A High-Voltage Bipolar Transconductance Amplifier for Electrotactile Stimulation

Author

Schaning, Matthew A. ; Kaczmarek, Kurt A.

Author_Institution

Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI

Volume

55

Issue

10

fYear

2008

Firstpage

2433

Lastpage

2443

Abstract

This paper describes a high-performance transconductance amplifier specifically designed for electrotactile (electrocutaneous) stimulation. It enables voltages up to plusmn600 V to be produced at the output that will allow the psychophysiological performance associated with stimulation of the fingertip using various stimulation waveforms to be studied more thoroughly. The design has a transconductance of up to 20 mA/V, an 8.8-MOmega output resistance, and can provide output currents up to plusmn20 mA. A complete schematic diagram is presented along with a discussion of theory of operation and safety issues as well as performance and derating plots from the implemented design.

Keywords

bioelectric phenomena; biomedical equipment; skin; touch (physiological); bipolar transconductance amplifier; electrotactile stimulation; psychophysiology; resistance 8.8 Mohm; Circuits; Impedance; Laboratories; Pulse amplifiers; Pulsed power supplies; Safety; Semiconductor devices; Skin; Transconductance; Voltage; Current control; electrocutaneous; electrotactile; transconductance amplifier (TA); Amplifiers, Electronic; Electric Capacitance; Electric Impedance; Electric Stimulation; Electrodes; Equipment Design; Feedback; Fingers; Galvanic Skin Response; Humans; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Touch;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9294

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TBME.2008.926675

Filename

4637997