Wearable Knee Cap Microwave Sensor for Osteoarthritis Detection

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal disease that causes joint deterioration, primarily in the knee and hip joints. With the rising ageing population and obesity rates, it has become a significant global public health concern. To address this, there is a growing demand for smart textiles that can incorporate wearable antenna sensors directly on the body for sensing and communication purposes. In our study, we designed a highly efficient monopole antenna on a flexible nylon substrate fabric known for its exceptional elasticity. The antenna was constructed and numerically simulated to achieve optimal performance. The monopole antenna is intended for use at 2.45 GHz in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. A human knee model is constructed and examined for the effects of healthy and osteoarthritic knees on the resonance frequency where the change in the antenna's peak resonating frequency can be used to diagnose knee osteoarthritis in a non-invasive manner.