# Skin Antennas Wireless Connection for Medical Implants By Pearl | Published 2008-06-12 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skin-antenna-wireless-connection-for-medical-implants References: [technology.newscientist](http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn14080-skintenna-wireless-signals-creep-over-human-skin.html?feedId=tech_rss20) & [ee.qub.ac.uk](http://www.ee.qub.ac.uk/staff/academic/ws.htm) We already have wireless internet at home and Wi-Fi outside the home. Why not a personal wireless connection for different medical implants like pacemakers in our bodies too? William Scanlon and Gareth Conway have recently filed a patent for a [wireless antenna system](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wireless-power1). It is able to send signals along human skin to help all the devices work together. The small, [patch-like antenna](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medicosbiotech) is incredibly power efficient, much better than current technologies like Bluetooth which consumes a lot of battery power. Medical devices need long energy life spans. What makes these antennas different is the signals are made to travel sideways along the body instead of away from the body. How the researchers at [Queen's University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/queens-brew), Belfast, Northern Ireland did this was by turning the design upside down, which then sends the signals along the skin as "creeping waves". These waves are the reason why both your ears hear a sound rather than only in the ear closest to the origin of the sound. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 40% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Wireless Medical Implants:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing wireless antenna systems for medical implants with improved power efficiency and longer battery life. - **Skin-based Signal Transmission:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring the use of skin-based antennas to transmit signals sideways along the body, enabling better connectivity between medical devices. - **Power Efficient Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating power-efficient wireless technologies for medical implants to prolong the lifespan of battery-powered devices. ### Where This Applies - **Healthcare Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating wireless antenna systems into medical devices, improving connectivity and communication in the healthcare industry. - **Electronics Manufacturing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Manufacturing skin-based antenna systems for medical implants, revolutionizing the production of wireless medical devices. - **Telecommunications:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Adapting skin-based signal transmission technology for broader use in telecommunications, enabling new connectivity options for various industries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Battery-Free Health Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uci.md) - [Infection-Detecting Wound Coverings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartheal-sensor.md) - [Nicotine-Detecting Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skinworn-sensor.md) - [Skin Health-Detecting Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/at-skin.md) - [Wearable Ultrasound Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-ultrasound.md) - [Advanced Heart-Tracking Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasound-patch.md) - [Bulbous Ultrasonic Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasonic-patch.md) - [AI-Enabled Smart Bandages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-smart-bandages.md) - [Mobile Healthcare Exam Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handheld-medical-device.md)