Wearable Device to Detect Potential Interference or Unauthorized Access Attempts to Implanted Medical Devices
In 2005 a family friend passed away under circumstances that pointed to the strong possibility of the cause being electromagnetic interference with their implanted medical device.
This drew my attention to the vulnerabilities of implanted medical devices. As the wireless communication capabilities of implanted medical devices became more advanced, the risks increased and led me to invent a threat detection device to help mitigate these risks.
A summary of the invention was later published in the IP.com Prior Art Database. The abstract and a link to the full text are below.
Abstract:
The present invention is a wearable device that provides patients with a warning when they may be at risk of harm by interference with or unauthorized access to their implanted medical device. The present invention works with implanted medical devices that utilize RF for communication (sending/receiving data) or programming (e.g., adjustment of settings), such as those that employ the Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS) in the 402-405 MHz frequency range. Examples of implanted medical devices relevant to the present invention include implanted heart monitors, pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, and implanted medicine delivery pumps.
The full text is available here:
http://priorartdatabase.com/IPCOM/000178330#textpreview
Note regarding the full text:
Some minor editing was performed on the summary when it was sent for publication and an error was introduced that affects the clarity of one sentence.
Additionally, an attacker can download a patient's personal information might be downloaded from a wireless enabled implanted medical device that lacks sufficient security controls.
Should read:
Additionally, an attacker can download a patient's personal information from a wireless enabled implanted medical device that lacks sufficient security controls without the patient's knowledge.