A CMOS Multi-Electrode Array for Four-Electrode Bioimpedance Measurements

IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst. 2022 Dec;16(6):1276-1286. doi: 10.1109/TBCAS.2022.3214243. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Abstract

This work demonstrates how a multi-electrode array (MEA) dedicated to four-electrode bioimpedance measurements can be implemented on a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip. As a proof of concept, an 8 × 8 pixel array along with dedicated amplifiers was designed and fabricated in the TSMC 180 nm process. Each pixel in the array contains a circular current carrying (CC) electrode that can act as a current source or sink. In order to measure a differential voltage between the pixels, each CC electrode is surrounded by a ring shaped pick up (PU) electrode. The differential voltages can be measured by an on-board instrumentation amplifier, while the currents can be measured with an on-bard transimpedance amplifier. Openings in the passivation layer exposed the aluminum top metal layer, and a metal stack of zinc, nickel and gold was deposited in an electroless plating process. The chips were then wire bonded to a ceramic package and prepared for wet experiments by encapsulating the bonding wires and pads in the photoresist SU-8. Measurements in liquids with different conductivities were performed to demonstrate the functionality of the chip.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amplifiers, Electronic
  • Electrodes
  • Gold*
  • Oxides*
  • Semiconductors

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Gold