Secure short-range communications link for medical devices
AssigneeImpulse Dynamics NV
InventorsDavid Prutchi, Jason Meyers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of communication systems are disclosed for protecting communication between an implanted device ID and an external device ED. Optionally, the ID communicates over the TET channel by modulating a load on the channel. While the ID is communicating the ED optionally adds noise to the TET channel, inhibiting malicious interception of the communication. Using knowledge of the noise signal, the ED cleans the noise from the TET signal to recover the communication from the ID. In some embodiments, the TET link is used to pass an encryption key and/or to verify communications over a radio channel. The TET channel may be authenticated. For example, authentication may include a minimum energy and/or power transfer.
Claims23
A method of secure communication between an implanted device and an external device comprising:
- inducing an induced current in an implanted device by a nearby external device;
- modulating a load on said induced current by said implanted device to transmit an encryption key;
- generating noise by said nearby external device to obscure said key transmission on said modulated load;
- adding by said nearby external device of said noise to said induced current simultaneous to said modulating;
- encrypting data by said implanted device using said encryption key to produce an encrypted signal;
- and
- transmitting of said encrypted signal by the implanted device, wherein said method comprises:
- checking by said implanted device for said noise;
- and
- cancelling said modulating when said noise is not detected or is determined to not be fitting to obscure said key transmission.
An implantable device comprising:
- an inductive energy receiving circuit;
- a load modulator coupled to said energy receiving circuit for modulating a load on said energy receiving circuit;
- a transceiver for data communication;
- a processor configured for:
- generating an encryption key;
- controlling said load modulator for encoding said encryption key onto a current passing through said inductive energy receiving circuit;
- encrypting data using said encryption key to produce an encrypted signal;
- controlling a transceiver to transmit said encrypted signal;
- and
- checking by said implanted device for noise suitable to obscure said modulation of said key on said load;
- and
- cancelling said modulating when said noise is not detected or is determined to be not fitting to obscure said modulation of said key on said load.
A method of secure communication between an implanted device and an external device comprising:
- inducing a single induced current in an implanted device by a nearby external device wherein the single induced current serves as both a charging current and a communication carrier;
- modulating a load on said single induced current by said implanted device to transmit an encryption key;
- generating noise by said nearby external device configured to obscure said modulated load;
- adding by said nearby external device of said noise to said single induced current simultaneous to said modulating;
- encrypting data by said implanted device using said encryption key to produce an encrypted signal;
- and
- transmitting of said encrypted signal by the implanted device;
- wherein said method further comprises said nearby external device charging a power source of said implantable device with said single induced current concurrent with said modulating and adding of noise.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.