Email Server Mediator for Medical Device Network Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for sharing patient data between medical institutions and healthcare providers face challenges such as privacy concerns, high costs, and accessibility issues due to security measures like firewalls, which can impede the secure and efficient transfer of medical data across networks.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables communication between external entities and medical devices within institutions by using email servers to send requests and responses over networks, allowing medical devices to perform actions and send data as email messages, thereby bypassing institutional firewalls and ensuring secure data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firewalls are implemented to secure medical data, then security is improved, but accessibility to medical data from external locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an email server as an intermediary component that sits between external healthcare providers and the protected medical device network. This intermediary receives requests from external providers, translates them into appropriate device commands, and relays responses back through the same channel. The email server acts as a buffer that allows communication without requiring direct network access, thus maintaining firewall security while enabling external accessibility.
2Reliability
If VPNs or T1 lines are used for secure data transmission, then security is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard email infrastructure and common internet protocols instead of expensive dedicated secure transmission lines. By using widely available email servers and SMTP/POP3 protocols that most organizations already have in place, the system achieves secure communication without requiring costly VPN hardware or T1 line subscriptions. The approach replaces expensive persistent secure connections with cheaper, on-demand email-based communication.
3Ease of operation
If direct network access is allowed for data transfer, then accessibility is improved, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing external providers to initiate direct connections to medical devices (which would compromise security), the patent inverts the communication model. The email server receives requests from external providers and then initiates controlled, authenticated connections to the devices on behalf of the providers. This reversal ensures that all connections originate from within the trusted network boundary, eliminating the security risk of external-initiated direct access while maintaining provider accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided for connecting a medical apparatus to a network. The device collects data from the medical apparatus and performs a variety of processing functions, such as trending, protocol translation, generating reports, etc. related to the collected data. The device then transmits the collected data over a network to interested parties. In some implementations, the device can transmit the collected data as an email message.