Multiband ultra-thin flexible on-body transceivers for wearable health informatics.

Abstract

Substantial concentration has been associated to the monitoring of vital signs and human activity using wireless body area networks. However, one of the key technical challenges is to characterize an optimized transceiver geometry for desired isolation/bandwidth and specific absorption rate (SAR) characteristics, independent of transceiver chip on-body location. A microwave performance evaluation of monopole wearable transceiver was completed and results presented. A novel on-body antenna transceiver was designed, simulated and fabricated using an ultra-thin substrate RO 3010 (h = 250µm) that ensures compactness and enhanced flexibility. The designed transceiver was evolved using very high value of dielectric constant using CST® Studio Suit and FEKO® numerical platforms. The on-body characterization for both fatty and bone tissues was experimentally verified for a bandwidth of 200MHz. The fabricated configuration and real-time testing provides very promising microwave radiation parameters with a gain of 2.69 dBi, S11 < - 13 dB at an operational frequency of 2.46GHz. Multi-banding was achieved by introducing fractals in the design of the printed monopole. SAR calculations for feet, head and arm at microwave power levels ranging from 100 to 800mW are incorporated. Furthermore, the real time data acquisition using developed transceiver and its experimental verification is illustrated.