Secure IMD Data Exchange via Pre-Encryption and RF Telemetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) face challenges with data transmission due to the limitations of inductive telemetry, such as short range and slow data transfer rates, and the use of RF telemetry raises privacy concerns with potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive patient information, which existing encryption techniques burden IMDs with high processing demands.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a crypto key is used to preencrypt sensitive information on an IMD, allowing secure storage and transmission via long-range telemetry, offloading encryption burdens from the IMD to external devices like programmers or repeaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If RF telemetry is used for long-range data transmission, then transmission range is improved, but privacy security deteriorates due to potential unauthorized disclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-encrypting sensitive information on the IMD before transmission. The encryption is performed in advance using a crypto key, so that when data is transmitted over the long-range RF telemetry channel, it is already protected against unauthorized disclosure. This resolves the contradiction by enabling long-range transmission while maintaining security through prior encryption preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a crypto key as a mediator between the IMD and the transmitted data. The crypto key is retrieved from a secure key repository and used to encrypt sensitive information before transmission. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to achieve both long-range transmission capability and privacy security protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If encryption is performed on IMDs, then data security is improved, but processing load and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the encryption processing burden from the IMD. Instead of requiring the IMD to perform encryption operations, the system extracts the encryption function to external devices or pre-performs encryption before data is loaded onto the IMD. This allows the IMD to simply store and transmit encrypted data without consuming additional processing resources or power for encryption operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by performing encryption before data is stored on the IMD. The sensitive information is encrypted in advance using a crypto key, and only the encrypted data is then loaded onto the IMD for storage and subsequent transmission. This eliminates the need for the IMD to perform encryption operations, thereby reducing its processing load and power consumption while maintaining data security.
3Reliability
If inductive telemetry is used, then patient safety is improved through close proximity requirements, but data transfer rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both inductive telemetry and RF telemetry by using a hybrid approach. The system uses inductive telemetry for secure, close-proximity communication for authentication and crypto key retrieval, while using RF telemetry for long-range data transmission. This combination allows the system to maintain patient safety through controlled proximity for critical operations while achieving high data transfer rates through RF communication for actual data exchange.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing secure exchange of sensitive information with an implantable medical device is presented. A crypto key uniquely associated with an implantable medical device is defined to encrypt sensitive information during a data exchange session. The crypto key is securely obtained over a secure connection from a secure key repository securely maintaining the crypto key. The sensitive information is encrypted using the crypto key and the sensitive information is stored as encrypted data onto the implantable medical device.