Novel wearable antenna systems for high datarate mobile communication in healthcare

In critical healthcare applications, there is a need for reliable wideband mobile communication links, implemented by portable units with sufficient autonomy. We present the latest generation wearable antenna systems for invisible and comfortable integration in patients´ or caregivers´ garments. These active textile modules boast excellent performance and reliability, thanks to innovative antenna topologies, leveraged by the application of substrate integrated waveguide technology, pervasive integration of electronics and energy harvesters, and the application of multi-antenna processing techniques. Applications range from mobile communication links between caregivers and a coordination centre during interventions, over wireless sensor systems for patient monitoring, to relaying videos streams between a wireless endoscopy capsule and a remote control station.