System and method for monitoring protective garments
First Claim
1. A system for promoting the hygienic safety of health care workers and patients, comprising:
- a digital camera;
an image processor operatively associated with the digital camera;
a logic program operatively associated with the image processor and capable of determining whether a person is within a predetermined viewing area of the digital camera and whether the person is wearing a required medical garment;
an annunciator for generating a message if a person is determined to be within the predetermined viewing area of the digital camera and a required medical garment has not been determined to be present by the logic program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The wearing of required medical garments by caregivers and other persons is detected through the use of a digital imaging system and methods that employ digital imaging. The medical garments include colors, symbols or other features that allow them to be identified by the system. A moving object within an isolation room or other area requiring the wearing of medical garments is detected. Various stages of processing confirm that the moving object is indeed a person and that the person is wearing the required medical garments. In order to enhance the digital imaging procedure, the person may be instructed to move to a selected position.
50 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for promoting the hygienic safety of health care workers and patients, comprising:
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a digital camera; an image processor operatively associated with the digital camera; a logic program operatively associated with the image processor and capable of determining whether a person is within a predetermined viewing area of the digital camera and whether the person is wearing a required medical garment; an annunciator for generating a message if a person is determined to be within the predetermined viewing area of the digital camera and a required medical garment has not been determined to be present by the logic program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for ensuring a health care worker or other person is properly attired with a required medical garment having a characteristic feature before attending to a patient, comprising:
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electronically detecting whether a person has entered a selected area that requires the wearing of the required medical garment; electronically determining whether the person within the selected area is wearing the required medical garment having the characteristic feature, and generating a message if the person is detected within the selected area and the required medical garment having the characteristic feature has not been determined as. being worn by the person. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining whether a person is wearing a required medical garment in a selected area, comprising:
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providing a medical garment including a characteristic feature for identifying the protective garment; detecting a person within the selected area; creating a digital image of the person within the selected area; instructing the person to move to a selected position within the selected area likely to improve the quality of the digital image, and analyzing the digital image to determine whether it contains the characteristic feature identifying the garment. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification