A Flexible Miniature Antenna for Body-Worn Devices: Design and Transmission Performance

Area of Science:

• * Electromagnetics and Antenna Engineering
• * Biomedical Engineering and Wearable Technology

Background:

• * Increasing demand for body-worn devices necessitates advancements in antenna technology.
• * Existing antennas require improvements in flexibility, miniaturization, and weight for enhanced user comfort and broader applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To develop and characterize a novel flexible miniature antenna specifically for body-worn devices.
• * To evaluate the antenna's performance in various wireless communication scenarios relevant to health monitoring.

Main Methods:

• * Design and optimization of a flexible miniature antenna using a quadratic Koch curve.
• * Utilized a substrate of natural rubber filled with Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) for flexibility and comfort.
• * Characterization performed on a human body model, analyzing in-body and on-body to off-body communication links.

Main Results:

• * Achieved a maximum telemetry range exceeding 80 mm for in-body communications.
• * Demonstrated a maximum telemetry range over 2 meters for on-body to off-body communications.
• * Recorded a peak 10g Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value of 0.62 W/kg, indicating safety.

Conclusions:

• * The proposed flexible miniature antenna meets the requirements for advanced body-worn health telemetry systems.
• * Its compact size (12 mm × 26 mm × 2.5 mm), low cost, and robust performance make it suitable for practical implementation.