SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS HAND HYGIENE MONITORING

• US 20160140831A1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clean Hands Safe Hands
• Original Assignee: Clean Hands Safe Hands
• Inventors: HERMANN, Christopher Douglas, MCCRORY, Russell Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,282,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for providing hand hygiene dispenser stations configured to remind users to use the hand hygiene dispenser stations. In one or more embodiments, the present systems and methods provide individual provider identification and networked communication among hand hygiene stations (dispenser stations), enabling tracking of providers and data collection regarding hand hygiene products usage (hand hygiene compliance).

Claims

1. A system for tracking and improving hand hygiene comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting when an action to receive a hand hygiene product is performed, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to at least one processor; and

a proximity sensor for determining when an object is within a predetermined distance from a hand hygiene product dispenser, the proximity sensor operatively connected to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operatively configured to;

receive, from the proximity sensor, a proximity indication that a particular object is within the predetermined distance; and

upon receiving the proximity indication, determining whether the at least one sensor detects the action to receive the hand hygiene product within a predetermined time period; and

upon determining that the at least one sensor did not detect the action to receive the hand hygiene product within the predetermined time period, facilitating transmission of at least one message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a usage sensor for detecting an amount of hand hygiene product stored in a housing connected to the hand hygiene product dispenser, the usage sensor operatively coupled to the at least one processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for, upon receiving a notification from the usage sensor that the hand hygiene product is low, transmitting a low hand hygiene product notification.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is an ultrasound proximity sensor comprising an adjustable range and adjustable direction.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the ultrasound proximity sensor is wirelessly adjustable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises at least one RF chip operatively coupled to the one or more processors;

the at least one processor is further configured to, upon receiving the proximity indication;

broadcast a wireless scan; and

based at least in part on broadcasting the wireless scan, receiving one or more unique addresses.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, upon determining that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period, logging the one or more unique addresses in memory with an indication that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the system further comprises at least one tag comprising an RF chip operatively coupled to an antenna;

the RF chip is configured to facilitate transmitting, via the antenna, the one or more unique addresses, current battery level, and one or more packets of information;

the packets are used to provide classification information and modify system behavior with or without communicating back to a central server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the proximity notification is a low energy Bluetooth notification.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a radio operatively connected to the at least one processor configured to send and receive information from a) a radio operatively connected to at least one other hand hygiene product dispenser or b) a wireless network hub.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive programming information via the radio.

12. A computer-implemented method for tracking and improving hand hygiene comprising:

providing;

     1) at least one sensor for detecting when a user performs an action to receive a hand hygiene product, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to at least one processor;

     2) an electromechanical usage sensor for detecting when the hand hygiene product is low, the electromechanical usage sensor operatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

     3) memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured for;

upon receiving a notification from the electromechanical usage sensor that the hand hygiene product is low, transmitting, by the at least one processor, a low hand hygiene product notification;

receiving, by the at least one processor, from an ultrasound proximity sensor, a proximity indication that an object is within a predetermined distance of the ultrasound proximity sensor;

upon receiving the proximity indication, receiving, by the at least one processor, one or more low energy Bluetooth broadcasts;

extracting, from the one or more low energy Bluetooth broadcasts;

one or more unique addresses;

one or more battery levels of a broadcasting device; and

/or

one or more information packets;

determining, by the at least one processor, whether the at least one sensor detects a user performing the action within a predetermined time period; and

upon determining that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period;

facilitating, by the at least one processor, playing an audio indication for the user to perform the action; and

logging, by the at least one processor, the one or more unique addresses in memory with an indication that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, the method further comprising providing a tag, the tag comprising at least one processor configured for transmitting the low energy Bluetooth broadcast including at least one of the one or more unique addresses.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the tag is embedded in a badge reel operatively coupled to an identification badge.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the tag comprises an RF chip, an antenna, and a battery.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises, upon facilitating playing the audio indication for the user to perform the action, determining, by the at least one processor, whether the action is performed during a second predetermined time period.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises, upon determining that the action was not performed during the second predetermined time period, logging, by the at least one processor, the one or more unique address in memory with an indication that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the second predetermined time period.

18. A first and second hand hygiene detection apparatus, the first hand hygiene detection apparatus comprising:

a low power digital radio operatively connected to at least one processor configured to receive information from the second hand hygiene detection apparatus and/or from a data server; and

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operatively configured for;

receiving a dispensing event indication, via the digital radio, that a dispensing event associated with a particular unique addresses occurred at the second hand hygiene detection apparatus;

storing the dispensing event indication in memory;

receiving, from an ultrasound proximity sensor, a proximity indication that an object is within a predetermined distance of the dispenser;

upon receiving the proximity indication;

transmitting a proximity indication to at least one receiver; and

based on transmitting the proximity indication, receiving one or more unique addresses;

determining whether the one or more unique addresses includes the particular unique address;

upon determining that the one or more unique addresses includes the particular unique address, determining whether the dispensing event occurred within a predetermined amount of time;

upon determining that the dispensing event did not occur within the predetermined amount of time or upon determining that the one or more unique addresses does not include the particular unique address, facilitating playing of an audio reminder.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for, upon determining that the dispensing event did not occur within the predetermined amount of time, determining whether the first hand hygiene detection apparatus dispenses an anti-bacterial solution within a predetermined amount of time.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for, upon determining that the first hand hygiene detection apparatus did not dispense the anti-bacterial solution within the predetermined amount of time, creating and storing in memory a data entry indicating the one or more unique addresses and that the first hand hygiene detection apparatus did not dispense the anti-bacterial solution within the predetermined amount of time.