ABSTRACT
An essential part of wireless body area networks (WBANs), like for
anywireless system, is the transducer that converts electrical signals
into electromagnetic waves and vice-versa. This has been done by
antennas for medium-long range communications or inductive coils
for very short range communication. Usually the communication in
WBAN is either short range or medium range. The on-body and
implanted sensor nodes are essentially small devices that are, at
most, of the size of a standard mobile phone. There are matured
enough technologies to design low-profile antennas for mobile
wireless devices. The transformation of those technologies into
WBAN applications will be discussed. One of the main concerns
of antennas in WBAN is the interaction of near field electric
and magnetic fields with the human body. This phenomenon is
responsible for significant changes in antenna characteristics, and
researchers have found methods to mitigate these effects for on-
body antennas. Some of these methods, especially the antenna
shielding, will be discussed. It is even more challenging to design in-
body (implanted) antennaswith surrounding dissipative body tissue
at high frequencies. Recent research into the efficiency enhancement
of implanted antennas will be discussed in this chapter. Widely used
classes of antennas in wideband and narrowband WBAN, including
volume conduction antennas, will be presented as examples. The
commonly used design and experimentalmethods ofWBANantenna
evaluation will be discussed. A brief overview of antenna theory
and modern simulation techniques will be incorporated, where
necessary, for the readers who are not familiar with the material.
