USF inventors developed an antenna that is surrounded by multiple continuous Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) structures which satisfies the requirements described above while ensuring that the majority of the signal being acquired by the sensor is attained from the body and less from the outside environment. The radiation pattern measurements of this antenna unmasks significant shortcomings of other antennas in the art, outperforming them in terms of sensitivity to other areas of the body and the ambient environment thanks to great reductions in susceptibility to surface waves and side beams. Other applications of this antenna include embedded sensing for glucose monitoring and minimally invasive surgery, temperature monitoring during microwave ablation, early diagnostics of skin cancer by discovering localized temperature changes, etc.
Cross-Section (top) and Top-View (bottom) of Conventional (left) and Developed (right) Antenna Elements