Abbott Issues New Cybersecurity Patch For Cardiac Devices

After Abbott recently settled a case against short-seller Muddy Waters, the company has put out a second cybersecurity patch for certain St. Jude radio-frequency enabled cardiac devices to stop potential hackers from harming patients.

Following concerns about potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities on certain Abbott Laboratories Inc. implantable cardiac devices, US FDA has alerted patients and health-care providers to another firmware rolled out by the company to mitigate those risks. The firmware also tackles problems with premature battery depletion, which the agency says is unrelated to the cybersecurity concerns.

In 2016, Muddy Waters Research, a short-sale trading company, published research it had conducted with MedSec Holdings Ltd. that found...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Cybersecurity

With LDT Rule DOA, Could FDA Shift Focus To RUOs?

 

Now that the US FDA has chosen not to appeal a March ruling effectively killing the agency’s efforts to regulate lab-developed tests as medical devices, will the agency adopt a different strategy to flex its regulatory muscle?

Congress, Researchers Highlight Security Risks At DNA Testing Services

 
• By 

Congress has launched an inquiry into 23andMe amid privacy concerns following its bankruptcy, particularly regarding the potential sale of sensitive user data. Additionally, a Cybernews report gave 40 DNA testing firms an average cybersecurity grade of D, citing widespread vulnerabilities and data breaches, along with inadequate public information about their security practices.

Birmingham City University Develops New Defense Mechanism Against Cyberattacks On AI Systems

 

AI systems used in healthcare are vulnerable to adversarial cyberattacks, which are a growing concern, said Atif Azad, a professor of AI at Birmingham City University. Azad’s research group has developed a method that trains AI to become more resilient to cyber threats through the use of random image adjustments.

Enovis Appoints Damien McDonald CEO, Reaffirms Q1 Guidance Amid Strategic Growth Push

 
• By 

Enovis has named veteran medtech leader Damien McDonald as its new CEO effective 12 May as the orthopedic company reaffirms first-quarter 2025 revenue guidance of between $555m and $563m. Medtech Insight spoke with Tim Czartoski, Enovis’ president of US surgical and global product and enabling technologies, about the firm’s growth strategy and innovation plans.

More from Digital Technologies

UK MHRA Joins New Global Network For Safe Use Of AI In Healthcare

 

The UK's regulatory agency is the first to join a new international network for oversight of AI in healthcare run by a non-profit organization, HealthAI, the global agency for responsible AI in health.

Volta Files For US FDA Approval Of Next-Gen Cardio Mapping Software After Winning Labeling Expansion

 
• By 

Volta Medical received a labeling expansion for its AF-Xplorer mapping software to treat A-fib, which provides the clinical evidence needed to broaden US access. The company hopes for FDA clearance for its improved second-gen AF-Xplorer II software.

FDA’s AI Tool Won’t Make Regulatory Decisions, Official Says

 
• By 

Tala Fakhouri said the agency’s use of the AI tool in the review process has generated lots of questions.