A student in India recently used a medically implanted Bluetooth device to cheat in an exam. How did the student achieve this, what challenges do implantable devices present, and could this be a sign of a new revolution of implanted devices?

How a student tried to cheat with implants

Implanted electronics have been around for several decades, with the most famous device being RFID chips. With the use of a biosafe glass housing, an antenna, and a small chip, such an RFID implant can be surgically implanted under the skin and be used to communicate with devices via radio. This can be used for identification, access entry into restricted areas, and even make contactless payments.

Recently, a medical student in India made headlines in his attempt to cheat a test using implanted medical electronics. The student had already spent 11 years at the college, and the exam in question had already been failed by the student multiple times. The student only had one more attempt left on the exam and decided to take exam cheating to a new level.

The student had seen an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) surgeon and asked for a small Bluetooth device to be mounted under his skin behind his ear. This device, which was the same colour as skin, allowed the student to wirelessly connect to a phone which would then be used to stream information. Despite their best efforts, a surprise check from exam operators discovered their phone, and the student confessed to having a surgically implanted device.

What challenges do implanted devices present?

While exam cheating is immoral, credit must be given when due, and the use of implanted electronics inside the ear is borderline genius. These devices have existed for decades, but the introduction of low-cost SoCs has helped to push the creation of tiny electronics that can be mounted in the smallest of places.

But implanting electronics into tissue comes with a range of challenges that, if not adequately addressed, can result in serious complications. The biggest challenge is ensuring that an implanted device does not disrupt natural biological processes. Simply put, if foreign objects are detected inside the body, the immune system will respond by trying to break it down. This is not a problem if the foreign body is biological in nature, but objects made from solid metal and plastic don’t break down, and this can result in dangerous bodily responses such as pus, inflammation, and fever.

Devices implanted in tissue must also be sterile and done so using carefully controlled environments. The world around us is full of bacteria, and surprisingly, those that cause severe illness are probably on our skin right now. The reason why we do not fall ill is that the bacteria cannot enter our deep tissue, our stomachs are highly acidic, and our orifices are designed to kill bacteria. However, if this bacteria finds its way onto an implant which is then inserted into the body, it can be potentially fatal as the bacteria enter the tissue and the bloodstream.

Could this cheating be a sign of a new revolution of implanted devices?

It is clear that the students who participated in this cheating scandal were desperate, but what is of more interest is that they were able to find surgeons willing to implant these devices. As electronics continue to improve and medical procedures fall in price, we could see a new wave of individuals choosing to get electronics implants. This is already being seen in countries such as Norway, where the use of implanted chips allows for the storage of personal data such as medical records, contact details, and COVID vaccination status.

With the metaverse on the rise, it may not be long before implanted electronic devices become the norm. One major piece of technology that would revolutionise implanted devices would be universal translators that allow two individuals to speak in real-time. Another example of a potentially revolutionising implanted technology would be medical monitors that check for core biological signs such as heart rate and then relay this information to emergency services should something go wrong.