Method and system for monitoring and enforcing hand hygiene and sanitization

• US 9,472,089 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raed H. Alhazme
• Original Assignee: Raed H. Alhazme
• Inventors: Alhazme, Raed H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US14/452,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A method for monitoring hand sanitization policy compliance including initializing a sanitization monitoring sensor (SMS) to a deactivated state, the SMS being configured to wearable by a user, activating the SMS by an SMS activator that is disposed in at least one predetermined location of a structure, wherein the SMS is activated upon a determination of at least one parameter, deactivating the SMS by an SMS deactivator configured to deactivate the SMS upon use of an associated sanitization dispenser by the user, monitoring SMS activation/deactivation activity by a network integrated SMS monitoring module, wherein when the SMS changes activation states, the network integrated SMS monitoring module receives a log of SMS activities, including credentials and time of activation/deactivation; and negotiating access credentials by the SMS with at least one access point wherein the access point restricts access to the SMS if the SMS is activated.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring hand sanitization policy compliance comprising:

initializing a sanitization monitoring sensor (SMS) to a deactivated state, the SMS being configured to be wearable by a user;

activating the SMS by an SMS activator that is disposed in a predetermined location of a structure, wherein the SMS is activated upon a determination of at least one of a low hand sanitization condition or a contamination condition, a geographic location of the user, and a predetermined duration has elapsed since a last sanitization activity;

deactivating the SMS by an SMS deactivator configured to deactivate the SMS upon use of an associated sanitization dispenser by the user;

monitoring SMS activation/deactivation activity by a network integrated SMS monitoring module, wherein when the SMS changes activation states, the network integrated SMS monitoring module receives a log of SMS activities, including credentials and time of activation/deactivation;

negotiating access credentials by the SMS with at least one access point wherein the access point restricts access to the SMS if the SMS is activated; and

illuminating a light emitting diode (LED) integrated within the SMS into an ON LED state,

wherein the ON LED state indicates a high contamination level that causes a warning signal to be transmitted to the SMS and further causes a restriction of access credentials of the SMS such that access to the SMS at the at least one access point is denied.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the SMS by activating a touch sensor integrated within the SMS such that when a sanitized finger of the user touches the sensor, the sensor deactivates the SMS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initializing includes detecting a motion of the SMS after the SMS has been stationary for a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initializing includes physically setting the SMS to a deactivated state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination further comprises a handshake procedure between the SMS and the SMS activator, such that the SMS activator is configured to transmit a broadcast wakeup signal within its vicinity, and upon receiving a wakeup signal, the SMS transmits an activation status signal to the SMS activator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein upon receiving the SMS activation status signal, the SMS activator transmits an activation signal so as to activate the SMS.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating a light emitting diode (LED) integrated within the SMS into a BLINKING LED state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the BLINKING LED state indicates a medium contamination level that causes a warning signal to be transmitted by the SMS activator, or the network integrated SMS monitoring module, wherein the warning signal includes a vibration, sound, text message, or email.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing a zone wide activation that causes the SMS when entering into or out of the zone to automatically activate.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing sub-zone activation that causes the SMS entering into or out of a predetermined sub-zone to automatically activate when the SMS is within proximity of a predetermined point of interest.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating access credentials further comprises:

requesting activation status at the at least one access point;

receiving a confirmation signal of activation of the SMS;

determining access credentials at the at least one access point, wherein the at least one access point is configured to restrict access to the SMS if the SMS is activated, the at least one access point is further configured to grant access to the SMS if the SMS is deactivated; and

reinitializing the at least one access point to check activation status of a new SMS.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one access point is operatively connected to the network integrated SMS monitoring module such that upon restricting access of the SMS, an incident report is transmitted from the at least one access point to the SMS monitoring module indicating time and place and identification of the SMS and status of the restricted access.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein upon receiving the incident report, the network integrated SMS monitoring module registers an attempted access violation in a network database, wherein the network database generates a periodic incentive report detailing activation and deactivation incidences of the SMS, sanitization habits, suggested improvements, and award incentives for high sanitization habits.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the SMS deactivator is further configured to be installed within a sanitization dispenser, such that when the sanitization dispenser is activated, the SMS deactivator issues a deactivation signal to the SMS.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein SMS deactivator is mechanically powered by a mechanical power generator operatively configured to generate power when a lever of the sanitization dispenser is mechanically actuated.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the SMS deactivator is electrically connected to the associated sanitization dispenser, such that in response to an occurrence of a sanitization activity, the SMS deactivator automatically transmits a deactivation signal to the SMS.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the SMS deactivator is further configured to transmit a short distance deactivation broadcast signal to deactivate the SMS associated with the personnel using the sanitization dispenser and avoid deactivating other SMSs.

18. A system for monitoring hand sanitization policy compliance comprising:

a sanitization monitoring sensor (SMS) configured to be wearable by a user and further configured to be initialized to a deactivated state, said SMS having a transceiver configured to transmit and receive SMS activation commands and status information stored on a microcontroller integrated within the SMS and configured to store SMS activation commands and status information and further configured to control an indicia integrated within the SMS, such that the indicia indicates at least three activation level signals;

an SMS activator operatively configured be disposed in at least one predetermined location of a structure such as to communicate with the SMS when the SMS is within a predetermined proximity, and further configured to activate the SMS upon a determination of a predetermined location of a structure, wherein the SMS is activated upon a determination of at least one of a low hand sanitization condition or a contamination condition, or a geographic location of the user, and a predetermined duration has elapsed since a last sanitization activity;

an SMS deactivator configured to deactivate the SMS upon use of an associated sanitization dispenser by the user;

a network integrated SMS monitoring module configured to monitor the SMS, wherein when the SMS changes activation states, the network integrated SMS monitoring module receives a log of SMS activity, including credentials and time of activation/deactivation;

at least one access point configured to negotiate access credentials with the SMS wherein the access point is configured to restrict to the SMS if the SMS is activated; and

a light emitting diode (LED) integrated within the SMS and configured to be illuminated into an ON LED state,

wherein the ON LED state indicates a high contamination level that causes a warning signal to be transmitted to the SMS and further causes a restriction of access credentials of the SMS such that access to the SMS at the at least one access point is denied.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the SMS further comprises an integrated touch sensor configured to deactivate the SMS when a sanitized finger of the user touches the integrated touch sensor.

20. A system for monitoring hand sanitization policy compliance comprising:

a sanitization monitoring sensor (SMS) configured to be wearable by a user and further configured to be initialized to a deactivated state, said SMS having a transceiver configured to transmit and receive SMS activation commands and status information stored on a microcontroller integrated within the SMS and configured to store SMS activation commands and status information and further configured to control an indicia integrated within the SMS, such that the indicia indicates at least three activation level signals;

an SMS activator operatively configured be disposed in at least one predetermined location of a structure such as to communicate with the SMS when the SMS is within a predetermined proximity, and further configured to activate the SMS upon a determination of a predetermined location of a structure, wherein the SMS is activated upon a determination of at least one of a low hand sanitization condition or a contamination condition, or a geographic location of the user, and a predetermined duration has elapsed since a last sanitization activity;

an SMS deactivator configured to deactivate the SMS upon use of an associated sanitization dispenser by the user;

a network integrated SMS monitoring module configured to monitor the SMS, wherein when the SMS changes activation states, the network integrated SMS monitoring module receives a log of SMS activity, including credentials and time of activation/deactivation;

at least one access point configured to negotiate access credentials with the SMS wherein the access point is configured to restrict to the SMS if the SMS is activated; and

a light emitting diode (LED) integrated within the SMS and configured to be illuminated into a BLINKING LED state,

wherein the BLINKING LED state indicates a medium contamination level that causes a warning signal to be transmitted by the SMS activator, or the network integrated SMS monitoring module, wherein the warning signal includes a vibration, sound, text message, or email.