Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cochran, Andrew, Gupta, Harshvardhan, Jain, Vishal, Chamanzar, Maysamreza, Piazza, Gianluca
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.18384
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866908980493680640
author Cochran, Andrew
Gupta, Harshvardhan
Jain, Vishal
Chamanzar, Maysamreza
Piazza, Gianluca
author_facet Cochran, Andrew
Gupta, Harshvardhan
Jain, Vishal
Chamanzar, Maysamreza
Piazza, Gianluca
contents We introduce a novel electro-optomechanic neural sensor for realizing ultra-compact neural recording probes that can detect and relay electrophysiology signals from within neural tissue. This technology addresses outstanding challenges faced by existing neural recording technologies, including the resolution trade-off with signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) due to the high impedances of small electrodes, and lingering stimulation artifacts. The sensor employs a highly miniaturized NEMS (nano-electromechanical systems) electrostatic transducer that modulates a silicon photonic microdisk resonator to convert electrical signals to an optical signal modulation. We have been able to achieve a limit of detection down to 110 microvolts, making the sensor sensitive enough to detect neural signals. This sensitive electro-optomechanic sensor directly detects electrophysiology signals and converts them to optomechanic modulation for effective transmission to outside the brain, which provides the unique potential for massive multiplexing of neural recordings. This design eliminates the need for bulky backend headstages that limit neural recording on awake free-roaming subjects. The ability of the device to record electrophysiological signals has been demonstrated using benchtop characterization and ex-vivo recordings from live neural tissue.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_18384
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle NEMO: Neural Electro-Mechano-Optic Sensors for Multiplexed Neural Interfaces
Cochran, Andrew
Gupta, Harshvardhan
Jain, Vishal
Chamanzar, Maysamreza
Piazza, Gianluca
Optics
We introduce a novel electro-optomechanic neural sensor for realizing ultra-compact neural recording probes that can detect and relay electrophysiology signals from within neural tissue. This technology addresses outstanding challenges faced by existing neural recording technologies, including the resolution trade-off with signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) due to the high impedances of small electrodes, and lingering stimulation artifacts. The sensor employs a highly miniaturized NEMS (nano-electromechanical systems) electrostatic transducer that modulates a silicon photonic microdisk resonator to convert electrical signals to an optical signal modulation. We have been able to achieve a limit of detection down to 110 microvolts, making the sensor sensitive enough to detect neural signals. This sensitive electro-optomechanic sensor directly detects electrophysiology signals and converts them to optomechanic modulation for effective transmission to outside the brain, which provides the unique potential for massive multiplexing of neural recordings. This design eliminates the need for bulky backend headstages that limit neural recording on awake free-roaming subjects. The ability of the device to record electrophysiological signals has been demonstrated using benchtop characterization and ex-vivo recordings from live neural tissue.
title NEMO: Neural Electro-Mechano-Optic Sensors for Multiplexed Neural Interfaces
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.18384