All-Fabric Bandage Antenna for RF Information and Power Transfer in Healthcare Applications

Abstract

This work presents the first antenna invisibly concealed in an all-fabric bandage, with an ultra-low profile (0.001 the wavelength) for sub-1 GHz applications. Antenna parameters, such as the reflection coefficients, mutual coupling, radiation patterns, radiation efficiency, and the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), were investigated in free space as well as in the presence of human tissue. The antenna’s channel gain over a 60 cm link with a standard RFID antenna is at least −37 dB and −23.6 dB, in the presence and absence of the body, respectively, which indicates the antenna’s suitability for communication and wireless power transfer applications. The all-fabric dipole antenna exhibits the attractive features of being flexible, low-profile, lightweight, easily to fabricate, and conformable to the body and therefore, can be used for designing wireless and battery-free smart bandage for wound healing applications.