Contrary to the naming, the Internet of Medical Things or IoMT is not the Internet. Instead, it's a network of devices connected to each other.
IoMT comes from the medical application of the concept of IoT or the Internet of Things. Using the Internet of Things concept in medical devices, one creates a network of devices that are not only interconnected but also able to communicate with each other to facilitate data collection and analysis and subsequent medical intervention.
What’s the IoT?
The Internet of Things is one of the biggest trends in the life sciences and refers to a network of different devices with sensors, software, and cloud connections. These allow the devices, often called “smart devices”, to connect.
Devices of IoT can be any device, software, or hardware, provided they can be used in a device network. The components of IoT can be devices of any type (with or without input mechanics), software, hardware, cloud systems, etc. Though the components vary depending on the use, they usually can exchange data between themselves and execute tasks autonomously.
The devices of the IoT are usually the sensors and actuators. Sensors pick up information regarding the surrounding environment like temperature, air pressure, fluid pressure, work a microphone, etc. The actuators do the opposite. They cause changes to the surroundings; for example, move something, increase/decrease levels of pressure/temperature, open/close doors, play music, etc.
In addition to these devices, an IoT system will also need cloud connectivity and the ability to analyze all the data and give commands based on them. So, usually, a sophisticated analytical tool is needed.
IoT vs IoMT: What's the difference?
The beauty of IoT is that it’s not limited to any specific environment. It can be used in almost any industry, in security, in healthcare, in agriculture, etc. The efficiency and usability of the system depend on the devices and network being used. In theory, entire cities can be connected as one system.
The IoMT or the Internet of Medical Things establishes a system connecting “people-to-people, people-to-things, and things-to-things” in a healthcare setting. The system starts with the objects or devices that collect data. These can be medical imaging devices like MRI, X-ray machines, manually imputed medical records, or wearable devices like smartwatches.
The info collected here can go to a central server that does the analysis. Depending on the requirement, the server can present the data to the physician in a prioritized manner, work with other devices (end alerts to phones or PCs), recognize patterns, etc.
IoMT and IoHT
IoMT and IoHT are the same. IoHT stands for Internet of Healthcare Things. This is the same concept as IoMT.
What is IoMT used for?
IoMT is generally used for digitalizing steps of patient data records and treatment. So, the patient's previous test results, CT/MRI/X-ray images, all previous treatment records, treatment efficacy, etc. can be accessible to their physician. Their wearable devices can also provide in-depth data on heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep, daily activity, etc. It significantly increases the accuracy of diagnosis. It also allows for a multidisciplinary approach to treatments; providing each healthcare professional with data according to their specialty.
One of the largest benefits is that by using an analyzing tool, it is possible to go through a high number of patient records collected by IoMT. It can be helpful during outbreaks like Covid-19 or measles to identify unvaccinated patients and high-risk patients.
The IoMT device’s connection to the internet also allows a wider area coverage in real-time. This considerably alters treatment options and the patient’s quality of life. For example, a system designed with a patient wearable device, physician's computer, and hospital database allows the physician to track the patient's health parameters and subsequently alert the hospital in case of an emergency. For patients with severe or chronic conditions, time often is the decisive factor for treatment outcome. Constant monitoring for these patients allows them to live a close to regular life.
For children with chronic conditions like diabetes type I or bronchial asthma, IoMT systems can also be connected to schoolrooms; alerting teachers or school nurses of low sugar or asthma attacks. Many wearable devices also record patients' whereabouts. Large-scale temperature screening and symptom monitoring are also possible using sensors in public places like airports and train stations. It can help trace sources of rare conditions and viruses.
Another advantage of IoMT systems is that they simultaneously allow both large and small-scale assessment. Hence, the data from at-home smart devices used by the patients can be used by hospitals to monitor all patients and collect and analyze data for research. It is far more accurate than other methods of data collection like surveys.
IoMT Security Concerns
Being connected to the internet comes with significant security risks. Since the IoMT deals with medical data, the concern about data breaches is severe. There is no absolute foolproofing against hacking of IoMT servers. However, manufacturers usually take significant precautions to avoid security breaches.
