Implantable Device Body-Centric Authentication Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) face significant security risks due to the potential for malicious hacking, which can compromise patient safety and device functionality, especially given their wireless communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a body-centric communication and authentication method that uses integrated circuitry within implantable devices to authenticate human body actions, providing a two-factor authentication mechanism that requires both external device signals and specific body actions, thereby enhancing security and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication capabilities are added to AIMDs to enable remote monitoring and control, then device functionality and patient convenience are improved, but security vulnerabilities and susceptibility to malicious hacking increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces body-centric signals (electrical, acoustic, or mechanical signals generated within the human body) as an intermediary authentication layer between external wireless commands and device execution. This intermediary verification mechanism ensures that only commands authenticated by genuine body-centric signals can control the implantable device, thereby maintaining wireless functionality while blocking unauthorized access attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication by detecting and verifying body-centric signals before executing any device actions triggered by external wireless communications. This preliminary verification step ensures that authentication occurs in advance of command execution, preventing unauthorized control while allowing legitimate wireless communication functionality.
2Reliability
If traditional authentication methods are used for AIMDs, then device access control is implemented, but security against sophisticated hacking attempts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electronic authentication systems (such as buttons, switches, or simple passcodes) with a biometric-based body-centric signal detection system. This substitution leverages the unique electrical, acoustic, or mechanical signals naturally generated by the human body, creating an authentication mechanism that is extremely difficult to replicate or hack while maintaining reliable access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the authentication parameter from conventional inputs (buttons, passcodes) to physiological parameters (body-generated electrical signals, acoustic signals, or mechanical vibrations). This parameter transformation creates a fundamentally more secure authentication mechanism that exploits the uniqueness and difficulty of replication of human body signals, thereby enhancing security against sophisticated hacking attempts.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If body-centric authentication is implemented in implantable devices, then security against unauthorized access is significantly enhanced, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements body-centric authentication using signal detection capabilities that can be integrated into existing implantable device architectures. The system leverages existing sensors (such as those used for physiological monitoring) to detect body-centric signals, allowing the authentication function to be added without requiring entirely new hardware components, thereby reducing implementation complexity while maintaining enhanced security.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system utilizes signals that are naturally and continuously generated by the patient's own body, eliminating the need for external authentication devices or complex input mechanisms. The body itself serves as the authentication source, providing continuous verification signals that simplify the overall system architecture while maintaining high security standards.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable device coupled with an integrated circuitry, is operable to receive signals representing a human body action. The implantable device may be further operable to authenticate the signals. Responsive to authenticating the signals, the implantable device may be further operable to perform a device action associated with the implantable device. The implantable device may include a medical device that detects physical conditions of a body.