User authentication in medical device systems

• US 20010031071A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Thompson, David L., Nichols, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

A user authentication system utilizes biometric traits such as fingerprints, vein print, voice print, facial images, iris/retina and similar distinguishing characteristics to allow access to programmers, ETPs, PSAs and similar instruments associated with implantable medical devices (IMDs). The authentication system provides a hierarchical scheme that allows access based on expertise and need basis.

Claims

1. A user recognition system to identify a user and enable access to instruments associated with at least one implanted medical device, the system comprising:

an implanted medical device in a patient;

an instrument in data communications with the implanted medical device; and

the user recognition system for submitting biometric traits of the user implemented in said instrument.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein said implanted medical device includes one of a pacer, a defibrillator, a drug delivery device and a neural implant.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein said instrument includes one of a programmer, a PSA and a home monitor.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein said user recognition system includes at least one of a finger scanner, a camera and a microphone.

5. The system of

claim 4

wherein said biometric traits include a finger scan obtained from said finger scanner.

6. The system of

claim 4

wherein said biometric traits include an iris/retina scan obtained via said camera.

7. The system of

claim 4

wherein said biometric traits include a voice print obtained from said microphone.

8. A biometric-based user authentication system for identifying and granting access to at least one user to an implanted medical device in a patient associated with an instrument, the authentication system comprising:

at least one biometric sensor implemented in the instrument;

at least one biometric trait of a user stored as coded data in a memory bank of said biometric sensor; and

means for analyzing and comparing said at least one biometric trait with said coded data to grant or deny access.

9. The system of

claim 8

wherein said at least one biometric sensor includes at least one of a camera, a finger print sensor and a microphone.

10. The system of

claim 8

wherein said at least one biometric trait of a user includes a fingerprint, a voice print, an iris/retinal print, a facial model, a veinal imprint and a digital signature.

11. The system of

claim 8

wherein said means for analyzing and comparing includes a software system implemented in the memory bank of the biometric sensor.

12. The system of

claim 8

wherein said biometric traits of a user stored as coded data includes instructions to allow a user with matching biometric traits to have access to a predetermined set of data and tools of said implanted medical device.

13. A method for a biometric-based identification of a user to provide authorized access to operational hardware, software and patient medical data contained in instruments and implanted medical devices, the method comprising:

accepting at least one biometric trait from a potential user;

comparing said at least one biometric trait to a stored coded data; and

granting a qualified access when a match is confirmed between said at least one biometric trait and the stored coded data.

14. The method of

claim 13

wherein said qualified access includes a hierarchical scheme to enable user-specific access and authorization based on expertise and need.

15. The method of

claim 14

wherein said hierarchical scheme includes distinctions of access to various hardware, software tools to perform therapy, diagnostic and monitoring functions designed to provide various levels of authorized access to physicians, nurses, Medtronic technicians, patients and their representatives.