REMOVABLE DATA STORAGE MEDIUM, MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A REMOVABLE DATA STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20160321467A1
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: KEBER, Florian, SCHMIDT-KLENTZER, Jan Wilbert
• Granted Patent: US 10,354,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/42 using separate channels for security data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers

Abstract

A removable data storage medium including a serial interface; a non-volatile storage medium; a memory controller controlling data transmission between the serial interface and the non-volatile storage medium, a receiving unit; and a write protection unit; wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive a device identification feature from a medical device that can be connected to the removable data storage medium; and the write protection unit is configured to compare the device identification feature with a predetermined internal criterion, and, if the device identification feature complies with the predetermined internal criterion, permits read and write access from the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium and, if the device identification feature does not comply with the predetermined internal criterion, limits access of the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium to read access.

Claims

1. A removable data storage medium comprising:

a serial interface;

a non-volatile storage medium;

a memory controller controlling data transmission between the serial interface and the non-volatile storage medium,

a receiving unit; and

a write protection unit;

wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive a device identification feature from a medical device that can be connected to the removable data storage medium; and

the write protection unit is configured to compare the device identification feature with a predetermined internal criterion, and, if the device identification feature complies with the predetermined internal criterion, permits read and write access from the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium and, if the device identification feature does not comply with the predetermined internal criterion, limits access of the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium to read access.

2. The removable data storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive the device identification feature via a wireless data link.

3. The removable data storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit comprises an RFID transponder.

4. The removable data storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive data via an optical data link.

5. The removable data storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the receiving unit comprises a photodiode.

6. The removable data storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is mechanically encoded and configured to interact with a complementary mechanically encoded transmitting unit on the medical device that can be connected to the removable data storage medium.

7. The removable data storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the removable data storage medium is a USB memory stick, which comprises a USB port as the serial interface.

8. The removable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the non-volatile storage medium, the memory controller, the write protection unit and the receiving unit are arranged in a common housing.

10. A medical device comprising:

a device identification feature; and

a serial interface for exchanging data with the removable data storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a transmitting unit configured to transmit the device identification feature to the removable data storage medium.

11. The medical device according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting unit is configured to send the device identification feature to the removable data storage medium via a wireless data link.

12. The medical device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting unit comprises an RFID transponder, in which the device identification feature is stored in the form of a code identifying the medical device.

13. The medical device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting unit comprises a light emitter.

14. The medical device according to claim 13, wherein the light emitter is an infrared light-emitting diode.

15. The medical device according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit is mechanically encoded and configured to interact with a mechanically encoded receiving unit on the removable data storage medium that can be connected to the medical device.

9. The removable storage medium, wherein the write protection unit are provided in the memory controller.

16. A method for operating a removable data storage medium having a serial interface, a non-volatile storage medium and a memory controller controlling data transmission between the serial interface and the non-volatile storage medium, wherein the removable storage medium further having a write protection unit and a receiving unit, the method comprising:

connecting the serial interface of the removable data storage medium with a serial interface of a medical device;

receiving a device identification feature from the medical device on the receiving unit;

comparing the device identification feature with a predetermined internal criterion; and

setting read and write access to the non-volatile storage medium of the removable data storage medium if the device identification feature complies with the criterion and restricting access to the non-volatile storage medium to read access if the device identification feature does not comply with the criterion.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the device identification feature is received via a wireless data link.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the device identification feature is received by an RFID transponder.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the device identification feature is received by a photodiode configured for an optical data link.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the device identification feature is received at a mechanically encoded receiving unit by mechanical interaction with a complementary mechanically encoded transmitting unit.

21. A medical system comprising:

a removable data storage medium comprising;

a serial interface;

a non-volatile storage medium;

a memory controller controlling data transmission between the serial interface and the non-volatile storage medium,

a receiving unit; and

a write protection unit;

wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive a device identification feature from a medical device that can be connected to the removable data storage medium; and

the write protection unit is configured to compare the device identification feature with a predetermined internal criterion, and, if the device identification feature complies with the predetermined internal criterion, permits read and write access from the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium and, if the device identification feature does not comply with the predetermined internal criterion, limits access of the medical device to the non-volatile storage medium to read access; and

at least one medical device comprising;

a device identification feature; and

a serial interface for exchanging data with the removable data storage medium, wherein the medical device comprises a transmitting unit configured to transmit the device identification feature to the removable data storage medium.