A Twin Spiral Planar Antenna for UWB Medical Radars. (17th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zito, Giuseppe A.; Staderini, Enrico M.; Pisa, Stefano
• Other Names: Cicchetti Renato Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of antennas and propagation. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-01-17
• Subjects: Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Antennes (Électronique); Ondes radioélectriques -- Propagation; Antennas (Electronics); Electronic apparatus and appliances; Radio wave propagation; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.382405
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/684185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-5869

Abstract

Abstract : A planar-spiral antenna to be used in an ultrawideband (UWB) radar system for heart activity monitoring is presented. The antenna, named "twin, " is constituted by two spiral dipoles in a compact structure. The reflection coefficient at the feed point of the dipoles is lower than −8 dB over the 3–12 GHz band, while the two-dipoles coupling is about −20 dB. The radiated beam is perpendicular to the plane of the spiral, so the antenna is wearable and it may be an optimal radiator for a medical UWB radar for heart rate detection. The designed antenna has been also used to check some hypotheses about the UWB radar heart activity detection mechanism. The radiation impedance variation, caused by the thorax vibrations associated with heart activity, seems to be the most likely explanation of the UWB radar operation.