A current source for neural stimulation is presented which converts arbitrary voltage signals to current-controlled signals while regulating the offset-voltage across the stimulation electrodes in order to keep the electrodes in an electrochemical state that allows for injecting a maximum charge. The offset-voltage can either be set to 0V or to a bias-voltage, e.g. of a few 100mV, as it can be advantageous for fully exploiting the charge injection capacity of iridium oxide electrodes.
Martin Schuettler, Manfred Franke, Thilo Bernhard Krueger, and Thomas Stieglitz.
University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK, Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg, Germany. schuettler@imtek.de
J. Neurosci. Methods. 2008 Jun 30; 171 (2): 248-52.
AbstractA current source for neural stimulation is presented which converts arbitrary voltage signals to current-controlled signals while regulating the offset-voltage across the stimulation electrodes in order to keep the electrodes in an electrochemical state that allows for injecting a maximum charge. The offset-voltage can either be set to 0V or to a bias-voltage, e.g. of a few 100mV, as it can be advantageous for fully exploiting the charge injection capacity of iridium oxide electrodes.