Wideband U-Shaped Wearable Antenna With Defected Ground Structure for Biomedical Wearables

Abstract

This study presents a compact, flexible U-shaped wearable antenna with a defected ground structure (DGS) for biomedical applications. Fabricated on a 1 mm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate using conductive adhesive tape, the antenna achieves a wide bandwidth of 1.52–5.38 GHz, covering key ISM bands. The DGS enhances impedance matching and stability, while curvature adaptation to a 46 mm arm diameter ensures practical wearability. Simulations in CST and COMSOL demonstrate robust performance near a multilayer human arm phantom, with specific absorption rate (SAR) values compliant with safety standards (< 2 W/kg). Experimental validation confirms the design’s reliability, making it a promising solution for wireless body area networks (WBANs) and next-generation biomedical wearables.