Medtech Review

Explain the tech; what is it, how does it work, and what hardware, software, and network does it need? The medical technology industry, also known as Medtech, is an industry of medical equipment manufacturing companies. These companies develop, manufacture, and distribute medical equipment, health information systems, diagnostic tests, and other technologies that help healthcare professionals treat their patients faster and more efficiently. As stated by the medical podcast ‘Talking HealthTech’: “The medical devices incorporate in diagnostics, in vitro diagnostics (IVD) ( i.e. laboratories and pharma/biotech level). The medical devices vary from a simple band-aid, dental floss, thermometer, catheter, and wheelchair to complex MRI scan machines, CT scanners, PET, and laser machines.” The software, hardware, and network the medical technology needs to function depends entirely on the device at hand. The MRI scan machine, for example, uses an ethernet-based network known as PACS (picture archiving and communication system). Many different manufacturers make MRI scan machines, and, as a result, various operating systems/software are used to run the machines. As for hardware, a typical MRI includes hardware components such as a powerful and fast signal acquisition computer, radio frequency amplifiers, gradient power supplies, and more.

Is it currently available to the public? Yes, a majority of this technology is technically available to the public. With that said, these Medical devices are rarely bought for personal use due to the cost and the size of these machines.

Who (or what) invented or pioneered the technology? The medical technology industry doesn’t have one specific founder or start date. However, the discovery of the X-ray in 1895 was the first recorded piece of cutting-edge Medical Technology. This discovery marks the first technological advancement in the modern health industry.

What “problem” does it solve for its users? MedTech helps healthcare workers use this technology to diagnose, treat, and improve their patient’s quality of life. With modern machines like the X-ray and the CT scan, medical professionals can find the root of a problem much quicker and with less margin for error.

Are there any potential drawbacks or dangers of using the tech? Some of these medical devices come with a few potential dangers/risks. While many of these machines are typically very safe, they are known to conflict with other specific health conditions. For instance, if an individual with severe kidney disease were to have an MRI, the dye within the machine could cause what is known as “nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.”

Offer one example of how widespread adoption of this technology might impact society. The development and advancement of these medical technologies have had a massive positive impact on our society. The widespread adoption of these advancements allows the medical field to achieve increasingly earlier disease detection, more effective treatments, and more noninvasive medical procedures.

Sources:

“What Is Medtech?” Talking HealthTech, Talking HealthTech, 2 Dec. 2021, www.talkinghealthtech.com/glossary/medtech.

Ellzey, Andy, and Aaron Chamberlain. “X-Rays, CT Scans, and MRI Scans – Orthoinfo – AAOS.” Edited by Thomas Ward Throckmorton, OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Nov. 2023, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/x-rays-ct-scans-and-mris/#:~:text=Some%20newer%20MRI%20machines%20have,additional%20risk%20for%20the%20patient.

N.A. “10 Different Types of Software Used in the Healthcare Industry.” Intellectsoft Blog, Intellectsoft, 8 June 2023,
www.intellectsoft.net/blog/most-popular-types-of-software-used-in-healthcare/#:~:text=of%20medical%20software.-,Electronic%20Health%20Records%20(EHR),more%20organized%20and%20secure%20way.

“Technology: I. History of Medical Technology .” Encyclopedia of Bioethics. . Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2023,
https://www.encyclopedia.com.

Computer Worms

As I briefly discussed in my previous post, malware can come in various forms. One of the most common types of malware is known as computer worms. As Ivan Belcic from Avast Academy loosely states, “Computer worms are self-contained malware that latch onto devices and immediately spread through the network without any external aid.”

One of the most infamous computer worms is MyDoom. First Appearing in mid-January of 2004, MyDoom is known as one of the worst malware outbreaks in history. The worm targeted Windows-based devices and infected them using corrupted email attachments. In an article by OKTA, the site states, “In January and February of 2004, people all around the globe started getting mysterious email messages that said, ‘I’m just doing my job, nothing personal, sorry.’ Each email came with an attachment, and every time people checked their inboxes, they got another copy.” Since the emails were so poorly written, they had been widely confused for harmless spam. However, the second it arrived, the worm had infected the device, spreading from computer to computer using the email addresses on said computer to copy itself to those other addresses.

As a result, the computer worm spread like wildfire; it reached 500 thousand computers in only a little over a month. Nearly 20 years later, MyDoom is still unbeaten as the fastest-spreading email worm in the world. According to an article from Get Support, and I quote, “Back in late January 2004, once the virus had spread to millions of computers all over the world, it essentially waited until 1st February, when it planned to begin a coordinated attack on the website of the SCO Group.” Fortunately, after a few weeks, the worm ended up dying down on its own. The incident officially ended on March 1st. Though the malware did resolve itself, the infected devices never recovered. It destroyed countless Windows-based computers, resulting in 38 billion dollars in damages. The cost in today’s economy would equal roughly 52 billion dollars because of inflation. Despite MyDoom’s global impact, The creator of the infectious malware is still unknown. Many suspected it to be a Russian programmer due to similarities between MyDoom and other worms in Russian labs when the incident occurred. Regardless, this theory was never confirmed or expanded apon after the event’s initial coverage. Unfortunately, due to the creator’s anonymity, no one was held accountable for this attack.

The MyDoom worm is still active today, albeit diminished and contained. As explained by NORD VPN, and I quote, “The worm is still active and running. However, it is contained in just over 1% of malicious emails worldwide, mostly those sent by spammers originating from China and the US.” The original strain of the malware resolved itself two decades ago, but there have been multiple sightings of new MyDoom versions or variants since the initial event. Looking at this computer worm and the damage it caused, it’s crucial to learn more about what to look out for and how to protect yourself from an attack. If your device is infected, the first step is to minimize the damage. If it’s your personal computer, disconnect it from the internet, or contact your IT department if you are on a work computer. Then, install/update antivirus software on your computer to locate and remove the infection. Lastly, to prevent the risk of another infection, change your passwords, update your software, install/enable a firewall, and maintain anti-virus software.

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Medtech Review

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