A microelectrode array with 8,640 electrodes enabling simultaneous full-frame readout at 6.5 kfps and 112-channel switch-matrix readout at 20 kS/s

CMOS microelectrode arrays allow for recording from neurons at thousands of sites. Here, we introduce the concept of a ‘dual-mode operation’ microelectrode array, leveraging the advantages of full-frame scanning and switch-matrix array architectures into a single device. The chip was fabricated in 0.18 µm CMOS technology. Measured noise levels were 11.1 µV rms for full-frame scanning and 1.6 µV rms for switch-matrix mode at 3.3 µW and 38.1 µW per channel power consumption. Recordings of electrical activity from cultured neurons have been successfully conducted.