Microelectrode amplifier with improved method of input-capacitance neutralisation

A circuit is described which allows the input capacitance of an f.e.t. input integrated circuit to be used both as the feedback capacitance to neutralise the total input capacitance and to inject current pulses into the input. Compared with the conventional method of adding discrete capacitors to perform these functions, this design results in a lower total capacitance at the input, which reduces the high-frequency noise generated by the amplifier and facilitates the achievement of a low effective capacitance. A modified version having an ultralow (0·1pA) input current, for use with ion-sensitive microelectrodes, is also described.