Hand antiseptic system and method

• US 6,577,240 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David N. Armstrong
• Original Assignee: David N. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/892,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/572.3, 340/286.09, 340/541, 340/567, 222/39, 422/2, 422/3, 382/100
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A pair of sensors (20A and 20B) are mounted at the entrance to a germ sensitive area. When a person enters the area the sensors are activated in sequence, indicating the direction of movement of the person. An indicator, such as a light or sound alarm is mounted upon an antiseptic dispenser, located within the area. The alarm is actuated by the movement and is de-activated once antiseptic is dispensed from the unit. Likewise when the person moves out of the germ sensitive area, the alarm on a dispenser unit located outside the area is energized and is de-activated upon dispensing of antiseptic.

Claims

1. A hand antiseptic system for encouraging hand hygiene procedures, comprising:

a bi-directional sensor that includes a first sensor and a second sensor that are both affixed to the bi-directional sensor system and are horizontally positioned in series with one another on the bi-directional sensor system, wherein the first sensor can sense a person in a first sensor area, wherein the second sensor can sense the person in a second sensor area, wherein a person can trigger the first sensor by passing through the first sensor area, wherein the person can trigger the second sensor by passing through the second sensor area, and wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the direction that the person is moving by the order in which the first sensor and second sensor are triggered; and

a dispensing system that includes;

a first perceivable alarm actuated by the person passing through the first sensor area and the second sensor area and triggering the first sensor and the second sensor;

a second perceivable alarm actuated if the first perceivable alarm is not de-activated after a predetermined time period; and

a dispensing detector, wherein the first perceivable alarm is deactivated after the dispensing detector is triggered, and wherein the second perceivable alarm is deactivated after the dispensing detector is triggered.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing system dispenses a hand hygiene agent when the dispensing detector is triggered.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing system includes a first dispensing system and a second dispensing system, wherein the first dispensing system is located in a first area and the second dispensing system is located in an adjacent second area and wherein the bi-directional sensor system is located in the first area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of activating the first dispensing system if the first sensor is triggered before the second sensor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of activating the second dispensing system if the second sensor is triggered before the first sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the number of targets entering an area.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the number of targets exiting an area.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional sensor system includes a digital camera.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional sensor system includes a sleep mode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional sensor system includes a radio frequency identification system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are selected from passive infrared sensors, photoelectric proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, laser sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor include a passive infrared sensor.

13. A method of alerting a person entering an area to clean their hands using a hand antiseptic system that includes a bi-directional sensor system having a first sensor and a second sensor that are both affixed to the bi-directional sensor system and are horizontally positioned in series with one another on the bi-directional sensor system, wherein the first sensor can sense a person in a first sensor area, and wherein the second sensor can sense the person in a second sensor area, comprising the steps of:

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

actuating a first alarm when the first sensor and second sensor are triggered in sequence and where the first sensor is triggered before the second sensor; and

actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

resetting the first sensor and the second sensor;

resetting the first alarm and second alarm;

resetting the time period;

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

actuating a first alarm when the second sensor and first sensor are triggered in sequence and where the second sensor is triggered before the first sensor; and

actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of deactivating the first alarm if a dispenser lever is activated.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of deactivating the first and second alarm if a dispenser lever is activated.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the number of targets exiting an area.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the number of targets entering an area.

19. A method of alerting a person exiting an area to clean their hands using a hand antiseptic system that includes a bi-directional sensor system having a first sensor and a second sensor that are both affixed to the bi-directional sensor system and are horizontally positioned in series with one another on the bi-directional sensor system, wherein the first sensor can sense a person in a first sensor area, and wherein the second sensor can sense the person in a second sensor area, comprising the steps of:

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

actuating a first alarm when the second sensor and first sensor are triggered in sequence and where the second sensor is triggered before the first sensor; and

actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of deactivating the first alarm if a dispenser lever is activated.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of deactivating the first and second alarm if a dispenser lever is activated.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the bi-directional sensor system is capable of determining the number of targets exiting an area.

23. A system of alerting a person entering an area to clean their hands using a hand antiseptic system that includes a bi-directional sensor system having a first sensor and a second sensor that are both affixed to the bi-directional sensor system and are horizontally positioned in series with one another on the bi-directional sensor system, wherein the first sensor can sense a person in a first sensor area, and wherein the second sensor can sense the person in a second sensor area, comprising:

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

means for actuating a first alarm when the first sensor and second sensor are triggered in sequence and where the first sensor is triggered before the second sensor; and

means for actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for resetting the first sensor and the second sensor;

means for resetting the first alarm and second alarm;

means for resetting the time period;

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

means for actuating a first alarm when the second sensor and first sensor are triggered in sequence and where the second sensor is triggered before the first sensor; and

means for actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.

25. A method of alerting a person exiting an area to clean their hands using a hand antiseptic system that includes a bi-directional sensor system having a first sensor and a second sensor that are both affixed to the bi-directional sensor system and are horizontally positioned in series with one another on the bi-directional sensor system, wherein the first sensor can sense a person in a first sensor area, and wherein the second sensor can sense the person in a second sensor area, comprising the steps of:

triggering a second sensor when the person passes through the second sensor area;

triggering a first sensor when the person passes through the first sensor area;

means for actuating a first alarm when the second sensor and first sensor are triggered in sequence and where the second sensor is triggered before the first sensor; and

means for actuating a second alarm after a predetermined time period has lapsed after the first alarm was actuated.