DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING HYGIENE COMPLIANCE

• US 20150170502A1
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harkap Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: Harkap Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Howard B., Kaplan, Michael A., Fricke, Todd P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,747,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating hand hygiene compliance are provided including a device for dispensing hygiene maintenance material that also monitors a detection zone to determine if an individual is present. A hygiene facilitation system is also provided comprising a retrofittable hygiene facilitation device that can be mounted on, or collocated with, conventional hygiene devices. The devices, systems, and methods hereof provide alerts and, optionally, tracking of use of the dispensing device and the relation of that use compared to a desired use profile.

Claims

1. A hygiene facilitation device comprising:

two or more sensors, at least a first sensor configured to detect the presence of an individual moving through a detection zone and at least a second sensor configured to detect activation of a dispensing means that releases hygiene material from a hygiene material container upon activation;

at least one display configured to provide visual information coupled with a first housing;

a circuit board positioned within the first housing, comprising a processor, and coupled with a power supply, the circuit board in communication with each of the sensors and each of the display(s); and

at least one data storage component in communication with the processor, the data storage component comprising parameters defining one or more trigger events and one or more sets of executable instructions stored thereon, wherein execution of a first set of executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to provide negative feedback unless and until the dispensing means is activated.

2. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, further comprising at least one speaker coupled with the first housing, the at least one speaker in communication with the processor and configured to provide audible information;

wherein the negative feedback is delivered at least in part through the at least one speaker.

3. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein:

the execution by the processor of the first set of executable instructions is caused by the detection of a first trigger event, the first trigger event comprising detection of any individual moving through the detection zone by the first sensor; and

the negative feedback comprises a light emitted through the at least one display.

4. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein:

execution by the processor of a second set of executable instructions stored on the storage component is caused by detection of a second trigger event;

the second trigger event comprises detection of activation of the dispensing means by the second sensor; and

execution of the second set of executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to disregard any detection of the first trigger event that occurs within a second preset time of the second trigger event.

5. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein execution of the first set of executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to additionally perform the steps of:

(a) providing a first alert via at least one or more of the displays;

(b) determining if the dispensing means is activated within a first preset time of a trigger event; and

(c) choosing between and executing one of;

if the dispensing means is activated within the first preset time, ceasing the first alert and logging a compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component, or

if the dispensing means is not activated within the first preset time, providing a second alert via at least one or more of the displays, and the first set of executable instructions further cause the processor to perform the step of choosing between and executing one of;

if the dispensing means is activated within a second preset time of the trigger event, logging a compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component, or

if the dispensing means is not activated within the second preset time, issuing third alert via at least one or more of the displays and logging a non-compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component.

6. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 5, wherein:

the execution of the first set of executable instructions by the processor is caused by the detection of a first trigger event, the first trigger event comprising detection of any individual moving through the detection zone by the first sensor;

the first sensor is additionally configured to detect if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials;

the processor is configured such that the relevant portion of step (c) regarding the logging of a compliant or non-compliant event is only executed by the processor if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials.

7. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 2, wherein information provided via the at least one display and/or the at least one speaker is programmable such that the information may be customized to each trigger event and/or each alert delivered.

8. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 2, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled with a clock for measuring time, and the volume and/or brightness of the alerts are customizable pursuant to the time of day indicated by the clock.

9. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the hygiene material container is positioned within the first housing and the dispensing means is coupled with the first housing.

10. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the hygiene material container is positioned within a second housing, the dispensing means is coupled with the second housing, and the first housing is configured to couple with the second housing.

11. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 10, wherein the first housing is configured for retrofit mounting on the second housing.

12. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the hygiene material container is positioned within a second housing, the dispensing means is coupled with the second housing, and the first housing is collocated with the second housing.

13. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 10, wherein the first housing further comprises a drip tray and the first housing is configured such that when the first housing is coupled with the second housing, the drip tray will be positioned below the dispensing means of the second housing.

14. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is selected from the group consisting of on-board dedicated storage, a USB flash drive, random-access memory, flash memory, and a remote database associated with a server in communication with the processor over a network.

15. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor is adjustable such that the associated detection zone it monitors is modifiable in size and shape.

16. The hygiene facilitation device of claim 1, wherein the shape, size, and/or location of the detection zone relative to the second sensor is customizable and the processor is programmed such that any trigger event detected outside of the detection zone does not cause the processor to execute the first set of executable instructions.

17. A hygiene facilitation system comprising:

a hygiene device comprising a hygiene material container and a dispensing means, the hygiene material positioned within a case and the dispensing means coupled with the case and configured to release hygiene material from the hygiene material container upon activation; and

a retrofittable hygiene facilitation device comprising;

a housing,

two or more sensors, at least a first sensor configured to detect the presence of an individual moving through a detection zone and at least a second sensor configured to detect activation of the dispensing means of the hygiene device,

at least one display configured to provide visual information and coupled with the housing,

at least one speaker configured to provide audible information and coupled with the housing,

a circuit board positioned within the housing, comprising a processor, and coupled with a power supply, the circuit board in communication with each of the sensors, the display(s), and the speaker(s), and

at least one data storage component in communication with the processor, the data storage component comprising parameters defining one or more trigger events and one or more sets of executable instructions stored thereon, wherein execution of a first set of executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform the steps of;

(a) providing a first alert via at least one or more of the displays,

(b) determining if the dispensing means is activated within a first preset time of a trigger event, and

(c) choosing between and executing one of;

if the dispensing means is activated within the first preset time, ceasing the first alert and logging a compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component, or

if the dispensing means is not activated within the first preset time, providing a second alert via at least one or more of the displays and the first set of executable instructions further cause the processor to perform the step of choosing between and executing one of;

if the dispensing means is activated within a second preset time of the trigger event, logging a compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component, or

if the dispensing means is not activated within the second preset time, issuing a third alert via at least one or more of the displays and logging a non-compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component.

18. The hygiene facilitation system of claim 17, wherein:

the execution of the first set of executable instructions by the processor is caused by the detection of a first trigger event, the first trigger event comprising detection of any individual moving through the detection zone by the first sensor;

the first sensor is additionally configured to detect if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials;

the processor is configured such that the relevant portion of step (c) regarding the logging of a compliant or non-compliant event is only executed by the processor if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials.

19. A method for facilitating hygiene compliance, the method comprising:

(a) detecting, with a first sensor, a first trigger event comprising any individual moving through a detection zone;

(b) providing a first alert via at least one or more displays and/or speakers coupled with a hygiene compliance device;

(c) determining if a dispensing means is activated within a first preset time of the first trigger event, the dispensing means configured to release a hygiene material from a hygiene material container upon activation; and

(d) if the dispensing means is activated within the first preset time, ceasing the first alert, or

(e) if the dispensing means is not activated within the first preset time, providing a second alert via at least one or more of the displays and/or speakers.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

step (d) of ceasing the first alert if the dispensing means is activated within the first preset time further comprises logging a compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component; and

step (e) of providing a second alert via at least one or more of the displays and/or speakers if the dispensing means is not activated within the first preset time further comprises the steps of;

issuing a third alert via at least one or more displays and/or speakers, and

logging a non-compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the first sensor is additionally configured to detect if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials and the method further comprises the step of detecting, with the first sensor, the presence of credentials associated with the individual moving through the detection zone; and

the relevant portion of steps (d) and (e) comprising logging a compliant or non-compliant event by saving a record to the data storage component is only performed if the individual moving through the detection zone is associated with credentials.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

detecting, with a second sensor, a second trigger event comprising activation of the dispensing means; and

ignoring any subsequent detection of the first trigger event that occurs within a second preset time of the second trigger event.