TRIART Inc. (head office: Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; CEO: Kentaro Imazu) has announced the XMIX Series, a contactless medical information-sharing solution based on its remote medical system XMIX*1 that is already in operation at Kumamoto University Hospital and other sites. The service is scheduled to launch this autumn.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak began last year, medical sites have faced prolonged emergency response and a need for contactless communication. Yet the information infrastructure needed to collaborate while maintaining physical distance or working remotely has remained underdeveloped, with few solutions meeting the security standards required for medical information.
The XMIX Series is a contactless medical information-sharing solution that can be used immediately without specialized infrastructure or dedicated apps. It supports online medical care that meets the medical information guidelines*2 established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as well as fully closed smart intercoms that communicate without the internet. Together with the secure camera currently being prepared for launch, the lineup includes:
XMIX Series Contactless Medical Information-Sharing Solutions
Easy booking and one-click consultations
XMIX-meets
A simple calling service that lets you easily schedule the next appointment and lets patients join by clicking a link in an email at the appointment time. No dedicated app is required, and calls do not pass through a server, so there is no concern that data will be stored elsewhere.
In-hospital smart intercom system
XMIX-plus
Simply install a small dedicated IoT device to create a closed communication environment within the hospital. No dedicated app is required. Video calls take place only within the hospital without going over the internet, preventing information leaks and reducing communication costs.
In-hospital secure camera system
XMIX-cam
A system for safely handling video and image records in medical settings with many restrictions. When you take photos with the XMIX cam app, encrypted files are managed across the hospital network and cannot be restored or viewed without authorization (in preparation).
The origin of this solution is the XMIX remote medical system, which has helped address regional disparities in medical care in Kumamoto Prefecture since 2010. Using TRIART original distributed computing technology XCOA*3, we have built a track record of handling medical information securely over P2P (peer-to-peer) communication that connects devices directly, without risk of tampering or leakage. Because routing medical information through external servers is itself a risk, it is preferable to enable direct communication between the parties without using general cloud services of the kind that have recently raised concerns. Direct interaction between computers enabled by XCOA is a groundbreaking solution that addresses security challenges at their source.
The XMIX Series combines TRIART distributed technologies with browser technologies such as WebRTC*4, now available as an open framework, to create a universal communication system that depends less on operating systems and apps. XMIX-meets and XMIX-plus work with the devices and web browsers people already use, greatly lowering barriers to deployment and operation. They also offer high agility for medical sites currently required to respond to emergencies.
By installing a small IoT device in the hospital, the system handles everything within the hospital, from user management by administrators to communication among staff (smart intercom video calls), without going through the internet. Because communication stays inside the firewall, exchanges containing medical information can be handled securely (XMIX-plus in the diagram).
For online consultations with patients outside the hospital, the system contacts an external server before the call starts. Once a connection is established, it switches to direct communication between devices, so the call content does not pass through a server or other computer (XMIX-meets in the diagram).
Both in and outside the hospital, communication starts in a standard web browser. Users can join immediately without special preparation, regardless of device type or operating system, whether on a PC or mobile device.
The XMIX Series offers a new standard for medical sites, where securing information often requires costly and time-consuming infrastructure. We plan to expand applications that make use of distributed information technology, including task scheduling that networks IoT devices inside and outside facilities to run appointment tasks, and secure file management using secret sharing. We hope the series will make information sharing in medical settings more open and stress-free and promote digital transformation that supports people at work.
【For those wishing to introduce the XMIX Series】
The series is available only to medical institutions such as hospitals. We may need to check your usage environment, so please contact us through our website if you are interested.
In light of the current COVID-19 situation, we plan to offer XMIX-meets free of charge through 2021. The number of users and cases is limited, so please contact us through our website for details. Some fees may apply for activation and maintenance. Thank you for your understanding.
We will announce initial costs and monthly fees for XMIX-plus and XMIX-cam on our website at a later date.
*1 XMIX remote medical system: A remote medical system that contributed to reducing disparities in emergency medical diagnosis by enabling secure, real-time information sharing. It has been in operation in Kumamoto Prefecture since 2010.
*2 Medical information guidelines: This system complies with Section 6.11, “Security management when exchanging medical information containing personal information with external parties,” of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Guidelines for the Security Management of Medical Information Systems, Version 5.1, January 2021.
*3 TRIART original design; Japanese Patent Nos. 6427697 and 6427702 (international patent applications pending).
*4 Short for Web Real-Time Communication, an international project for enabling real-time communication in web browsers and mobile apps through APIs.
* XMIX and Exmix are registered trademarks of TRIART Inc.
【Inquiries about this matter】
TRIART Inc. Contact Desk