Although designing compact and efficient antennas remains a significant challenge, the practical utility of Meander Line Antennas (MLAs) has grown substantially in recent years. This progress has been driven by advancements in electromagnetic theory, simulation tools, and fabrication techniques, enabling MLAs to achieve high performance in applications such as RFID tags, LTE handsets, and human body sensors. In this work, we will address critical gaps in MLA design by deriving a new capacitive and inductive reactance equations using near-field EM simulations and validating it against theoretical models. We will also introduce a more precise Q factor calculation based on the reactance-to-resistance ratio, which aligns closely with experimental VSWR measurements. We will demonstrate the practical applicability of these advancements through the fabrication and testing of MLAs at 405 MHz, achieving self-resonance, input resistance, and a Q factor of ~100. Additionally, we will explore MLA performance in human body conditions, analysing self-resonant structures in muscle, skin, and fat, and achieving the smallest antenna size of 14.9×4.1×0.1 mm³. Human body phantoms are fabricated to validate these findings, with measurements showing a Q factor agreement between theory and experiment. This work will highlight the potential of MLAs in real-world applications and provides a foundation for future advancements in compact antenna design.

Ts. Dr. Ngu War Hlaing earned her Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in 2018 and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in 2019, both from the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS), where she was honoured with the Best Student Award for her master’s program. She pursued her Ph.D. in Engineering at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), receiving the Best Student Award upon completing her doctoral studies in 2023. Driven by a passion for education, Dr. Ngu has contributed as a lab demonstrator, tutor, and teaching assistant at UMS and UTM. She is a registered Graduate Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia and holds the designation of Professional Technologist from the Malaysia Board of Technologists. Currently, she serves as a full-time lecturer at the School of Engineering, Sunway University. Her research interests include wireless communications, network coding, and the design of implantable antennas.