Wearable and implantable antennas for healthcare applications: advancements, challenges, and future directions

Abstract

The rise of personalized and remote healthcare solutions has accelerated the demand for reliable wireless communication systems integrated into medical devices. Among these, wearable and implantable antennas play a crucial role by enabling the seamless exchange of data between in-body or on-body sensors and external monitoring equipment. These antennas are key components in systems designed for continuous health monitoring, early diagnosis, and patient rehabilitation. Unlike conventional antennas, those used in medical applications must function efficiently in close contact with or inside the human body, often under challenging conditions such as body movement, varying tissue properties, and limited space. As a result, the design and development of these antennas require careful consideration of factors like flexibility, biocompatibility, low power operation, and electromagnetic safety. This study reviews recent publications from 2017 onwards on wearable and implantable antennas. The material type, operating frequency band, and operational environment are considered for the design of the wearable and implantable antenna. To minimize loss, the research employed a high-thickness substrate, gold, and graphene material for the radiating patch in most of the design. This review presents a detailed overview of recent advancements in wearable and implantable antennas tailored for healthcare applications, highlights current design challenges, and outlines future research opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.