V-IDENT: Biometric identity based on vital data

January, 31st 2025, Munich/Kempten – cosinuss° is launching the research project “V-IDENT: AI-based determination of a biometric identity based on vital data” in cooperation with Kempten University of Applied Sciences as part of the Bavarian Joint Research Programme (BayVFP) in the “Digitization” funding line. The aim is to enable reliable identification using biometric patterns in vital data and thus increase patient safety.

Advancing digitization in the healthcare sector brings with it new challenges. There is a risk of mix-ups, particularly with mobile vital signs monitoring, which can jeopardize patient safety. Errors in identification or mix-ups, for example, can lead to patients receiving medical treatment that is not intended for them. There are already approaches to identify a person based on their biometric data, e.g. via facial recognition. However, such solutions are no longer secure due to technological progress and the availability of generative AI. For example, deep fakes can outwit the facial recognition of biometric identification systems [1].

V-IDENT is therefore focusing on a different type of identification: the aim of the research project is to develop an AI-based solution. This should ensure the unique identity of a patient by means of optically collected vital parameters. Studies show that vital signs are so individual that they can be used for user authentication [2] and, unlike visible biological characteristics, are more difficult to access from the outside and therefore more secure against attacks. So far, however, there are no market-ready systems that use vital signs to verify a patient’s identity before use and ensure that the correct monitoring device is being used. The solution aimed in this research project should therefore make the assignment of monitoring devices and patients in medical facilities and telemedicine applications much more secure.

cosinuss° and Kempten University of Applied Sciences are pooling their expertise to set a new standard for security and efficiency in the healthcare sector with V-IDENT.

cosinuss° is responsible for the technical implementation of the project and is contributing the hardware and software solutions already developed, including a small, lightweight multiparameter sensor (c-med° alpha) that continuously measures vital parameters using photoplethysmography (PPG) in the patient’s ear canal. cosinuss° is also implementing the AI methods for biometric identification in the research project and integrating them into the cosinuss° Health Platform.

Kempten University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the scientific support of the project. It will carry out the user-centered requirements analysis and identify and model the relevant use cases. It will also examine the project from a regulatory, ethical and social perspective and incorporate the results into the development process as recommendations for action. In addition, the university is responsible for the final user evaluation and will identify potential improvements to the solution in terms of usability and user acceptance.

The planned duration of the research project is from 1.2.2025 to 31.1.2027.

The research project is funded by the Bavarian Joint Research Programme (BayVFP) of the Free State of Bavaria, funding line “Digitization”.

Kempten University of Applied Sciences is the only state university in the Allgäu region to offer practice-oriented degree programs in the fields of technology, business, social affairs and health. The field of medical informatics specializes in digital health and has in-depth knowledge of information technology implementation, the needs of professionals and the processes involved.

Cosinuss GmbH is a certified medical device manufacturer based in Munich that specializes in mobile and continuous monitoring of various vital signs. With more than 15 years of research and development, numerous patents and medically certified products, cosinuss° is a pioneer in the field of mobile and continuous vital signs monitoring. cosinuss° pursues the vision of revolutionizing the monitoring and recording of vital data in various areas of healthcare.

References

[1] K. Carta et al. “Video injection attacks on remote digital identity verification solution using face recognition”. In: IMCIC 2022 – 13th International MultiConference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics, Proceedings. Vol. 2., pp. 92–97, 2022.

[2] R. Kavsaoğlu et al. „A novel feature ranking algorithm for biometric recognition with PPG signals“. In: Computers in Biology and Medicine, 49 (2014), pp. 1-14, 2014.