Secure Wireless Link for Implantable Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques fail to establish a secure wireless connection between external devices and implantable components in medical device systems, lacking MITM protection and user interaction, which is crucial for controlling implantable components safely.
Innovation Solution
An external component acts as a temporary secure proxy, forming a non-closely coupled secure wireless connection with an external device and transferring security data to an implantable component, allowing it to imitate the external component's connection and establish a direct, secure communication with the external device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a direct wireless connection is established between external device and implantable component, then communication efficiency is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to lack of MITM protection
Solution Approach 1:
The external component performs preliminary pairing and security establishment with the external device before the implantable component communicates with it. The external component is pre-paired with the external device using secure protocols, and this pre-established secure connection is then leveraged to protect subsequent communications with the implantable component, preventing MITM attacks before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The external component acts as a trusted intermediary between the external device and the implantable component. It establishes a secure proxy relationship where the external component mediates the connection, allowing the implantable component to communicate securely through the externally component's pre-established secure channel with the external device.
2Reliability
If secure pairing protocol requiring user interaction is implemented, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required user input
Solution Approach 1:
The external component performs automatic secure pairing with the external device without requiring user interaction. The pairing process is automated through pre-configured security credentials and protocols, eliminating the need for manual user input while maintaining security. The system serves itself by automatically establishing and managing secure connections.
3Productivity
If implantable component stores security data from external component, then direct secure communication is enabled, but security risk increases from data exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable component creates a copy of the external component's security credentials rather than storing the actual credentials themselves. The implantable component imitates or emulates the external component using copied security data, allowing it to communicate directly with the external device while the external component retains the master security credentials for ongoing management and rotation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for creation of a direct secured wireless link/channel between an implantable component and an external device of an implantable medical device system. More specifically, the implantable medical device system includes an external component that is configured to operate as a temporary secure proxy device for wireless pairing of the implantable component with the external device.