More External Storage of Medical Device Program Design Parameters

Abstract

Many electronic medical devices include program design features that direct the operation of the device. The program design features of most electronic medical devices reside in the device itself and therefore are easily discovered by reverse engineering. In most cases, however, these features can be introduced into the device from an external source for only so long as necessary for each operation of the device, thereby making the reverse engineering of these features more difficult (or even impossible) and preserving a greater degree of design secrecy.

1 . A system for protecting the secrecy of a predetermined treatment parameter for an electronic medical device comprising:
 the device,   wherein the device is capable of performing a medical procedure on a patient,   the device comprises memory,   the memory is configured to receive transmission of a digital file over a communications network,   the file comprises the parameter,   the parameter comprises at least one trade secret,   at least a portion of the parameter is omitted from the device at a first point in time prior to commencement of the procedure,   at least a portion of the parameter is transmitted to the memory at a second point in time, which second point in time is subsequent to the first point in time, but prior to completion of the procedure,   at least a portion of the parameter is encrypted prior to transmission,   at least a portion of the procedure is performed by the device as directed by the parameter, and   at least a portion of the parameter becomes unavailable to the device after the second point in time and the occurrence of at least one predetermined event.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device generates laser energy. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network comprises the internet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network comprises at least one of a WAN, LAN, serial or parallel connection, phone line, cable, fiber optics, satellite transmission, microwave transmission, cellular transmission, radio transmission, regular mail, or messenger. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined treatment parameter is not customized for the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined treatment parameter is customized for the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined event comprises the passage of a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the period of time comprises approximately the estimated period of time from commencement of the transmission of the predetermined treatment parameter through commencement of the procedure. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the period of time comprises approximately the estimated period of time from commencement of the transmission of the predetermined treatment parameter through completion of the procedure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined event comprises tampering with the device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the device is contained within a housing, and the tampering comprises tampering with the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the memory comprises temporary memory. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined treatment parameter is transmitted to the device from a remote computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the manner by which the at least a portion of the parameter becomes unavailable to the device is automatic clearing of the at least a portion of the parameter from the memory. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined treatment parameter comprises at least one of energy output, beam diameter, pulse width, repetition rate, spot separation, line separation, and number of scans.