Design of an implantable broadband antenna for medical telemetry applications

The design and characterization of a compact stacked implantable broadband antenna for medical telemetry applications is reported in this paper. The antenna operates in the 402-405 MHz frequency band, which is approved for medical implant communication services. The electromagnetic modeling is based on the finite-difference time-domain method. The proposed antenna was tested in fluid that simulates mean body tissue and characterized in a high-resolution whole-body anatomical model of an adult human male. The bandwidth enhancement and initial tuning necessary for correct functioning inside the human body were taken into account in the design. To improve its applicability, the antenna was designed to be integrated with compact implantable medical devices. The specific absorption rate distribution and the communication link were also analyzed. The optimized antenna design was produced using low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology. Antenna reflection coefficient and communication path losses were measured.