A fully-implantable rodent neural stimulator
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Date
2012-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
IOP Publishing Ltd
Abstract
The ability to electrically stimulate neural and other excitable tissues in behaving
experimental animals is invaluable for both the development of neural prostheses and basic
neurological research. We developed a fully-implantable neural stimulator that is able to
deliver two channels of intra-cochlear electrical stimulation in the rat. It is powered via a
novel omnidirectional inductive link and includes an on-board microcontroller with
integrated radio link, programmable current sources, and switching circuitry to generate
charge-balanced biphasic stimulation. We tested the implant in vivo and were able to elicit
both neural and behavioral responses. The implants continued to function for up to five
months in vivo. While targeted to cochlear stimulation, with appropriate electrode arrays the
stimulator is well suited to stimulating other neurons within the peripheral or central nervous
systems. Moreover, it includes significant on-board data acquisition and processing
capabilities, which could potentially make it a useful platform for telemetry applications,
where there is a need to chronically monitor physiological variables in unrestrained animals.
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Citation
Perry, D. W. J., Grayden, D. B., Shepherd, R. K., & Fallon, J. B. (2012). A fully implantable rodent neural stimulator. Journal of neural engineering, 9(1), 014001.