Blockchain Medical Data NFT Ownership and Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical research is hindered by the lack of available, relevant, clean, and aggregated medical data due to the archaic process of condensing data via ICD codes, with much data not in digital form, and stringent HIPAA regulations that complicate data access and sharing, leading to inefficiencies in AI model training and data utilization.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a distributed ledger platform, such as blockchain, to securely collect, store, and anonymize medical data, creating cryptographic non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and ownership tokens to facilitate secure data sharing and compensation for patients, while ensuring HIPAA compliance and efficient data organization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If medical data is stored in centralized databases with traditional security measures, then data access is restricted and secure, but data sharing and research utilization are significantly hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddata sharing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary layer that mediates between data storage and access. The blockchain ledger acts as a trusted third party that verifies data ownership and access permissions without requiring direct trust between parties, enabling secure data sharing while maintaining patient privacy and HIPAA compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the security verification function from traditional centralized authentication systems and places it on a decentralized blockchain ledger. By separating the identity verification and permission management from the data storage itself, the system enables secure access without centralized control points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If HIPAA security layers are implemented to protect patient data, then patient privacy is protected, but data access for research purposes becomes difficult and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient privacy protectionVSAvoiddata access complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where patients can directly control their own data permissions through the blockchain system. Patients can grant or revoke access permissions without requiring intermediary approvals from healthcare providers or administrators, simplifying the access process while maintaining privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain ledger serves as an automated intermediary that enforces HIPAA compliance through smart contracts. These contracts automatically verify permissions and grant access only when compliance conditions are met, eliminating the need for complex manual review processes while maintaining legal requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If medical data is anonymized and aggregated for research, then patient privacy is maintained, but data quality and traceability for AI training are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient privacy protectionVSAvoiddata traceability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into two distinct layers: identifiable data stored securely on blockchain with patient consent, and anonymized data used for research. The blockchain layer maintains the link between patient identity and medical records through cryptographic hashes, while research datasets contain only anonymized information, allowing both privacy protection and data traceability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain ledger acts as an intermediary that preserves data provenance and traceability information without exposing patient identities. Through cryptographic hashing and immutable ledgers, the system can trace data origins and verify authenticity while maintaining patient anonymity in research datasets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Volume of stationary object

If traditional ICD code condensing is used to save storage space, then data storage efficiency is improved, but data organization and AI model training effectiveness are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage spaceVSAvoidAI model training efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a new dimension to data organization by implementing a hierarchical structure where data exists both in condensed ICD code format for storage efficiency and in structured, annotated format for AI training. The blockchain layer provides metadata that links these different representations, enabling the same data to serve multiple purposes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional data system where the same underlying medical records serve multiple functions: space-efficient storage through ICD coding, detailed analysis through structured data, and AI training through annotated datasets. The blockchain ledger coordinates these different data representations, allowing each to fulfill its specific purpose without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11875339B1Method and apparatus for collecting and distributing secured data
Publication Date: 2024.01.16 MEDDAMARK INC
  • US11875339B1 patent drawing
  • US11875339B1 patent drawing
  • US11875339B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A decentralized hybrid system for collecting, storing, and managing sensitive data, such as medical record data. Data is stored as multiple atomic records in a centralized database. A non-fungible token (NFT) is associated with each data record and assigned to a cryptographic wallet of a party owning the data in the data record on a blockchain ledger. A user key based on the wallet is stored in a centralized user database to identify the data owner to the system. Ownership tokens are granted for each data record and distributed to parties have an ownership interest in proceeds from the sale of data. When data is purchased, the proceeds are distributed, pro rata, based on the ownership tokens.