Abstract: A parasitic element for use with an internal antenna in a wireless device. Generally, the antenna is a substrate antenna with one or more conductive traces supported on a substrate and mounted offset from a ground plane associated with the wireless device. One or more signal or power transfer conductors, cables, or signal feeds are positioned immediately adjacent to the antenna, which are capable of coupling signals into the antenna which picks-up energy from fields around or emanating from the conductors. Alternatively, the conductors intercept a portion of the energy being transferred into the antenna. The parasitic patch element employs a thin conductive structure which is placed adjacent to, over or under those conductors, reduces a substantial portion of energy from coupling between the conductors and antenna by altering the resonant or energy coupling characteristics of the conductors.