Cyber, Social and Communication Failures in the Implantable Medical Device Ecosystem

The aim of this paper is to bring to light the issues of internet connected implantable medical devices and the ecosystem around them that cause the failure of communication and ultimately the security of these devices. Private medical device companies creating internet connected devices for patients are part of what this paper is terming the ‘neoliberal IMD conveyor belt’. This paper examines IMD hacks, IMD market pressures, and implements the crime triangle into the IMD ecosystem. In addition, this paper presents the story of failure that led to the Medtronic wireless pacemaker issue that forced Homeland Security CISA to announce that 750,000 Medtronic pacemakers were susceptible to low level skill exploits.