Hand cleanliness

• US 7,286,057 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biovigil Hygiene Technologies LLC (BioVigil Healthcare Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biovigil LLC
• Inventors: Bolling, Steven F
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/157,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/309.7, 368/10
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

An electronic sensor is configured to be carried by a person and to be used by the person to detect a cleanliness state of the person'"'"'s hands. A single unit includes the electronic sensor and (a) a device to provide an indication of the cleanliness state of the person'"'"'s hands and/or (b) a device to identify the person. A circuit that is configured to control how long after a cleanliness state of a person'"'"'s hands has been determined to be clean, the state is presumed no longer to be clean. A badge that includes indicia identifying a person who carries the badge, a sensor to be used to detect a cleanliness state of the person'"'"'s hands, and a visible indicator to indicate to other people the cleanliness state of the person'"'"'s hands can be used in combination.

Claims

1. A badge to be worn by a person in a health care or food handling institution comprising

an electronic alcohol sensor located on the badge,

a space on the badge where the person can place a finger to permit alcohol on the finger to reach the alcohol sensor,

a light or other indicator visible to people in the vicinity of the person to indicate whether the person'"'"'s hands are disinfected based on a presence of alcohol on the finger as detected by the alcohol sensor located on the badge,

the light or other indicator having a first, disinfected state triggered by the electronic alcohol sensor sensing a presence of alcohol on the finger,

the light or other indicator having a second, non-disinfected state triggered after a period of time and when the finger is presumed to be no longer disinfected.

2. The badge of claim 1 also including a vapor chamber to receive vapor of the alcohol and enable it to contact the alcohol sensor.

3. The badge of claim 2 in which the chamber has an exterior surface that includes the space where the person can place the finger.

4. The badge of claim 1 in which the space includes openings for passage of vapors of the alcohol from the finger to the sensor.

5. The badge of claim 1 in which the period of time is at least two hours.

6. The badge of claim 1 in which the presence of alcohol on the finger is indicated by a concentration of vapor of the alcohol that is above a threshold.

7. The badge of claim 6 in which the threshold is dynamic.

8. The badge of claim 1 in which the non-disinfected state is a default state occupied when the badge is powered on, or reset, or the period of time has passed.

9. The badge of claim 1 in which the sensor comprises a heated sensor element.

10. The badge of claim 1 in which the sensor comprises a metal oxide sensor element.

11. The badge of claim 1 in which the sensor comprises a tin oxide sensor element.

12. The badge of claim 1 in which there is at least another state in addition to the first and second states.

13. The badge of claim 1 in which the presence is indicated by measurements of a concentration of vapor of the alcohol over time.

14. The badge of claim 1 in which the light or other indicator comprises two distinct light elements, one indicating the first state, the other indicating the second state.

15. The badge of claim 1 also including an audible indicator of whether the person'"'"'s hands are considered disinfected or not-disinfected.

16. The badge of claim 1 also including a device to hold the badge on the person.

17. The badge of claim 1 also including the person'"'"'s name or picture on the badge and visible to people in the vicinity of the person.