DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT OF HEXAGONAL LOOP-STAR FRACTAL UWB ANTENNA FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

This article presents the design and simulation of a hexagonal loop star slot fractal antenna for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications in medical environments.The proposed antenna is fabricated on an FR4 dielectric substrate, using copper as the radiating conductor, and occupies a compact footprint of 30 × 25 mm.Its simulated response indicates broadband frequency coverage from 3 to 23 GHz.The antenna achieves a minimum return loss of -60 dB at 10.8 GHz, demonstrating strong resonance and effective impedance matching.Incorporating a defected ground structure (DGS) further improves impedance matching across the operating band.Its compact geometry and broad bandwidth suggest that it could be suitable for continuous use in medical settings.The study assesses the antenna's UWB performance through simulations, focusing on returnloss characteristics and radiation patterns.The proposed fractal geometry is a strong candidate for continuous wireless body area networks and modern health-monitoring systems.