Internet of Medical Things: Architecture, Trends, Challenges, and the Evolution Towards IoMT 5.0

Abstract

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is rapidly reshaping modern healthcare by seamlessly connecting smart medical devices, patients, and care providers through intelligent networks. This paper explores the layered architecture of IoMT, highlighting the roles of sensing devices, secure data transmission, edge and cloud computing, and AI-driven analytics in delivering proactive and personalized medical care. Emerging trends such as remote patient monitoring, smart hospitals, ingestible sensors, and Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) applications in IoMT are discussed alongside critical security, privacy, and regulatory challenges. The study further examines innovative use cases and global initiatives that demonstrate the transformative potential of IoMT across diverse healthcare settings. Looking forward, we introduce the vision of IoMT 5.0 through patient-centric design and current evolving technologies such as digital twins, sustainable technologies, decentralized systems, and collaborative robotics which can drive the future of intelligent, resilient, and ethically responsible healthcare ecosystems.