A Neural Stimulator Output Stage for Dodecapolar Electrodes

Abstract : This paper describes the output stage of a multipurpose ASIC designed to be used for electrical stimulation with a dodecapolar electrode. The circuit is developed within the context of the DEMAR project which aims to provide a palliative solution for nervous system dysfunctions thanks to functional electrical stimulation (FES). The output stage of the stimulator is in charge of amplifying and distributing the current among the poles of the electrode. The proposed structure offers several benefits such as the ability to switch the stimulation sites from cathode to anode configuration and to perform either synchronous, sequential or asynchronous stimulations on every channel.