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Methods and systems for encouraging and enforcing hand hygiene

  • US 9,135,805 B2
  • Filed: 08/22/2013
  • Issued: 09/15/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A lightweight, wearable device comprising:

  • a radio frequency identification tag reader;

    an external communication device that is structured and arranged to communicate with a remote server;

    an alarm device that is adapted to generate at least one of a visual, an audible, and a haptic signal;

    at least one data storing device for storing data and at least one of an application, an algorithm, and a driver program having multi-dimensional movement and acceleration data representative of hand-washing activity;

    an accelerometer that is structured and arranged to measure multi-dimensional movement and acceleration of the device;

    a processing device that is in communication with the radio frequency identification tag reader, the external communication device, the alarm device, the at least one data storing device, and the accelerometer, the processing device being adapted to call and execute an appropriate at least one application, algorithm, and driver program that uses measured multi-dimensional movement and acceleration data to evaluate hand-washing activity; and

    a central housing portion into which components of the device are structured and arranged, the central housing portion being at least one of shockproof, watertight, and airtight,the device useable in a method of monitoring an instance and a duration of hand-washing activity, the method comprising;

    monitoring an environment for identification tag signals;

    identifying a source of a monitored tag signal, the source taken from any of a plurality of dispensers, a plurality of directionally-controlled tags, and a plurality of unique passive radio frequency tags;

    calling from a database and executing at least one of an application, an algorithm, and a driver program corresponding to the identified signal source;

    measuring movement and acceleration of the wearable device;

    determining when hand-washing activity has begun by comparing measured movement and acceleration data to data providing indicia of hand-washing activity stored in a corresponding database;

    determining when hand-washing activity has ceased by comparing measured movement and acceleration data to the data providing indicia of hand-washing activity;

    calculating a duration of hand-washing activity;

    comparing the duration of hand-washing activity to a pre-determined minimum handwashing requirement, to determine whether or not said hand-washing activity complies with the minimum hand-washing requirements;

    calculating a duration of time between a most recent hand-washing activity and at least one of an entry time into a zone or room and an opening time of a medical supply or medical device;

    determining whether or not the duration of time is less than or equal to a pre-established threshold time; and

    alerting a wearer of the wearable device to perform remedial hand-washing activity if said duration of time is less than the pre-established threshold time.

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