Design and performance analysis of an L-shaped radiator and defected ground antenna for enhancing wireless connectivity in brain implants

Brain implantable wireless microsystems has potential to treat neurological diseases and maintain the quality of life. Highly efficient miniaturized antenna is the fundamental part of BID (brain implantable device) for reliable signaling of data through dissipative intracranial material. In this paper, a patch antenna with L-shaped defected ground is demonstrated. L-shaped radiator contributed to achieve the resonance at 2.45 GHz industrial scientific and medical (ISM) band. Antenna size is reduced to 10 x 10 x 0.25 mm3. The proposed L-shaped ground plane geometry is contributing in improving the radiation performance. |S11| value shifts from 15 dB to 30 dB after modifying the ground plane. Proposed structure attained the gain of -14 dBi when located between the Dura and CSF layers at the depth of 12 mm in human brain model. Full wave simulated antenna prototype is fabricated and measured for performance verification. Impedance bandwidth of 270 MHz and broadside radiation pattern (for transferring maximum electromagnetic energy away from tissue) are maintained by the proposed antenna. Brain tissue safety is ensured by specific absorption rate which is 0.709 W/kg and in compliance with the safety limits of 1.6 W/kg for 1-g averaged tissue. Proposed antenna structure is the promising candidate for medical implant technology.