A comprehensive survey of communication technologies, security frameworks, and intelligent architectures for medical internet of things and quantum-enabled healthcare

Abstract

The convergence of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), advanced communication technologies, and biomedical engineering has advanced intelligent, connected healthcare. This comprehensive survey investigates the evolution of IoMT architectures and communication protocols, along with their application across a range of healthcare scenarios. It provides a comparative analysis of short-range and long-range communication technologies, with emphasis on secure, privacy-preserving, and energy-efficient designs tailored for IoMT devices. The review also highlights recent advances in enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and quantum computing, and their growing role in enhancing system intelligence, data security, and diagnostic precision. In addition, the study examines the integration of edge and cloud computing for real-time health monitoring, diagnostics, and decision support. Emerging trends, including AI-enabled IoMT systems, blockchain-based privacy frameworks, and next-generation biomedical sensors, are analyzed in depth. Drawing on over 200 peer-reviewed publications, this work identifies persistent challenges in current IoMT ecosystems, including interoperability, scalability, reliability, and data governance. It also reviews key use cases such as remote patient monitoring, smart hospitals, and emergency response systems, exploring their deployment strategies, success factors, and technical barriers. Despite notable advancements, critical gaps remain in areas such as standardization, energy optimization, and secure data management. The survey concludes by outlining future research directions focused on quantum-secured communication protocols, AI-driven adaptive healthcare architectures, and innovative sensing technologies. This work aims to serve as a foundational reference for researchers, engineers, and healthcare professionals dedicated to developing the next generation of secure, intelligent, and resilient biomedical IoT solutions.