Microwave Resonators for Wearable Sensors Design: A Systematic Review

The field of flexible electronics is undergoing an exponential evolution due to the demand of the industry for wearable devices, wireless communication devices and networks, healthcare sensing devices and the technology around the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. E-tex tiles are attracting attention from within the healthcare areas, amongst others, for providing the possibility of developing continuous patient monitoring solutions and customized devices to accommodate each patient’s specific needs. This review paper summarizes multiple approaches investigated in the literature for wearable/flexible resonators working as antenna-based systems, sensors and filters with special attention paid to the integration to flexible materials, especially textiles. This review manuscript provides a general overview of the flexible resonators’ advantages and drawbacks, materials, fabrication techniques and processes and applications. Finally, the main challenges and future prospects of wearable resonators are discussed.