Device for the protected operation of neuroprostheses and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for operating a neuroprosthesis in the central nervous system within the skull, the spinal cord or peripheral nerves connected to the spinal cord, or a vision prosthesis or hearing prosthesis, the neuroprosthesis comprising an implanted internal component and a non-implanted external component, a wireless data transmission being provided between the internal component and the external component, wherein some or all of the data are transmitted only of an authorization signal transmitted by the external component to the internal component has been tested and accepted and the authorization signal~is automatically changed at non-periodic time intervals.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a system for the protection of neuroprosthesis operation against unauthorized access to the function or operating data. The system is assigned to neuroprostheses for treating functional disorders of the nervous system. This neuroimplant protection system (NIS) comprises at least one neuroprosthesis component which is in contact or operational connection with nerve tissue. Neuroprosthesis operation takes place only during the period of a specific authorization and/or comprises an authorized data transmission between external component and implanted component and/or an authorized communication for monitoring and/or defining the neuroprosthesis functional state. The communication between external and implanted component is in encrypted form.
-
Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A method for operating a neuroprosthesis in the central nervous system within the skull, the spinal cord or peripheral nerves connected to the spinal cord, or a vision prosthesis or hearing prosthesis, the neuroprosthesis comprising an implanted internal component and a non-implanted external component, a wireless data transmission being provided between the internal component and the external component, wherein some or all of the data are transmitted only of an authorization signal transmitted by the external component to the internal component has been tested and accepted and the authorization signal~is automatically changed at non-periodic time intervals.
-
6. The method according to 1 wherein for the data transmission or functioning of the internal component, at least two operating states are possible that can be activated by means of different authorization signals.
- 14. A method for operating a neuroprosthesis in the central nervous system inside the skull, the spinal cord or peripheral nerves connected to the spinal cord, or a vision prosthesis or hearing prosthesis, the neuroprosthesis comprising an implanted internal component and a non-implanted external component, the internal component furthermore being in contact or operative connection with the nerve tissue and being able to monitor, influence or replace a function of the nerve tissue during operation, wherein the internal component is operated only if an authorization signal transmitted by the external component to the internal component has been tested and accepted and the authorization signal is automatically changed at non-periodic time intervals.
-
15. The method according to clam 14 wherein the authorization signal accepted by the internal component is part of a data stream that is transmitted from the external component to the internal component, the data stream being encrypted using sets of public and private keys, the public and private keys being automatically changed at random time intervals.
- 17. A method for operating a neuroprosthesis in the central nervous system inside the skull, the spinal cord or peripheral nerves connected to the spinal cord, or a vision prosthesis or hearing prosthesis, the neuroprosthesis comprising an implanted internal component and a non-implanted external component, the internal component furthermore being in contact or operative connection with the nerve tissue and being able to monitor, influence or replace a function of the nerve tissue during operation, wherein the internal component is operated only if an authorization signal transmitted by the external component to the internal component has been tested and accepted and wherein the acceptance of the authorization signal is dependent on the internal component detecting an unusual state of an implant wearer.
Specification