Implantable Medical Device Physical Action Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices rely on external devices for activation, data transfer, and diagnostics, which are prone to issues like loss, damage, and cybersecurity risks due to wireless data transfer.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device system that includes sensors to detect intentional patient actions, allowing for control of the device's operations without an external device, enhancing cybersecurity through designated physical actions for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external device is used to activate therapy and transfer data, then the implantable medical device can be controlled and monitored, but the system becomes more complex and prone to loss, damage, and cybersecurity risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external device from the system by implementing all control and communication functions within the implantable medical device itself. The IMD autonomously detects physical actions, determines therapy activation, and handles wireless communications without requiring a separate external controller, thereby eliminating the complexity and risks associated with external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable medical device performs self-control by autonomously detecting physical actions through integrated sensors, determining when therapy should be activated, and managing its own operations. The device serves itself by making decisions about therapy delivery based on sensed actions, eliminating the need for external intervention.
2Loss of information
If wireless data transfer is used for diagnostics and communication, then data can be transferred externally, but cybersecurity risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable wireless communication function from the implantable device by implementing it only in the external body-compatible device. The IMD maintains a closed, secure internal environment for sensitive data and therapy delivery, while the external device handles all wireless communications, thereby removing cybersecurity risks from the implanted system.
Solution Approach 2:
The external body-compatible device serves as an intermediary between the implantable medical device and external systems. It handles all wireless data transfer and communication functions, protecting the implanted device from direct exposure to cybersecurity threats while still enabling data transfer capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If an external device is required for therapy activation, then the implantable medical device can be controlled, but patient convenience is reduced due to potential loss or damage of the external device
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable medical device activates therapy autonomously by detecting physical actions through its integrated sensors. When a patient performs a designated action, the IMD automatically determines and executes therapy activation without requiring the patient to retrieve or operate an external device, thereby improving reliability and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming the IMD with detection algorithms and therapy activation protocols. When a physical action occurs, the device has pre-configured responses ready to execute immediately, eliminating the need for external device intervention and ensuring reliable therapy activation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and/or method to control operation of an implantable medical device in response to sensed occurrence of a designated physical action intentionally performed by the patient.