Secure Implantable Medical Device Wireless Control via Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional short-range wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth, used in implantable medical device systems are vulnerable to encryption compromises, potentially allowing malicious third parties to control these devices.
Innovation Solution
Establishing an indirect secure communication channel between an implantable medical device system and a central system via an intermediary mobile device, using a two-phase process to encrypt communications and authorize user access, thereby enhancing security and preventing unauthorized control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional short-range wireless communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth) are used for control, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to encryption vulnerabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device between the control entity and the implantable medical device system. The smartphone runs a trusted application that establishes secure communication channels, acting as a mediator that prevents direct vulnerable connections while maintaining wireless control functionality. This resolves the contradiction by preserving ease of operation through wireless interface while improving security reliability through the intermediary's encryption mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If direct wireless connection is used between controller and implantable device, then device complexity is reduced, but security reliability worsens due to exposure to malicious third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication architecture into multiple layers: a secure channel between the implantable device and smartphone, and a separate authorization channel through the trusted application. This segmentation allows the implantable device to maintain simple hardware while distributing security functions across the smartphone and application layers, thus reducing overall system complexity while improving security reliability.
3Reliability
If encryption mechanisms are strengthened to prevent compromise, then security reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional security steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authorization actions during device pairing and setup, where the trusted application pre-establishes secure communication channels and authorization credentials. By performing these security-critical actions in advance, the system ensures strong encryption and authorization without requiring users to perform complex security steps during normal operation, thus improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for enabling a user of a mobile electronic device to wirelessly control one or more functions of an implantable medical device system. The techniques presented herein establish a secure (encrypted) communication channel between the implantable medical device system and a central system associated with the manufacturer of the implantable medical device system and use the secure communication channel to authorize a user to wirelessly control one or more functions of the implantable medical device system via the mobile electronic device.