Hackers might harm drug delivery devices

DARWIN, Australia, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Australian and U.S. medical scientists say they are concerned computer hackers in the future might be able to tamper with electronic drug delivery implants.

The researchers from Darwin University and the University of Central Florida said the Remote Intelligent Drug Delivery System implants would dispense medicines automatically or via a wireless medical network. The devices, implanted under the skin, would remove the inconvenience of manual drug delivery. By connecting a RIDDS to a wireless medical control center patients with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or who are otherwise unable to give themselves medication could benefit.

The researchers, led by John Haynes in Australia and YanYan Wang and Carey Thaldorf in Florida, said the wireless communications technology is open to various security issues, which could include eavesdropping, jamming and tampering. A hacker, they said, could intercept and alter transmitted data, steal personal information or even spoof the sensor outputs of a RIDDS -- possibly to harm or even kill a patient.

"Security mechanisms for RIDDS must be fully considered prior to the widespread deployment of such delivery systems," they said.

The study is to be published in a a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.