Wireless Programmable Smart-Shield for Implantable Medical Devices Physical Protection

Modern Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) are provided with wireless connectivity to perform diagnostic efforts quickly and cost-effectively. However, this connectivity exposes IMDs to several cyber and physical threats which can also be life-threatening to the patient. In this paper, we propose an epidermal RFID-based wireless programmable smart-shield as a protection mechanism. The device is conceived as a programmable Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) capable of blocking unauthorized communication with the ICD. Preliminary simulations of the grid unit cell, equipped with an RFID IC and a PIN diode for wireless reconfiguration purposes, demonstrate the feasibility of the idea.