User authentication in medical device systems
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
a memory associated with the implanted medical device storing coded data representative of biometric traits of authorized users to be granted access to the data communications of the instrument;
a sensor unit positioned along the instrument for generating biometric traits of the user; and
an analyzer unit determining whether a potential user is authorized to have access to the data communications of the instrument, wherein, in response to the potential user not being authorized to have access, the analyzer unit determines whether the potential user is requesting access associated with an override function and, in response to the access request being associated with the overdrive function, granting a level of access associated with a predetermined authorization level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
255 Citations
15 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; a memory associated with the implanted medical device storing coded data representative of biometric traits of authorized users to be granted access to the data communications of the instrument; a sensor unit positioned along the instrument for generating biometric traits of the user; and an analyzer unit determining whether a potential user is authorized to have access to the data communications of the instrument, wherein, in response to the potential user not being authorized to have access, the analyzer unit determines whether the potential user is requesting access associated with an override function and, in response to the access request being associated with the overdrive function, granting a level of access associated with a predetermined authorization level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
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, wherein, in response to a potential user being denied access, the analyzing means determines whether the potential user is requesting access associated with an override function and, in response to the access request being associated with the overdrive function, granting a level of access associated with a predetermined authorization level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
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; granting a qualified access when a match is confirmed between said at least one biometric trait and the stored coded data; and determining, in response to a match not being confirmed between said at least one biometric trait and the stored coded data, whether the potential user is requesting access associated with an override function and, in response to the access request being associated with the overdrive function, granting a level of access associated with a predetermined authorization level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification