High channel-count neural interfaces for multiple degree- of-freedom neuroprosthetics

Abstract

We have designed, fabricated, and tested an advanced neural interface based on the Utah Electrode Array (UEA) integrated with a custom ASIC that is currently able to acquire 200 channels of neural recordings. The Active Arrays are designed to acquire more neural data with the goal of controlling advanced prosthetic devices with as many as 17 degrees of freedom (DoF). The system is comprised of two modified UEAs, a custom ASIC, SMD capacitors, a Neu- roport™ (Blackrock Microsystems) percutaneous connector, 44 wires, and encapsulation materials. A photograph of the final device is presented in Fig. 1. The device has been tested in-vitro through soak testing in 0.15M PBS with synthetic neural signals applied to measure lifetime and recording fidelity. In-vivo measurements were collected using non-human primate (NHP) models.