System for Monitoring Hand Cleaning Compliance

• US 20100155416A1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raymond C. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Raymond C. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Raymond C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/23
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A system to allow employers to monitor employee handwashing or hand sanitization compliance in a facility with a plurality of touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or lotion on the hands of a user. A detector associated with each dispenser triggers operation of the dispensing mechanism and sends a signal to a local controller which date and time stamps the dispensing act. The controller sends a report to a central computer which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of each dispensing act. The reports from the several dispensers is stored in a database for management review. On receipt of a signal from the detector, the controller may also trigger operation of a preferably touchless input device to identify the user. Data collected by the input device is relayed to the central computer through the controller. The central computer is programmed with an algorithm for matching the data collected by the input device with data previously collected and identified with the user. During the dispensing processes, the controller may signal an output device that indicates to the user that the system is working.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring hand cleaning compliance comprising:

a plurality of touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or lotion on the hands of a user,

each of said touchless dispensers having a discharge port and a detector which triggers operation of a dispensing mechanism and sends a signal to a controller to date and time stamp the dispensing act when a user places his or her hands under the discharge port,

said controller sending a report to a central computer which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of each dispensing act, said central computer storing the reports from the plurality of dispensers in a database and displaying them for management review.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an input device co-located with each dispenser for acquiring identification information about the user, said input device sending a signal to the controller which sends a report to the central computer, said central computer identifying the user with an algorithm appropriate to the information acquired by the input device, said central computer storing the identity of the user in the database along with the identity of the dispenser and the date and time of the dispensing act.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the identification information is biometric data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the input device is a microphone which collects audio data and the algorithm in the central computer identifies the user with a voice recognition algorithm.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the input device is a camera which collects video or image data and the algorithm in the central computer identifies the user with a facial, body or apparel recognition algorithm.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the input device is a fingerprint reader which collects fingerprint data and the algorithm in the central computer identifies the user with a fingerprint identification algorithm.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the input device is a camera which collects video or image data and the algorithm is a hand geometry recognition algorithm.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the input device is a retinal scanner and the algorithm is a retinal scan algorithm.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) card reader and the algorithm is a RFID algorithm.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein an output device is co-located with each dispenser for providing feedback to the user regarding use of the dispenser.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device is comprised of one or more blinking lights.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device is an LED display.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device is a video monitor.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device is an audio speaker.