A blog about what is new (and old) in the world of active implantable medical devices

Monthly Archives: October 2012

RF Programming Hack Demonstrates Potentially Fatal ICD Exploit

Posted on by Posted in Tachycardia, Tech Talk

I received today a link to a very interesting article which plays on the fears of the public, and which I am sure will result in tough new regulations to our industry.

The article discusses how IOActive researcher Barnaby Jack reverse-engineered a “pacemaker transmitter” (probably a programmer or a MICS module) to command ICDs within a 30 feet range to fire, or to rewrite their firmware.

This is the reason why MICS (“RF telemetry”) is under renewed scrutiny by regulators. Thoughts for mitigating this issue include requiring authentication and exchange of encryption keys via close-range (inductive) telemetry and other means before allowing any programming via MICS.

Click here for the original article.  The text reads:

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Biotronik Launches Implantable BioMonitor for Monitoring Arrhythmias

Posted on by Posted in Atrial Flutter/Fib, Biotronik, Dementia, ECG Monitoring, Tachycardia, Telemetry

Biotronik BioMonitor to diagnose arrhythmias. David Prutchi PhD www.implantable-device.comBiotronik announced the European market release of BioMonitor®, an implantable cardiac device designed for the highly accurate and reliable monitoring and management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or unexplained syncope.

According to Biotronik’s press release:

“BioMonitor® is a subcutaneous implantable leadless cardiac monitor for the long-term continuous remote monitoring of patients with arrhythmias such as AF, bradycardia, sudden rate drop, asystole and tachycardia.

As sensitivity and specificity are essential in the detection of arrhythmias such as AF, BIOTRONIK has developed ClearSense Technology with a unique three-vector signal detection that produces highly precise and reliable arrhythmia monitoring.

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St. Jude’s Q3 2012 AIMD Results: CRM Maintains Downward Trend, Neuromodulation Steady

Posted on by Posted in AIMD Business, St. Jude Medical

St. Jude announced today its third quarter 2012 results.  From the press release:

“Total CRM sales, which include implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and pacemaker products, were $691 million for the third quarter of 2012, an 8 percent decrease compared with the third quarter of 2011. Total CRM sales for the third quarter decreased 4 percent after adjusting for the impact of foreign currency.

Of that total, ICD product sales were $412 million in the third quarter, a 7 percent decrease compared with the third quarter of 2011. On a constant currency basis, total ICD sales declined 4 percent from the prior year.

Third quarter pacemaker sales were $279 million, a 9 percent decrease compared to the third quarter of 2011. After adjusting for the impact of foreign currency, pacemaker sales decreased 4 percent.”

…

“St. Jude Medical sales of neuromodulation products were $101 million in the third quarter of 2012, down 1 percent from the comparable quarter of 2011. Revenue for the third quarter increased 2 percent after adjusting for the impact of foreign currency”

 

Transient Electronics Opens Path Toward Absorbable, Transient AIMDs

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized
Transient Electronics Dissolves in Water www.implantable-device.com David Prutchi PhD

Transient Electronics Dissolves in Water

A collaboration of Tufts Univeristy, University of Illinois and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) resulted in the development of electronic devices that dissolve in water or biological fluids dissolves and break down in traces of silicon and magnesium. Because of the small amount, these components can be harmlessly assimilated by biosystems like the human body, potentially opening the path to the development of implantable electronic devices that require only temporary implant, but instead of being surgically explanted, are simply allowed to get absorbed by the body after their mission is over.

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