Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) Antenna Design with SAR Analysis

Abstract

Due to rapid development in wearables and IoMT, there is now a greater need for antennas light, small and safe for the human body. Monitoring health, diagnosing diseases and transferring data quickly, WBAN supports these activities 24/7. WBAN antennas are challenging to make small, efficient and safe, as they are placed very close to the body. This paper explains how the patch antenna, optimized for use in WBANs, was designed, simulated and tested for safety. An RF antenna is created on a thin Rogers RT5880 substrate since it offers flexible and appropriate dielectric properties for fitting around the irregular design. This wireless technology can work in the Medical Implant Communication Service band (402–405 MHz) and the Industrial, Scientific and Medical band (2.4–2.5 GHz) which are common in medical telemetry. According to CST Microwave simulation, there is no reflection at the antenna input, the gain is 3.4 dBi in free space and the efficiency reaches 70% for a radiation pattern when installed on a human phantom. The IEEE C95.1 and ICNIRP guidelines have confirmed that the Specific Absorption Rate never goes above 0.84 W/kg for 1g of tissue or 0.42 W/kg for 10g, indicating the product is suitable for always wearing next to your body. By doing this research, people are learning about the reliability and safety the antenna can provide as a solution for wearable medical communication.