Medical Interface Gateway for Secure Network Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices lack robust data exchange capabilities with modern networks and are vulnerable to cyberattacks, limiting their integration into hospital networks and compromising data integrity and security.
Innovation Solution
An interface device with integrated circuitry and software control, featuring multiple network interfaces and security measures, ensures secure and reliable data exchange between medical devices and remote systems, including data filtering, encryption, and format conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If medical devices use traditional serial interfaces for data exchange, then device complexity is reduced, but network integration capability and data security are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary interface device that sits between the medical device and the network. This interface device handles all network communication tasks, protocol conversion, and security functions, allowing the medical device itself to remain simple while gaining network capabilities through the intermediary layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the medical device, the interface device, and the network. The interface device is separated as an independent unit that provides network connectivity and security functions, allowing the medical device to maintain its simplicity while the interface device handles complexity.
2Ease of operation
If medical devices are integrated into modern networks, then data accessibility and monitoring capabilities are improved, but vulnerability to cyberattacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device performs preliminary security actions before data enters the network or reaches remote systems. Security functions such as authentication, encryption, and data validation are performed in advance at the interface device, preventing malicious data from compromising the medical device or network.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device acts as a security intermediary between the medical device and the network. It implements security protocols and filters data to prevent cyberattacks, while still allowing legitimate data exchange to proceed smoothly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data exchange capabilities are enhanced with multiple network interfaces, then adaptability to different networks is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various network protocols and interface types. A single interface device can support multiple network interfaces (Ethernet, wireless, etc.) and protocol conversions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses an interface device for data exchange between medical devices and remote devices via networks and corresponding methods for this purpose, wherein it is ensured that the data transfer from the medical device to the interface device is reliably readable and that the data exchange with the at least one remote device is robust against unwanted data exchange.