Overview
- The microscale optoelectronic tetherless electrode, or MOTE, measures about 300 by 70 microns, small enough to rest on a grain of salt.
- Red and infrared light power an aluminum gallium arsenide diode that energizes the circuit and returns data as faint infrared pulses.
- Data are encoded with pulse position modulation, enabling very low‑power optical telemetry supported by an on‑chip low‑noise amplifier and optical encoder.
- Implants in the mouse barrel cortex recorded neuronal spikes and broader synaptic activity for over a year while the animals remained healthy and active.
- The preclinical study, co‑led by Alyosha Molnar and Sunwoo Lee, cites potential MRI compatibility and future adaptations to other tissues.