Automated washing system with compliance verification

• US 8,110,047 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical LLC
• Inventors: Glenn, James, Barnhill, Paul R., Prodanovich, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Markoff, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/328,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090084407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 702/176, 134/18, 134/56.R, 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 340/573.1, 700/285
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A system is provided for providing automated washing and verifying compliance of use. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more cleaning stations through various technologies, such as RFID. Individual'"'"'s use of cleaning stations is monitored to determine compliance with hand-washing requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals'"'"' use of the cleaning station(s). Educational and/or entertainment content may be displayed to the user when he or she is using the cleaning station. Additionally, the cleaning station may identify containers having authorized consumables such as soap or disinfectant.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring user compliance with a washing requirement, the method comprising:

automatically identifying, by an identifying apparatus, a user of at least a first cleaning station, the cleaning station including an apparatus for automatically washing at least a portion of the user;

recording, by a computer, at least an identity of the user of the first cleaning station;

recording, by a wash station operations monitor, data associated with use by the user of at least the first cleaning station, the data including identifiers of users using the at least the first cleaning station, a time stamp associated with the start of use of the at least the first cleaning station by each of the users, and a duration indicating how long the at least a portion of each of the users were washed;

selecting, by the wash station operations monitor and based upon the data and a history of compliance by the identified user, a washing requirement for the identified user, the washing requirement comprising at least one of the following;

(1) a concentration of a cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user;

(2) a type of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user;

(3) an amount of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user; and

(4) a duration of the washing to be administered by the first cleaning station to the identified user; and

automatically washing, in accordance with the selected washing requirement, the at least a portion of the identified user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising preparing a compliance report listing the identity of the user and data generated from monitoring the use of the first cleaning station.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising authenticating a container associated with the first cleaning station.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising compiling a compliance report using data from a plurality of cleaning stations, including the first cleaning station.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising conveying information to the user during the washing step.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information is conveyed by a video display located on or near the first cleaning station.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information comprises at least one of entertainment, news, sports, a user compliance statistic, and training.

11. The method in claim 1, wherein the selected washing requirement is selected from among a plurality of possible washing requirements and wherein the history of compliance by the identified user comprises a history of compliance by the identified user with previously selected washing requirements.

13. The method in claim 11, wherein the selected washing requirement depends on the identified user'"'"'s history of compliance with previously selected washing requirements.

14. The method in claim 1, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a concentration of a cleaning fluid to be dispensed by the first cleaning station.

15. The method in claim 1, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a type of cleaning fluid to be dispensed by the first cleaning station.

16. The method in claim 1, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises an amount of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user.

17. The method in claim 1, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a duration of the washing to be administered by the first cleaning station to the identified user.

8. A method of monitoring user compliance with a washing requirement, the method comprising:

(a) providing at least a first cleaning station operable to automatically wash at least a portion of a user;

(b) automatically identifying through an identification apparatus the user;

(c) executing, by a processor, a compliance module operable to record data associated with the user, the data including a history of compliance of identified users;

(d) selecting, by the compliance module and based upon the history of compliance of the identified user, a washing requirement for the identified user, the washing requirement comprising at least one of the following;

(1) a concentration of a cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user;

(2) a type of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user;

(3) an amount of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user; and

(4) a duration of the washing to be administered by the first cleaning station to the identified user; and

(e) automatically washing, in accordance with the selected washing requirement, the at least a portion of the identified user.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement is selected from among a plurality of possible washing requirements and further comprising preparing a compliance report listing the identity of the user and data generated from monitoring the use of the first cleaning station.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising compiling the compliance report using data from a plurality of cleaning stations, including the first cleaning station.

12. The method in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement is selected from among a plurality of possible washing requirements and wherein the history of compliance comprises a history of compliance by the identified user with previously selected washing requirements.

18. The method in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a concentration of a cleaning fluid to be dispensed by the first cleaning station.

19. The method in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a type of cleaning fluid to be dispensed by the first cleaning station.

20. The method in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises an amount of cleaning fluid to be dispensed, by the first cleaning station, for the identified user.

21. The method in claim 8, wherein the selected washing requirement comprises a duration of the washing to be administered by the first cleaning station to the identified user.