Proximity signature for secure communication with implantable medical device

• US 8,682,437 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kalpin, Scott L., Leong, Patrick S., Sarkinen, Scott A., Roberts, Earle T., Mitchell, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): OROPEZA, FRANCES P
• Application Number:
  US12/108,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 607/30, 607/31, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/88 Medical equipments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0819 Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device.

Claims

1. A method of establishing secure communication between an implantable medical device and an external device, the method being performed by the implantable medical device and comprising:

receiving a first distance telemetry request for secure distance communication;

determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received;

transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key;

determining whether a second distance telemetry communication containing information encrypted according to the encryption key is being received; and

accepting the request for secure distance communication if the second distance telemetry communication contains information encrypted according to the encryption key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

declining the request for secure distance communication if the second distance telemetry communication does not contain information encrypted according to the encryption key.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key comprises transmitting the encryption key.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining whether the telemetry signal matches a coding signature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining at least one of a clock rate, a duty cycle, and an on-off key rate of the signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises comparing the proximity telemetry signal to one or more stored signatures.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining whether information received via distance telemetry matches the coding of the coded proximity telemetry signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the coded proximity telemetry signal comprises a coded magnetic field.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting the request for secure distance communication further comprises accepting the request for secure distance communication if the coded proximity telemetry signal has been received.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information regarding the code of the coded proximity telemetry signal via the request for secure distance communication.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising declining the first distance telemetry request for secure distance communication if a predetermined amount of time expires between receiving the first distance telemetry request and determining that the coded proximity telemetry signal has been received.

12. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a receiver module;

a transceiver module configured to receive a first distance telemetry request for secure distance communication and to transmit, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received by the receiver module,

determine whether a second distance telemetry communication containing information encrypted according to the encryption key is being received, and

to accept the request for secure distance communication if the second distance telemetry communication contains information encrypted according to the encryption key.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the transceiver module is a radio frequency transceiver module.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the receiver module is an inductive receiver module.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to compare signals received by the transceiver module to signals received by the receiver module to determine whether the coded proximity telemetry signal is being received.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to compare signals received by the receiver module to stored signatures to determine whether the coded proximity telemetry signal is being received.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the transceiver module is configured to transmit the encryption key.