A VLSI-based biological interface for prosthetic devices

Author

Osborn, Michael J. ; Wolpert, Seth

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Maine Univ., Orono, ME, USA

fYear

1992

fDate

1992

Firstpage

75

Lastpage

76

Abstract

A circuit was developed to serve as an interface from an intact biological neuron to an electromechanical device. The circuit is a custom VLSI IC that contains a highly sensitive buffer, a neuron-like threshold discriminator, and a dedicated four-phase output driver. Nerve-like in behavior, the circuit detects action potentials from living nerve tissue, and if the activity exceeds a given threshold, drives a four-phase stepper motor. Fabricated in 2-micron CMOS, the circuit is comprehensive, compact, noise-immune, and very power efficient, making it appropriate for the control of robotic or prosthetic devices.

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; VLSI; artificial limbs; biomedical electronics; neural chips; position control; prosthetics; robots; 2 micron; CMOS technology; VLSI-based biological interface; action potentials; custom VLSI IC; dedicated four-phase output driver; electromechanical device; four-phase stepper motor; highly sensitive buffer; intact biological neuron; living nerve tissue; mechanical artificial limb control; neuron-like threshold discriminator; prosthetic devices; robotic actuator; robotic devices; threshold; Biological control systems; CMOS technology; Circuit noise; Control systems; Elbow; Humans; Immune system; Neurons; Prosthetics; Robots;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Bioengineering Conference, 1992., Proceedings of the 1992 Eighteenth IEEE Annual Northeast

Conference_Location

Kingston, RI, USA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0902-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NEBC.1992.285962

Filename

285962