About this Research Topic
This Research Topic focuses on antennas and arrays for electromagnetic imaging systems and their various applications. With the rapid rise of technological advancements in cost-effective and non-invasive imaging systems, particularly for medical applications, there is a demand for the development of a single antenna or an array of antennas that can be designed to enable maximum penetration of electromagnetic waves towards the targeted part of the human body. In addition, these antennas should be adequately shielded to avoid interference with wireless devices. Therefore, various materials, such as decoupling and matching materials, are needed to maximise signal penetration inside the targeted organ, while a proper absorber is required to cover the device.
The selection of optimum physical properties of materials to serve the above-mentioned tasks depends on the frequency band in use, targeted organ, antenna design, cost, structure, weight, among other factors. Furthermore, the optimum material is usually not available in nature, and thus engineered materials are required to meet these requirements. Composite materials can be developed by adding filling materials, such as hollow glass microspheres, conductive particles or foaming agents to provide optimum properties. However, available solutions have significant drawbacks that limit their feasibility in medical devices. For instance, current broadband absorbers are thick, bulky, and fragile, making them unsuitable for use in portable devices.
Designing proper couplers, decouplers and absorbers pose the main challenge, requiring the development of dielectric and magnetic materials with specific electromagnetic profiles, and their accurate characterisation. Substrate materials are also essential elements in designing couplers and absorbers, and their electromagnetic properties play a significant role in the overall performance of the electromagnetic device. Materials can be dielectric or magnetic, or a combination of both. As available dielectric and magnetic materials are dispersed over the used frequencies, while most electromagnetic medical devices operate at wide bands, emphasis is given to developing materials with a specific electric and magnetic properties profile.
Designers have employed the available substrates to fabricate various microstrip components such as antennas, filters, dividers and phase-shifters. The designers were limited by the few discrete values of the permittivity and loss tangent. Engineered substrates, where the permittivity and loss tangent can be chosen by the designer will offer more freedom, and open the door to new designs.
This Research Topic aims to provide an overview of the developments of electromagnetic technologies for biomedical and communication applications. Prospective authors are invited to submit original manuscripts, reviews, perspectives and mini reviews on topics including, but not limited to:
1. Antenna and array on engineered-materials substrate.
2. Metamaterial antennas and array.
3. Wearable electromagnetic sensors.
4. Flexible /on-body/implant antennas.
5. Focused field antennas and arrays.
6. Improved electromagnetic signal penetration into the human body.
7. Shielding and isolating array elements.
8. Metamaterials-based antennas and arrays.
9. Engineered-based substrate to improve the performance of electromagnetic imaging systems.
10. Polymer-based dielectric substrate antenna array for medical electromagnetic imaging systems.
11.Microstrip components such as filters, dividers, phase shifters and resonators.
The selection of optimum physical properties of materials to serve the above-mentioned tasks depends on the frequency band in use, targeted organ, antenna design, cost, structure, weight, among other factors. Furthermore, the optimum material is usually not available in nature, and thus engineered materials are required to meet these requirements. Composite materials can be developed by adding filling materials, such as hollow glass microspheres, conductive particles or foaming agents to provide optimum properties. However, available solutions have significant drawbacks that limit their feasibility in medical devices. For instance, current broadband absorbers are thick, bulky, and fragile, making them unsuitable for use in portable devices.
Designing proper couplers, decouplers and absorbers pose the main challenge, requiring the development of dielectric and magnetic materials with specific electromagnetic profiles, and their accurate characterisation. Substrate materials are also essential elements in designing couplers and absorbers, and their electromagnetic properties play a significant role in the overall performance of the electromagnetic device. Materials can be dielectric or magnetic, or a combination of both. As available dielectric and magnetic materials are dispersed over the used frequencies, while most electromagnetic medical devices operate at wide bands, emphasis is given to developing materials with a specific electric and magnetic properties profile.
Designers have employed the available substrates to fabricate various microstrip components such as antennas, filters, dividers and phase-shifters. The designers were limited by the few discrete values of the permittivity and loss tangent. Engineered substrates, where the permittivity and loss tangent can be chosen by the designer will offer more freedom, and open the door to new designs.
This Research Topic aims to provide an overview of the developments of electromagnetic technologies for biomedical and communication applications. Prospective authors are invited to submit original manuscripts, reviews, perspectives and mini reviews on topics including, but not limited to:
1. Antenna and array on engineered-materials substrate.
2. Metamaterial antennas and array.
3. Wearable electromagnetic sensors.
4. Flexible /on-body/implant antennas.
5. Focused field antennas and arrays.
6. Improved electromagnetic signal penetration into the human body.
7. Shielding and isolating array elements.
8. Metamaterials-based antennas and arrays.
9. Engineered-based substrate to improve the performance of electromagnetic imaging systems.
10. Polymer-based dielectric substrate antenna array for medical electromagnetic imaging systems.
11.Microstrip components such as filters, dividers, phase shifters and resonators.
Keywords: Engineered -material substrate, Metamaterials, Wearable Antennas, Shielding and isolating Antennas, and focusing the electromagnetic field.
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