EBG Integrated Metasurface Antenna for SAR Reduction

Abstract

This research article presents an innovative design of a textile-based microstrip patch antenna with a metasurface for medical applications. The antenna is designed to operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, which is the frequency of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, to minimize the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the human body. The design includes an Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) that is placed above a metasurface, which is made up of a periodic array of I-shaped structures. A foam layer is placed between the EBG and the antenna to improve performance. The use of textile-based materials in the antenna allows for flexibility and comfort when it is mounted on the human body. The integration of the metasurface in the antenna design allows for a more efficient transfer of energy from the antenna to the surrounding tissue, resulting in a reduction in the amount of energy absorbed by the body. The simulation of the antenna design is carried out using Computer Simulation Technology (CST), which provides accurate results for the performance of the antenna. After the implementation of the EBG array, the gain of the antenna is improved, resulting in better performance. The proposed antenna design achieved a SAR value of 0.077 W/kg over 1 gram of thigh tissue, which is well below the safety limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This implies that the integrated design of the antenna can be safely used in medical applications.