Remote Communication Process for Medical Device Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated medical devices face challenges in securely enabling remote access due to vulnerabilities that can lead to cyberattacks, overloading, and interference, compromising patient safety and device performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a remote communication process that operates separately from medical processes, with higher priority given to medical procedures, to manage communication and enforce access criteria, thereby isolating and securing remote interactions and reducing the risk of cyber threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote access to medical device is enabled, then device accessibility and service capability are improved, but security vulnerability and risk of cyberattacks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The software system is divided into separate processes: medical processes and remote communication process. This segmentation isolates remote access functionality from critical medical procedures, allowing remote access without exposing the entire system to cyber threats. The remote communication process handles all external communications independently, preventing direct access to medical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote communication process acts as an intermediary between external remote systems and internal medical processes. All incoming requests must pass through this intermediary, which validates access criteria and forwards only authorized requests. This mediator architecture enables remote accessibility while filtering out malicious or unauthorized access attempts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote communication process handles all incoming requests, then remote access functionality is improved, but processing resources may be starved for critical medical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic priority management where the remote communication process operates with lower priority than medical processes. When processing resources are available, remote communication is handled; when resources are constrained, medical procedures receive preferential treatment. This dynamic prioritization ensures medical reliability while maintaining remote communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote communication process serves as an intermediary that manages resource allocation between external communication needs and internal medical procedure requirements. By acting as a buffer and request manager, it prevents resource starvation of critical medical processes while enabling comprehensive remote access functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If access criteria validation is performed for all incoming requests, then security is improved, but processing time and system load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Access criteria are configured and validated in advance before processing incoming requests. The remote communication process is pre-configured with security rules and access policies, allowing rapid validation of incoming requests without performing complex security checks in real-time. This preliminary preparation reduces processing time while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote communication process acts as an intermediary that performs access criteria validation, filtering requests before they reach medical processes. This intermediary architecture concentrates security validation in a dedicated component, improving overall system security while minimizing the time impact on critical medical procedures through efficient request filtering.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the field of medical devices, and more specifically to techniques for remotely accessing automated medical devices. According to a first aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for remotely accessing a medical device (10) configured to perform a medical procedure. The method comprises that the remote communication process (PCOMM) performs the steps of configuring (S1) at least one access criterion for remotely accessing the medical device and establishing (S2) a secure connection between the medical device and a remote system. The method further comprises that the remote communication process (PCOMM) performs the steps of receiving (S3) from the remote system, a request to access the one or more medical processes and forwarding (S5a) the request to the one or more medical processes, upon the request fulfilling the configured at least one access criterion for remotely accessing the medical device (10).