External MedMon for Wireless Medical Device Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable and wearable medical devices face significant security vulnerabilities due to their size and power constraints, which prevent the use of conventional security solutions like cryptography, making them susceptible to wireless attacks that can compromise patient safety.
Innovation Solution
A medical device monitor (MedMon) that detects anomalies in wireless communications by analyzing signal characteristics and behavioral patterns, generating warnings or jamming signals to protect the devices from malicious attacks, without requiring hardware or software modifications to existing medical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic protection is implemented in medical devices, then security against wireless attacks is improved, but device size and power consumption increase making it infeasible for implantable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external security monitor device that acts as an intermediary between the medical device and potential attackers. This external monitor performs the computationally intensive cryptographic operations and security monitoring, while the implantable medical device itself requires minimal processing power. The intermediary handles packet analysis, anomaly detection, and cryptographic verification, allowing the medical device to maintain low power consumption while still achieving strong security protection.
2Reliability
If cryptographic protection is implemented in medical devices, then security against wireless attacks is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The external security monitor serves as an intermediary that consolidates cryptographic functionality and security management outside the implantable device. This approach reduces the complexity burden on the medical device itself, as the intermediary handles key management, packet encryption/decryption, and security policy enforcement. The medical device only needs basic communication capabilities, significantly simplifying its design while maintaining strong security through the intermediary's sophisticated cryptographic protection.
3Reliability
If conventional security solutions are applied to medical devices, then security protection is improved, but size constraints of implantable devices make it infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an external security monitor as an intermediary that performs all complex security functions outside the implantable device. This intermediary handles packet capture, analysis, anomaly detection, and cryptographic operations, eliminating the need to embed these bulky components within the medical device itself. The medical device maintains its small form factor while the intermediary provides comprehensive security protection through external monitoring and intervention.
4Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication is enabled in medical devices, then functionality and convenience are improved, but vulnerability to malicious attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external security monitor implements continuous feedback monitoring of wireless communications between the medical device and external controllers. It analyzes each packet for anomalies, compares communications against established security policies, and provides real-time feedback by generating warnings or jamming signals when threats are detected. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain open wireless communication for functionality while dynamically responding to and neutralizing security vulnerabilities as they arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The security monitor acts as an intermediary layer between the medical device and the wireless communication environment. It intercepts and analyzes all wireless packets, verifying their legitimacy before allowing them to reach the medical device. This intermediary filtering mechanism enables safe wireless communication by blocking malicious attacks while permitting legitimate communications, thus maintaining functionality while reducing security vulnerability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device monitor (MedMon), method and computer readable medium is disclosed. The MedMon is configured to operate in a system having communications between a first medical device associated with a patient and a second device. The MedMon includes a receiver configured to snoop on communications between the first medical device and second device. An anomaly detector having a set of security polices is configured to detect an anomaly by analyzing the communications between the first medical device and second device for compliance with the security policies. A response generator configured to generate a response on a condition that an anomaly is detected. The response may be a warning message configured to warn the patient. The MedMon may include a transmitter configured to transmit the response. The response may be a jamming signal configured to disrupt communications between the first medical device and second device.