Abstract
This paper presents a novel design of printed hybrid fractal tree (PHFT) antenna using bacterial forging optimization (BFO) in conjunction with curve fitting technique. The antenna geometry is based on the hybrid structure obtained by integrating meander line geometry with fractal tree, whose geometrical descriptors are determined by means of BFO. The fractal shape allows the new hybrid antenna to be effectively reduced in size without significantly impairing performance. Representative results of optimized antenna are reported in order to access the effectiveness of the developed approach for reliable implementation in wireless telemedicine applications. Moreover, useful guidelines on the effects of finite ground plane size on antenna characteristics have been adequately analyzed.