System and method of biological and germ cross contamination control

• US 10,002,518 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OND Creative Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: OND Creative Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Wheeler, Jay, Carson, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus
• Application Number:
  US15/438,493
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/223 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections or nosocomial infections are decreased when medical personal observe a hand washing protocol. A method is disclosed for encouraging adherence to a hand washing protocol when entering and exiting rooms of patients. A carried device, or badge, receives a first signal when proximate to a wash station. A first indicator on the badge displays indicates that that the wearer has visited the wash station. The badge receives a second signal when inside a patient'"'"'s room, i.e., when visiting a first contaminated area. The badge may receive a third signal when entering a second contaminated area. A second indicator on the badge alerts the wearer when a countdown expires after washing, of failure to visit the wash station before the first room visit, or of failure to visit the wash station between room visits. Reporting data may be uploaded to a database.

Claims

1. A method of biological and germ cross contamination control comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter proximate a wash station;

receiving said first signal from said first transmitter with a receiver in a carried device;

activating a first indicator in said carried device for indicating that a wearer has interfaced with said wash station

transmitting an intermittent second signal from a second transmitter in a contaminated area;

receiving said second signal from said second transmitter with a receiver in said carried device and starting a countdown timer from a time of receipt of said second signal;

resetting said countdown timer to a maximum value upon a second receipt of said second signal;

activating a second indicator in said carried device immediately upon expiration of said countdown timer for indicating a need to decontaminate; and

wherein said carried device does not transmit a signal in response to said first signal and said second signal.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

reporting a protocol breach if said second indicator is activated.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first indicator is a green light.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second indicator is a red light.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first signal and said second signal is a pulsed IR signature whereby said pulsed signature is a unique signal identified with an IR receiver unit.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said pulsed IR signal is interpreted in ASCII format.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said pulsed IR signal is interpreted through ms pulse variable increments.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting in said contaminated area is by a second transmitter, wherein said second transmitter is powered by a power of Ethernet port.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

triggering a motion detector for activating said step of transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter proximate a wash station.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter proximate a wash station comprises limiting a signal area for receiving said first signal to a limited area for inadvertent activation of carried devices near said first transmitter.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said limited area is approximately 0.5 meters or less.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said carried device is a badge.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting a third signal from a transmitter in a second contaminated area.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:

determining whether said first signal has been received after said step of receiving said second signal;

if said third signal has been received after said step receiving said second signal, then activating a first indicator;

if said third signal has not been received after said step of receiving said second signal, then activating said second indicator.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of activating said second indicator triggers a data upload to a database.