Framework for a Secure and Sustainable Internet of Medical Things, Requirements, Design Challenges, and Future Trends

Abstract

The framework presented in this article provides a guide for designing secure and sustainable internet of medical things (IoMT) solutions. The main objective is to address the challenges related to safety and sustainability in the medical field. The critical conditions driving these challenges are identified, and future trends in the field of IoMT are discussed. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed framework, a case study was carried out in a private medical clinic. In this study, an IoMT system was implemented to monitor patients’ vital signs, even when they were not in the clinic. The positive results demonstrated that the implemented IoMT system met the established security and sustainability requirements. The main statistical findings of the case study include the real-time monitoring of the vital signs of the patients, which improved the quality of care and allowed for the early detection of possible complications. In addition, medical devices such as the blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and electrocardiograph were selected, proving safe, durable, and energy and maintenance efficient. These results were consistent with previous research that had shown the benefits of IoMT in remote monitoring, the early detection of health problems, and improved medical decision-making.