Study of Helical Antenna as a Bone Fracture Sensor
Serap Kiri Aye ncesu
Department of Avionics Department of Electricity and Energy
Iskenderun Technical University Vocational School of Technical
Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey
serap.kiris@iste.edu.tr
ayseincesu@kilis.edu.tr
Ouzhan Akgöl
Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering
Iskenderun Technical University
Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey
oguzhan.akgol@iste.edu.tr
Abstract— Bone fracture is one of the most commonly
seen health problems. In this study, it is aimed to detect
bone fracture using a helical antenna placed without any
contact with the bone. The basic idea of the study, which
was carried out with a finger-type bone, is to observe the
changes in the scattering parameters expressing the ratio
of incident and reflected electromagnetic waves. The
analysis of the system showed that the scattering
parameters and the operating frequencies with broken
and intact biological structures are different from each
other. Besides, the operating frequency of the system is
determined to vary according to the status of fracture in
the bone and presented as a distinctive finding.
Keywords—Helical antenna, bone fracture, microwave
imaging, sensor
I. INTRODUCTION
The bone consists of organic components and minerals. As
the bone is exposed to overload in accidents, such as a fall, it
may crack or break even if it has a durable structure. In such
cases, doctors or radiologists use medical imaging methods
that are harmful to the patient’s health to monitor changes in
the bone [1]. There are methods like Ultrasound Imaging
based on ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging using
electromagnetic waves or X-ray and Computed Tomography
methods using ionizing radiation. Some of these methods may
leave harmful effects on patients, therefore, imaging through
electromagnetic waves should be used more. Among the
electromagnetic imaging methods, the most well-known
method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI works by
processing the response of hydrogen atoms in the tissue to the
electromagnetic waves sent.
In literature, there are studies that the conductivity of the
bone is measured [2,3], images are produced with respect to
relative permittivity varying according to the number of cells
in the bone tissue, the change of relative permittivity are
monitored using a split ring resonator which is in contact with
the bone, the change of the tissue is tracked through monopole
antennas placed inside the bone. The common point of these
studies is that soft tissue changes have been monitored.
According to literature, x-ray data is processed through
techniques such as image processing with artificial neural
networks for the detection of bone fracture [4,5]. Doojin
LeeUltra et al. followed the healing stages of bone fractures
by considering the differences in ultra-wideband (UWB)
pulsed radar technique [6]. Luis Nascimento and M. Graça
978-1-7281-9090-7/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE
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Muharrem Karaaslan
Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering
Sciences Iskenderun Technical University
Kilis, Turkey Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey
muharrem.karaaslan@iste.edu.tr
Emin Ünal
Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering
Iskenderun Technical University
Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey
emin.unal@iste.edu.tr
Ruano presented a strategy for identifying stress bone fracture
with computer-aided ultrasound imaging technique [7]. Zakria
Qadir et al. have conducted a study for the diagnosis of bone
fracture in patients of a certain range of age using the sound
waves generated by a mobile vibrator [8]. In the study of H.
M. Bilgin et al., low-magnitude high-frequency local vibration
(LMHFV) was compared with pulsed electromagnetic fields
(PEMF) on the tibia. They showed that LMHF stimulated
callus formation and thus affected fracture healing [9]. Rohit
Chandra et al. prepared a mechanism consisting of antennas to
monitor the change in cell quantity and dielectric properties
by microwave sensing and imaging [10]. Kirk C. McGilvray
et al. designed a wireless, biocompatible, and implantable
microelectromechanical sensor and placed it on the bone
invasively to follow the healing phase of the fracture in the
post-treatment period [11]. In [12], a ring resonator sensor
operating at 2.45 GHz was designed to examine the fracture
of the tibia. The analysis was carried out by placing it on a
three-layer tissue. In another sensor study, the healing of the
damaged tissue was monitored by a split ring resonator placed
on the hip bone [13]. Sabah et al. designed a chiral
metamaterial-based microwave biosensor to determine the
temperature of bone marrow [14]. Symenoidis et al. designed
a structure composed of monopole antennas implanted inside
the body and examined the recovery time by looking at the
relative change in the permeability and conductivity of the
tissue inside the bone with the outer surface of the bone
marrow [15]. In a similar study, the healing was observed due
to the change of bone marrow and external tissue at the point
where the fracture occurred in, with the implanted antennas
into the limb [16]. Parisa Zakavi et al. have proposed a slotted
waveguide antenna system to monitor bone healing and
growth [17]. In [18], the authors examined dielectric
properties of the skeletal structure with an implanted
biocompatible antenna system to accelerate the healing of a
fractured bone. Sujith Raman et al. analyzed scattering
parameters by implanting a compact split-ring resonator based
microstrip antenna as a probe to monitor the healing stages of
the skull bones [19].
The helical antenna has been studied in literature both for
its use in biomedical applications and also for the effect of
dielectric medium change. N. K. Kouveliotis et al. estimated
the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values induced in the
human head with a helical antenna system [20]. In [21], the
invention is about a combination, achieving dual band
operation, of a helical antenna, a whip antenna and a dielectric
core inside. A backfire bifilar antenna with a dielectric rod was
studied in [22] to investigate the trade-offs in terms of
performance and size. In a similar study a spiral-folded
printed quadrifilar helical antenna was designed for GPS and
compared with some other stuides in literature to propound the
effect of dielecric material [23]. In the study of Ping Liu and
Carey M Rappaport, a catheter-based microwave helical
antenna was designed for balloon angioplasty to utilize in the
treatment of arteriosclerosis [24]. In [25], input resistance of a
normal mode helical antenna was studied in human body
conditions. A square cross-section helical antenna with a
dielectric core was examined in [26]. It was seen that the Fig. 2. Helical antenna and its ground plane
increase in dielectric constant led helix to radiate as if it has a
larger cross section electrically, resulting in lower resonance The biological structure shown in Fig. 3 has a two-layer
frequency. tissue consisting of blood and bone from inside out. The
This study aims to detect bone fracture by utilizing a length of the finger type structure is 60 mm and it is placed
helical antenna operating like a sensor. inside the cavity of the antenna. The blood tissue represents
the bone marrow and its raidus is 2 mm. The wall thickness
II. DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODS of the bone tissue surrounding the blood tissue is set to 3 mm.
The basic idea of this study is the observation of radiation
If the dimensions of the antenna, like height or
characteristics called scattering parameters scaled in decibels
circumference, are less than wavelength, the antenna radiates
which express the ratio of the incident and reflected
in normal mode. When a helical antenna's circumference is
electromagnetic waves. These characteristics were
between 3/4  and 4/3 , the antenna radiates in axial mode
investigated via the change of the dimensions of the fracture
[22]. The designed antenna does not fit these restrictions for
belonging to a finger bone type biological material placed in
the observed frequency range. It can rather be considered as a
the cavity of the antenna. As the fracture width was changed,
higher order mode helical antenna. Its return loss is 17.736 dB
the dielectric properties of the medium inside the antenna
at 7.956 GHz as shown in Fig. 4.
changed, too. Consequently, the variation in frequencies and
scattering parameters was observed. The system is presented
in Fig. 1.
The wall thickness is 0.5 mm, the height over the entire coil
is 30 mm, the radius is 8.5 mm and the number of turns is 29
of the antenna seen in Fig. 1. The radius of the conductor that
was placed as a ground plane is 80 mm. The antenna is fed
by a coaxial cable in the simulation.

(a)

(a)

(b)
(b) Fig.3. Finger-type biological structure inside the cavity of the antenna
a) side view b) top view
Fig. 1. Finger䰚 type bone and helical antenna system a) top view b) side view

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 Hence, it is concluded that ܵଵଵ is the power ratio of the
wave, reflected from the antenna to the 1st port because of the
input resistance of the antenna (୰ୣୡୣ୧୴ୣୢ ), and delivered to the
antenna from the 1st port itself (ୱୣ୬୲ ). Here, port 1 is the feed
port of the antenna.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The simulation was carried out with an electromagnetic
analysis program that operates with finite integration method.
The system was analyzed between 7.6-9.6 GHz belonging to
C and X bands. It was held for different fracture dimensions
as 1 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, and intact condition (0 mm). At
the end of the analysis the operation frequencies derived from
ܵଵଵ values are 8.336 GHz, 8.366 GHz, 8.426 GHz, 8.526 GHz,
Fig. 4. ܵଵଵ graph of the antenna and 8.624 GHz for the fractures of 0 mm, 1 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm,
and 9 mm respectively. Also, minimum ܵଵଵ values are
obtained as -9.712 dB, -9.501 dB, -9.347 dB, -9.320 dB, and -
9.170 dB in the same order of fracture.
When the bone is intact, ܵଵଵ value is -9.712 dB meaning
that the power received (୰ୣୡୣ୧୴ୣୢ ) by port 1 is 10.68% of the
power sent (ୱୣ୬୲ ) to the antenna from port 1 again. The other
power ratios belonging to the aforementioned fracture
dimensions are given in Table I.
The ratio of ୰ୣୡୣ୧୴ୣୢ / ୱୣ୬୲ (%) variates increasingly as
the fracture width increases. From another point of view, as
(a) the fracture gets narrower the operation frequency of the
antenna shifts backward and ܵଵଵ values get better. According
to the results, a linear change is obtained both for the operating
frequencies and ܵଵଵ values. Consequently, the whole structure
can be evaluated as a sensor for the detection of the fracture in
the bone tissue.

(b)
Fig. 5. (a) Directivity and (b) gain of the helical antenna

According to the whole system evaluation, that the

biological structure is placed inside the cavity of the antenna,
directivity of the system is 8.895 dBi and gain is 5.91 dB at
8.5 GHz. Here, 8.5 GHz is chosen as the average frequency
for the sensor-like response.
The comparison was conducted through theܵଵଵ which is a
scattering parameter. In Equation (1) and (2) the scattering Fig. 6. ଵଵ results of the system for different fracture widths
parameters are given in terms of voltage waves ܸ [27].
TABLE I. FREQUENCY, ܵଵଵ AND POWER VARIATION DEPENDING ON
௏೙ష FRACTURE WIDTH
ܵ௡௠ ൌ శ (1)
௏೘
Fracture width 0 1 3 6 9
௏೙ష (mm)
ܵ௡௠ (dB) = 20 log శ (2)
௏೘ Frequency of
operation 8.336 8.366 8.426 8.526 8.624
These equations can be written in terms of the power ratios (GHz)
as below.
‫܁‬૚૚ (dB) - 9.712 -9.501 -9.347 -9.320 -9.170
௉ೝ೐೎೐೔ೡ೐೏ሺ೙ሻ
ܵ௡௠  ൌ  (3)
௉ೞ೐೙೟ሺ೘ሻ ‫܌܍ܞܑ܍܋܍ܚ۾‬ሺ૚ሻ
‫ܜܖ܍ܛ۾‬ሺ૚ሻ 10.68 11.2 11.6 11.69 12.1
௉ೝ೐೎೐೔ೡ೐೏ሺ೙ሻ
ܵ௡௠ (dB) = 10 log (4) (%)
௉ೞ೐೙೟ሺ೘ሻ

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 If we were studying about antenna communication,
higher order mode radiation or -9 dB ܵଵଵ value would not be
enough, but we compare the power relation due to ܵଵଵ . Hence,
the system sense the fracture using power ratios as if it is a
sensor.
Another issue is that the biological structure was not
designed as a part of a human hand. It is conceivable to
assume that the hand is just behind a larger ground plane
without affecting the radiation.
IV. CONCLUSION
In the literature, although there are different types of
antennas such as microstrip or Vivaldi antenna for bone
fracture detection by electromagnetic methods, the helical
antenna structure is scarce. Apart from this, it is seen that
most of the antennas are placed just inside the bone. In this
study, since the finger-type biological structure is placed
inside the cavity of the antenna without contact, the patient
examination will be facilitated in case of an advanced
application. In addition, there are many studies in the
literature evaluating the presence of fractures by checking up
the soft tissue changes. This study is based on the
examination of scattering parameters varying according to
the condition of the bone fracture. It is important to develop
this method, which is less harmful than methods based on
ionic radiation that endangers human health, to make it
available.
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