Secure Wireless Updates for Hospital Beds via QR Code Credentials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hospital beds often require software updates via wired connections, and when updates are performed wirelessly, there is a risk of unauthorized access and updates, necessitating measures to ensure secure and authorized communication with patient support apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a tool that enables secure wireless communication with patient support apparatuses, featuring enhanced security features to prevent unauthorized access, and allowing for automatic connection to temporary wireless networks using coded images such as QR codes, ensuring secure software updates and diagnostic data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used for software updates, then ease of operation is improved, but security against unauthorized access deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of software updateVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by generating and displaying a coded image containing unique wireless communication credentials before the actual software update process. This preliminary step ensures that only authorized devices can connect to the temporary wireless network, establishing security before the ease of wireless operation is utilized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A coded image (QR code or similar) serves as an intermediary between the service tool and the patient support apparatus. This intermediary contains encrypted wireless communication credentials that enable secure automatic connection, mediating between the need for easy wireless operation and the requirement for security against unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automatic connection to temporary wireless network is implemented, then productivity is improved, but security against unauthorized access deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of software updateVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication credentials (SSID and password) are copied into a machine-readable coded image format that can be quickly scanned and automatically processed. This copying process enables efficient automatic connection while maintaining security through the use of encrypted credentials that are difficult for unauthorized devices to obtain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If wired connection is used for software updates, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of software update

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. By using wireless communication with automatic connection based on coded image credentials, the system eliminates the need for physical cable connections while maintaining security through encrypted wireless protocols and device-specific authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250069739A1Wireless service technology for patient support apparatuses

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A patient support apparatus and a portable service tool are adapted to communicate with each other in order to allow a user of the service tool to wirelessly update software executed by the patient support apparatus. In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus displays a coded message that encodes network credentials (e.g. SSID, password, etc.) and the software tool is adapted to capture an image of the coded message, decode the message, and then set up a wireless network having the decoded network credentials. The patient support apparatus then automatically joins the network and receives one or more wireless software updates. The service tool may alternatively or additionally connect to a healthcare facility network and upload software to a server thereon, which then downloads the software to the patient support apparatus over the healthcare facility computer network.