Electromagnetic Performance Characterization and Circuit-Level Modeling of a Miniaturized Meander-Line Antenna for...

Area of Science:

• * Electrical Engineering
• * Biomedical Engineering
• * Antenna Design

Background:

• * Miniaturization of antennas is crucial for implantable biomedical devices.
• * Existing antennas often face challenges with size, performance, and safety in biological environments.
• * The Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band offers a suitable frequency range for wireless telemetry.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To design and validate a small-sized meander-line patch antenna for biomedical telemetry.
• * To achieve miniaturization while maintaining good radiation performance and ensuring patient safety.
• * To evaluate the antenna's suitability for in-body wireless communication and monitoring systems.

Main Methods:

• * Design of a meander-line patch antenna utilizing slot structures for miniaturization.
• * Fabrication of the antenna on a low-loss Arlon AD 450 dielectric substrate.
• * Experimental validation using a tissue-mimicking phantom and comparison with simulation results.
• * Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) analysis to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Main Results:

• * The proposed antenna achieved dimensions of 12 × 22 × 0.787 mm³.
• * Demonstrated a peak gain of 1.29 dBi in free space and -24.99 dBi in a phantom at 2.45 GHz.
• * Achieved a fractional impedance bandwidth of approximately 250 MHz.
• * Peak SAR values were within permissible international safety limits (2 W/kg for 10 g averaging).

Conclusions:

• * The designed antenna offers a favorable balance between reduced size, effective radiation, and patient safety.
• * It is well-suited for short-range in-body wireless communication, implantable medical devices, and biomedical monitoring.
• * The antenna's performance in biological environments ensures reliable operation despite tissue variations.