INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPREAD PREVENTION

• US 20150254964A1
• Filed: 09/02/2013
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyginex Israel Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyginex Israel Ltd.
• Inventors: Raichman, Efrat, Raichmann, Yossef
• Granted Patent: US 9,773,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• 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

Abstract

A method of monitoring neonatal incubator hygiene. The method comprises continuously monitoring a current hygiene level of a plurality of caregivers by detecting, per the caregiver, a plurality of personal hygiene events held during a monitoring period, identifying a care giving event during which a first of the plurality of caregivers is proximate to a preborn chamber of first of plurality of neonatal incubators, and generating an alert based on the current hygiene level when the care giving event is identified.

Claims

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A method of monitoring neonatal incubator hygiene, the method comprising:

continuously monitoring a current hygiene level of a plurality of caregivers by detecting, per each one of said caregivers, a plurality of personal hygiene events held during a monitoring period;

identifying a care giving event during which a first of said plurality of caregivers is proximate to a preborn chamber of first of a plurality of neonatal incubators; and

generating an alert based on said current hygiene level when said care giving event is identified.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said identifying comprises updating said current hygiene level according to said care giving event, said generating comprises generating said alert if said current hygiene level indicates that no personal hygiene event was detected after a previously held care giving event.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said identifying comprises receiving a signal indicative of a proximity to said preborn chamber from a beacon associated with said first neonatal incubator.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said hygiene level is estimated according to a wearable sensor worn by said first caregiver.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein said care giving event is identified when proximity of said first caregiver to at least one of said plurality of neonatal incubators is detected.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein said care giving event is identified when the hands of said first caregiver are detected in a chamber of said first neonatal incubator.

46. A system for monitoring neonatal incubator hygiene in a ward, the system comprising:

a plurality of hygiene monitors configured to monitor continuously a current hygiene level of a plurality of caregivers by detecting a plurality of personal hygiene events related to said plurality of caregivers;

a plurality of neonatal incubator sensors each configured to identify a care giving event during which a first of said plurality of caregivers is proximate to a preborn chamber of first of a plurality of neonatal incubators; and

a central unit configured to receive data from said plurality of hygiene monitors and said plurality of neonatal incubator sensors, to generate an alert if said current hygiene level is below a threshold when a respective said care giving event is identified.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein each said neonatal incubator sensor is configured to detect an insertion of a hand into a chamber of a respective said neonatal incubator as said care giving event.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein each said hygiene monitor comprises an image sensor, and wherein said central unit is configured to detect said personal hygiene event by an analysis of a plurality of images captured by said image sensor.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein at least some of said plurality of hygiene monitors are stationary and disposed to image at least a portion of a medical treatment area in which said plurality of neonatal incubators are located.

50. A system for monitoring neonatal incubator hygiene in a neonatal incubator, comprising:

a usage monitor configured to detect usage in a personal hygiene device by a caregiver;

a neonatal incubator sensor configured to identify a care giving event during which a caregiver is proximate to a preborn chamber of a neonatal incubator; and

a controller configured to receive data from said usage monitor and said neonatal incubator sensor to generate an alert according to a match between said usage and said care giving event.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein each said neonatal incubator sensor is further configured to detect an insertion of a hand into a chamber of a respective said neonatal incubator as said care giving event.

52. The system of claim 50, further comprising a hygiene monitor which comprises an image sensor, and wherein said controller is configured to detect said personal hygiene event by an analysis of a plurality of images captured by said image sensor.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said hygiene monitor is stationary and disposed to image at least a portion of a medical treatment area in which said neonatal incubator is located.