Abstract
The performance of metal antennas when used in Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) particularly when used near to or inside the human body has been a challenge due to high dielectric and conductivity contrast with respect to most parts of the human body. During recent times, researchers have shown that liquid ionic antennas are more suitable for such applications. In this paper, we have elucidated the use of NaCl based ionic solution in biocompatible antenna structures. Limitations of some of the previously used liquid ionic antennas have also been identified especially when they are operated near to or inside the human body. The role of permittivity matching of wearable loop antenna with body tissues has also been discussed and the performance of the liquid ionic solution based loop antenna has been compared with the metallic loop antenna using FEKO.
Keyword(s)
WBAN, Liquid Antenna, Dielectric Loaded Antenna (DLA), FEKO, Permittivity Matching