Manufacturing considerations for implantable antennas

Design of implantable antennas poses a unique set of challenges since antennas need to be small, biocompatible, and operate in the highly lossy environment of the human body. A recent review identified miniaturization challenges and how they have been managed in a variety of designs. [1] It also noted the sensitivity of these miniaturized antennas to fabrication tolerances. Our paper addresses another type of challenge - effective methods to manufacture these antennas using biocompatible materials (many of which are difficult to adhere with glue or solder), tight manufacturing tolerances (and practical ways to manage them), and a design that is practical both for manufacturing of individual test antennas by hand or for larger scale manufacturing. We will build on the spiral microstrip designs originally presented in [2] and expanded in [3][4].