METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING HYGIENE HABITS

• US 20110169646A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyginex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hyginex, Inc.
• Inventors: Raichman, Yossef
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for analyzing hygiene habits of a user. The method comprises attaching a personal hygiene monitor to the user, using the attached personal hygiene monitor for detecting a plurality of personal hygiene events related to the user, logging the plurality of personal hygiene events to allow configuring a user hygiene profile of the user, and estimating a hygiene level of one or more hygiene habits of the user according to the user hygiene profile.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing hygiene habits of a user, comprising:

attaching a personal hygiene monitor to the user;

using said attached personal hygiene monitor for detecting a plurality of personal hygiene events related to the user;

using said attached personal hygiene monitor to calculate locally

estimating a hygiene level of one or more hygiene habits of the user according to said plurality of personal hygiene events; and

using said attached personal hygiene monitor to present an indication of said hygiene level on the body of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an alarm on said attached personal hygiene monitor when said hygiene level being beyond a predefined level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking the hygienic level of said user in relation to a plurality of users according to said hygiene level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating is based on a schedule of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging said plurality of personal hygiene events and associating a time stamp with each said personal hygiene event, further comprising identifying at least one personal hygiene pattern according to respective said associated time stamps, said calculating being performed according to said at least one personal hygiene pattern.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said using comprises using said attached personal hygiene monitor for gathering locational data regarding the user, further comprising identifying at least one personal hygiene pattern according to a combination of said locational data and at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events, said calculating being performed according to said at least one personal hygiene pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said personal hygiene event is a member of a group consisting of:

using a disposable tissue, washing hand action, taking shower action, replacing medical safety accessory action, replacing a pair of gloves action, and wearing a face mask action.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises detecting and logging the quality of said personal hygiene event, said calculating being performed according to respective qualities.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said quality is estimated by measuring a member of a group consisting of:

measuring the duration of said respective personal hygiene event, measuring the intensity of said respective personal hygiene event, measuring a concentration of at least one disinfecting agent involved in said personal hygiene event, measuring a presence of water during said personal hygiene event, measuring a humidity level during said personal hygiene event, measuring temperature during said personal hygiene event.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said attached personal hygiene monitor for monitoring presence of the user, said detecting comprising logging said presence and said calculating comprises estimating a hygiene level pattern based on a combination of said hygiene level and said presence.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said attached personal hygiene monitor for monitoring presence of the user, said calculating is performed according to said presence.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating a barrier according to said hygiene level.

13. A wearable apparatus for analyzing hygiene habits of a user, comprising:

at least one sensor configured for detecting a plurality of personal hygiene events of the user;

a repository configured for storing said plurality of personal hygiene events; and

an analysis unit configured for estimating a hygiene level of at least one hygiene habit of the user according to said plurality of personal hygiene events;

a hygiene indicator configured for presenting said hygiene level to the user; and

a wearable element sized and shaped for being worn on a body organ of the user and for holding said at least one sensor, said repository, and said analysis unit, and said hygiene indicator in proximity to the body of the user;

wherein said analysis unit is configured for estimating a hygiene level of at least one hygiene habit of the user according to said plurality of personal hygiene events.

14. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a wearing detector for detecting a wearing event of the wearable apparatus, wherein each said personal hygiene event is evaluated according to said wearing event.

15. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each being configured for detecting a different of a plurality of physical stimulations, said at least one sensor being configured for detecting said plurality of personal hygiene events by combining said plurality of physical stimulations.

16. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each being configured for detecting a different of a plurality of physical stimulations, said analysis unit being configured for estimating said hygiene level by combining said plurality of physical stimulations.

17. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an interface configured for forwarding said plurality of personal hygiene events to a remote analysis unit;

wherein said remote analysis unit maintaining a user hygiene profile documenting at least one hygiene habit related to the user, said remote analysis unit being configured for updating said user hygiene profile according to said plurality of personal hygiene events and calculating said hygiene level according to said user hygiene profile.

19. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a hygrometer for detecting at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events by measuring humidity in a proximity to the hands of the user.

20. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an alcohol sensor for detecting at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events by measuring a concentration of alcohol vapours in a proximity to the user.

21. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an ultrasonic Doppler sensor for detecting at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events by detecting running water by means of measuring Doppler Effect in a proximity to the user.

22. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an optical sensor for detecting at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events by measuring a transparency of cleaning material in a proximity to the user.

23. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an acoustical sensor for detecting the sound of personal hygiene events by comparing between acoustical signals captured in a proximity to the user and a predefined audio pattern.

24. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a motion detection sensor for detecting a personal hygiene event by recording at least one gesture of said user and matching between said at least one gesture and at least one movement pattern of a personal hygiene event.

25. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an touch detector sensor configured for detecting a proximity of to a medical device and a processor configured for detecting a personal hygiene event according to said detected proximity.

26. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an touch detector sensor configured for detecting a touch event during which the user touching at least one of a medical device and a patient, said analysis unit configured for estimating said personal hygiene event according to said touch event.

27. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor is configured for detecting a hygiene protection event, said repository being configured for storing said hygiene protection event, and said analysis unit being configured for estimating said hygiene level according to said hygiene protection event.

28. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a location detecting module configured for detecting a location of the user and logging it in said repository, said analysis unit being configured for estimating said hygiene level according to said location.

29. The wearable apparatus of claim 28, wherein said location is outside the boundaries of a building.

30. The wearable apparatus of claim 28, wherein said location is a member of a group consisting of:

a include an operating room, a patient bed, a medical device, a physiotherapy room, a dining room, a kitchen, a production floor shop, food manufacturing area and a food manufacturing device.

41. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a motion detection sensor which monitors the motion of the wearable apparatus to estimate the quality of at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events.

42. The wearable apparatus of claim 41, wherein said motion detection sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

43. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a proximity sensor that estimates the distance between the wearable apparatus and at least one of a tap or a disinfectant dispenser to detect at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events.

44. The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a electromagnetic sensor that measures an alternating magnetic field of running water and determines a quality of at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene events accordingly.

18. (canceled)

31. A system for analyzing hygiene habits of a plurality of users, comprising:

a plurality of personal hygiene monitors each configured for being attached to a respective of the plurality of users to allow detecting and locally logging a plurality of personal hygiene events related thereto; and

a hygiene analysis unit configured for managing a plurality of user hygiene profiles each documenting at least one hygiene habit of a respective of the plurality of users, said hygiene analysis unit being configured for receiving said plurality of personal hygiene events from a respective of said plurality of personal hygiene monitors and updating a respective of said plurality of user hygiene profile accordingly;

wherein said hygiene analysis unit is configured for calculating a hygiene level for each said user according to a respective of said plurality of user hygiene profiles.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of location detecting unit each configured for detecting the presence of at least one of said plurality of personal hygiene monitors in proximity thereto, wherein said hygiene analysis unit is configured for calculating said hygiene level according to detected presence.

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. A wearable apparatus for analyzing hygiene habits of a user, comprising:

a wearable element sized and shaped for being worn on a body organ of the user;

an touch detector sensor configured for detecting a touching event during which said user touches at least one of a patient and a medical device;

a processing unit for calculating an hygiene level of the user according to said touching event; and

an output unit for outputting a signal indicative of said hygiene level.

36. The wearable apparatus of claim 35, wherein said output unit is a connected to a presentation unit configured for presenting an alert according to said signal.

37-40. -40. (canceled)