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Description
This work presents a flexible, low-profile ultrawideband (UWB) antenna designed for biomedical on-body applications. The antenna features a circular copper radiator and ground plane on a 0.5 mm PDMS substrate, resulting in a compact and flexible structure with a total thickness of 0.77 mm and a 25 mm diameter. The design utilizes a CPW-fed circular patch optimized through iterative steps, including arc-shaped stubs and rectangular patches, to achieve a wide operational bandwidth of 3.7–6.25 GHz. Performance testing revealed stable radiation patterns in both E- and H-planes, a gain of >2.5 dBi across the band, and high radiation efficiency (>95%) except at 4.3 GHz, where efficiency dropped to 55%. SAR analysis conducted on a human body phantom demonstrated compliance with FCC and EU standards, with values well below permissible limits for both 1 g and 10 g tissues at 4.25 and 5.4 GHz. The antenna is validated through hardware prototyping and parameter testing, achieving consistent results in flat, bent, and on-body scenarios. Compared to state-of-the-art designs, it offers a compact, low-profile, and cost-effective solution with low SAR, wideband performance, and moderate gain. This makes it a strong candidate for body-centric communications, particularly in biomedical applications requiring flexibility, conformability, and safety.
