Wearable Textile Antenna With Low SAR and High Fidelity for BAN and Medical Applications

Abstract

This paper presents a novel wearable antenna fabricated using denim material, designed for flexible electronics and medical monitoring applications. The proposed antenna leverages common jean fabric as the substrate material, offering a cost-effective and readily available solution while combining esthetic appeal with practical functionality through its unique configuration. Operating across 2.269–19.42 GHz with a maximum gain of 6.75 dB, the antenna achieves an enhanced bandwidth of 158.15%. Notably, the design measured as 0.488λ_o × 0.488λ_o × 0.008λ_o exhibits a low specific absorption rate (SAR) compared to FCC standards that is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 g of tissue, making it particularly suitable for medical monitoring applications. We obtained a maximum SAR value for the antenna as 1.61, 1.01 W/kg for 1 and 10 g at 2 mm from the body phantom, 0.488 and 0.769 W/kg for 1 and 10 g when placed at 5 mm from the human phantom, and 1.02, 0.73 W/kg for 1 and 10 g at on-body placement of the antenna. Experimental results demonstrate the antenna's effectiveness for vital signs surveillance while maintaining wearer safety and comfort. The use of denim as the substrate material not only ensures flexibility and durability but also provides an eco-friendly approach by utilizing common textile materials. The high-fidelity factor and wideband characteristics ensure reliable data transmission, making this design a promising solution for next-generation wearable healthcare devices.