Systems and methods for monitoring contact with patient's catheter assembly

• US 20120316497A1
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsch, Richard
• Original Assignee: Deutsch, Richard
• Inventors: Deutsch, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,227,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

One or more intravenous catheter assemblies are monitored to ensure compliance with required hygienic procedures and/or to ensure only persons who have properly sanitized their hands are allowed to attend to such catheter assemblies. Detecting electrodes incorporated as part of such catheter assemblies facilitate determination as to whether potential contamination may have occurred. The hygienic status of a health care worker attending to the catheter assembly, as possibly evidenced by detected use of a sanitizer, may be used to determine whether the catheter assembly is being subjected to contamination.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a catheter assembly including one or more tubes for conveying fluids, and

a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly comprising an electrode coupled to the catheter assembly and a charge transfer controller circuit electrically connected to the electrode, the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly being configured to detect contact or close proximity by a person with the catheter assembly and generate an electrical signal responsive to such contact.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an annunciator configured to display a message following generation of the electrical signal by the charge transfer proximity sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a hand sanitizer configured for generating a signal evidencing use of the hand sanitizer and a controller configured for processing the signals generated by the hand sanitizer and the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly, the controller being further configured to generate a signal signifying a non-compliant event when the electrical signal from the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly is not preceded by a signal from the hand sanitizer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly is configured to detect a change in capacitance caused by the presence of a hand within twenty five centimeters or less of at least one portion of the catheter assembly.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrode is within a lumen of the catheter assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a liquid within the lumen, the electrode contacting the liquid.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the catheter assembly includes a housing in fluid communication with the one or more tubes, the electrode comprising an elongate probe secured to the housing.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the signal signifying the non-compliant event when the signal from the hand sanitizer does not precede the signal from the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly by a predetermined time.

9. A system comprising:

a fluid source;

a catheter assembly including one or more tubes for conveying fluid and in fluid communication with the liquid source, and

a controller electrically coupled to the catheter assembly, the controller being configured to detect a change in an electrical parameter resulting from a person'"'"'s contact with or close proximity to the catheter assembly and generate a signal upon detection of the change in the electrical parameter.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an annunciator responsive to the signal from the controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the catheter assembly includes an electrode in fluid communication with the liquid source, the controller and electrode comprising a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly.

12. The system of claim 10, further including an electrically conductive coil, at least one of the tubes of the catheter assembly passing through the electrically conductive coil, the coil being reactive to contact with the catheter tube and the controller being configured as a reactive controller electrically coupled to the coil.

13. The system of claim 10, further including a hand sanitizer configured for generating a signal evidencing use of the hand sanitizer and a primary controller configured for processing the signals generated by the hand sanitizer and the controller, the primary controller being further configured to generate a signal signifying a non-compliant event when the electrical signal from the controller is not preceded by a signal from the hand sanitizer.

14. The system of claim 10, further including means for detecting whether the catheter assembly is in motion.

15. A method comprising:

detecting whether a person is within a selected area by using a digital imaging device;

detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer evidencing use of the hand sanitizer while the person is within the selected area;

electronically detecting whether the person has made contact or near contact with a patient'"'"'s catheter assembly;

generating a signal representing non-compliance if contact or near contact with the catheter assembly is electronically detected without prior generation an electrical signal indicating use of the hand sanitizer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of electronically detecting whether the person has made contact with a patient'"'"'s catheter assembly is conducted using an electrode coupled to the catheter assembly and a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly electrically connected to the electrode.

17. A method comprising:

detecting contact or near contact with a patient'"'"'s catheter assembly by a person via a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly;

determining the hand hygiene status of the person, and

generating a signal signifying hygienic non-compliance or compliance based on the hand hygiene status of the person and the detected contact with the patient'"'"'s catheter assembly.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes determining whether an electronic signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes determining whether an electronic signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer at an appropriate distance proximate to the patient'"'"'s catheter assembly.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes detecting the presence of alcohol vapor in the vicinity of the person'"'"'s hand.

21. The method of claim 17, further including displaying a message based on the generated signal.

22. A method comprising:

a fixed or removably secured electrode capable of detecting a change in an electrical parameter resulting from contact or near contact by a person with a patient'"'"'s catheter.

23. The method of claim 22, further including an annunciator responsive to detection of the change in the electrical parameter.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the catheter includes an electrode contacting the fluid, and the step of detecting a change in an electrical parameter is conducted by a charge transfer sensor assembly electrically connected to the electrode.

25. The method of claim 23, further including detecting a person in a selected area proximal to the catheter assembly and causing the annunciator to display a message following detection of the person.

26. The method of claim 23, further including detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by activation of a hand sanitizer and causing the annunciator to display a selected message if detection of a change in the electrical parameter precedes generation of the electrical signal by the hand sanitizer.

27. The method of claim 23, further including detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by evidencing the use of a hand sanitizer and causing the annunciator to display a selected message if detection of a change in the electrical parameter precedes generation of the electrical signal by a means evidencing use of the hand sanitizer.