Protecting connected medical diagnostic devices

Healthcare devices have become top targets for cyber criminals due to their critical nature, the valuable intellectual property they employ and the sensitive personal information that they collect and store. Research shows that there were 8.2 attempted cyber attacks per connected healthcare endpoint in each month of 2018.

To ensure security, privacy and high performance, OPTOLANE’s simple, fast and smart diagnostic platform is based on Nexell’s system on chip (SoC) platform, which integrates Trustonic’s Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). OPTOLANE’s in vitro diagnostic (IVD) platform, called LOAA (Lab on an Array) Analyser, examines blood and tissue samples for multiple targets, including DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites, in real-time. It was developed to satisfy market demand for ‘sample to answer’ IVD tools and enables sample extraction through to analysis with a single cartridge.

“Investment in connected healthtech is increasing and IVD is an important segment in the global diagnostics industry,” commented Ben Cade, CEO of Trustonic. “These solutions add significant value to diagnosis and treatment, enhancing the well-being of the general public while increasing productivity and reducing costs. But, where personal data this sensitive is being captured, processed, and transmitted, the appropriate steps must be taken to protect it from malicious actors.”

Trustonic’s hardware-backed security platform, TSP, enables secure and private data extraction, processing, storage and transmission. The technology:

• Enables a secure image processing channel from the sensor to the application processor.
• Provides cryptographic tools to protect individuals’ sensitive medical data.
• Ensures data integrity.
• Creates a secure environment to run algorithms analysing raw data from the sensor.
• Encrypts sensitive data when being shared with the cloud.

Do Young Lee, CEO of OPTOLANE, said: “There is clear demand for innovative new diagnostics solutions that go from ‘sample-to-answer’ in real-time. Importantly, though, we fully understand our responsibility to protect patient data. 

“To deliver connectivity while protecting the sensitive personal data collected by diagnostic devices, we needed a proven hardware-backed security foundation. Trustonic’s experience protecting smartphones, wearables and IoT hardware, and securing critical mobile applications in the financial and automotive sectors, is assurance that our devices and patient data are secured to the highest standard.” 

OPTOLANE expects to receive FDA certification for the new device in the first quarter of 2020. Once certification is achieved the product will be available to clinicians in healthcare facilities around the world.