3 ms·
Implantable devices typically have to have a wireless interface of some sort. The alternative is to put a physical port on someone's body, which is a great way
by moyix 11y ago
Implantable devices typically have to have a wireless interface of some sort. The alternative is to put a physical port on someone's body, which is a great way to cause infections.
- amyjess 11y agoBut... but... I want a datajack at the base of my skull!
- jessaustin 11y agoMe too, I've been searching for an excuse to get the Motoko haircut...
- TheLoneWolfling 11y agoSo you have a wireless interface for the non-able-to-kill-you stuff. But if you're having to change the code of something that's been implanted, you've already done something horribly wrong.
- mkehrt 11y agoFor example, I think pacemakers can set the range of acceptable heart rates by radio. So now, you have to have logic checking that it doesn't get set to 0. But what happens if there's a buffer overflow in that checking? Edit: here's a paper demonstrating similar attacks: http://www.secure-medicine.org/public/publications/icd-study.pdf http://www.secure-medicine.org/public/publications/icd-study...
- TheLoneWolfling 11y agoSee, that's an example of something that I do not think should be settable via radio. Maybe inductive or sonic communication. Alternatively, you have the software check the set range, but the hardware (or a second non-connected processor) also checks it separately to make sure it's sane anyways.
- DasIch 11y agoPacemakers and defibrilators are configured to match an individual patient. Part of that configuration includes what parts of the heart to stimulate. This configuration may need to change as the patient's condition changes. You also need to be able to turn of the pacemaker entirely to monitor how the heart operates without stimulation. You may need to turn of the defibrilator during certain medical procedures...