Medical Device Security Feature Detection and Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices often have unused or modified security features due to customer ignorance or preference for convenience over security, leading to potential security breaches and compromised patient data.

Innovation Solution

A system that analyzes log data from medical devices to detect unused or modified security features and sends targeted notifications to appropriate customer contacts to promote activation of these features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If security features are implemented in an opt-in fashion requiring customer activation, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to customer ignorance or preference for convenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of activationVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism by monitoring log data to detect unused security features and automatically notifying appropriate customer contacts. This closes the information gap between feature availability and customer awareness, enabling informed decisions about security feature activation without forcing premature activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring and identifying unused security features through log analysis, then proactively notifying customers without requiring them to manually check or inquire about available features. This shifts the initiative from customer to system while maintaining the opt-in nature of activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If multiple security features are activated, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback about which security features are currently unused based on log analysis, enabling customers to make informed decisions about activation. This targeted information reduces the complexity of configuration by highlighting only relevant opportunities rather than requiring customers to evaluate all possible features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes partial action by notifying customers about specific unused security features rather than automatically activating all possible features or requiring comprehensive configuration reviews. This selective approach reduces complexity while still improving security where gaps exist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If security features require customer configuration, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation is worsened leading to lower activation rates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidactivation effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides targeted feedback about which security features remain unused after customer configuration, helping customers understand the security gaps in their customized setup. This feedback loop enables customers to make incremental improvements without requiring complete reconfiguration or deep technical knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4564209A1Systems and methods to advertise unused security features to stakeholders
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4564209A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4564209A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4564209A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A non-transitory computer readable medium (16) stores instructions readable and executable by at least one electronic processor (14) to perform a method (100) of promoting unused or modified security features to a customer of a medical device (10). The method includes detecting, from log data (11) of the medical device, an unused or modified security feature of the medical device; determining a contact to whom a notification (26) of the unused security feature should be sent; and sending the notification to the determined contact indicative of information of the unused security feature.