Silicon neural information transducers: current technology, perspectives, and recent results

Advanced neural information transducers are currently under development. Novel micromachined silicon transducer fabrication techniques have been created to facilitate construction of implantable devices which can achieve a high-quality, long-term, neural-electrical interface. The basic functionality of implanted microtransducers has been demonstrated during long-term implants. Current research is focused on the study of the interface during behavioral testing of implanted animals, methods of optimizing information transduction, adaptive detection and encoding circuitry, understanding the electrical properties of the microenvironment surrounding the contacts, and techniques for fabrication of active devices that can function indefinitely during saline immersion. Applications of existing technology are not technically possible for physiological studies and relatively short-term feasibility testing in humans. New understanding of protection of integrated circuits during long-term saline immersion is essential for implementation of advanced long-term integrated systems