Gateway Communication Control for Connected Dialysis Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dialysis systems lack the ability for patients to intelligently control data communication capabilities, particularly during planned and unplanned events, leading to potential unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data allowance and limitation unit in a gateway device that controls communication between a medical machine and a network, allowing for controlled data exchange based on planned and unplanned events, enabling patients to reestablish communication when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data communication is enabled between medical machine and network, then external support and monitoring are improved, but security and vulnerability to cyber threats worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device dynamically changes its communication state between open and closed based on system events. During planned events (dialysis treatment), the gateway closes communication to prevent cyber threats. During unplanned events (errors, alarms), the gateway opens communication to enable external support. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by adapting communication availability to current system needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors its own state and uses this feedback to control communication. Event detection mechanisms provide feedback about system conditions (planned vs unplanned events), which then triggers appropriate communication states. This feedback loop ensures communication is enabled only when safe and necessary, resolving the security-versus-connectivity contradiction.
2Reliability
If communication is limited during planned events, then security is improved, but responsiveness to unplanned events worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-configured with event detection mechanisms that continuously monitor system state before communication is needed. When unplanned events occur, the system already has detection systems in place to identify and trigger communication opening, ensuring rapid response without delay from security protocols. This preliminary monitoring resolves the contradiction between security and response speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from system monitoring continuously informs the gateway's communication state. When unplanned events are detected through feedback mechanisms, the gateway immediately transitions from closed to open state, enabling fast response while maintaining security during normal operation. This feedback-driven approach eliminates response delays.
3Ease of operation
If communication is automatically controlled, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device autonomously monitors system events and automatically controls communication without user intervention. The built-in event detection and state management mechanisms enable the system to self-regulate communication based on operational context, simplifying user interaction while containing complexity within the gateway's automated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway merges multiple functions (communication control, event monitoring, state management) into a single integrated device. By combining these functions in one component rather than separate systems, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automatic control capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system, comprising: a medical machine; and a gateway device configured to communicate with the medical machine to allow access to a network, the gateway device comprising a data allowance and limitation unit that is configured to limit communication between the medical machine and the network when the data allowance and limitation unit is in an open state, wherein the data allowance and limitation unit is placed in the open state when a plannable system event occurs, and wherein, while in the open state, the data allowance and limitation unit is placed in a closed state when an unplanned event occurs, thereby providing less limited communication between the medical machine and the network compared to the open state.