A Novel Wideband and Multi-band Implantable Antenna Design for Biomedical Telemetry

Abstract

In this work, a novel multi-tracks wideband and multi-band miniaturized antenna design for implanted medical devices biomedical telemetry is proposed. This antenna entirely covers seven frequency bands which are the bands (401−406) MHz of the Medical Device Radiocommunications Service (MedRadio), the three bands (433.1−434.8), (868.0−868.6), and (902.8−928.0) MHz of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM), and the three bands (608−614) MHz, and (1.395−1.400) and (1.427−1.432) GHz of the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS). The antenna possesses a compact full size of (19.5 × 12.9 × 0.456) mm3. The antenna miniaturization and impedance bandwidth enhancement are achieved using two techniques: the patch slotting and insertion of open-end slots in the ground plane, respectively. Prototype of proposed antenna with multi-tracks has been fabricated and tested in free space. The comparison between the simulated and measured reflection coefficient has been done and found in good agreement with each other. Furthermore, simulations of the proposed antenna implanted in the underneath the scalp in a realistic human model shows a wideband operation from 0.19 to 0.94 GHz, and from 1.38 to 1.54 GHz corresponding to return loss (S11 ≤ −10 dB). Link budget calculation is performed to specify the range of telemetry considering both Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) restrictions and effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limitations. The designed implantable antenna with full ground plane presents an appropriate reflection coefficient for muscle implantation. Furthermore, the designed implanted muscle antenna may be also suitable for skin implantation.