RF controlled devices to increase compliance with handwashing protocols

• US 7,605,704 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke University
• Original Assignee: Duke University Health System
• Inventors: Munro, Andrew D., Munro, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/743,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/540, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/606, 340/5.2, 340/10.1, 340/686.6, 137/552.7, 222/1, 222/39, 222/52, 222/638, 222/639
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A system for monitoring compliance by a plurality of workers carrying wireless tags having worker identifiers with handwashing protocols in a facility having a plurality of areas. The system includes a plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters having area identifiers for reading the worker identifiers stored in the wireless tags when the worker is positioned a predetermined distance from any of the plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters and transmitting worker and area identifiers to at least one computing device; and at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus positioned in an area having at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifiers and transmitting the worker and area identifiers.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring compliance with handwashing protocols by a plurality of workers, each worker carrying a wireless tag having a worker identifier, the monitoring being performed in a facility having a plurality of areas, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters each having an area identifier, at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter being positioned in each of the plurality of areas and each wireless tag reader/transmitter being capable of reading the worker identifier stored in the wireless tag when the worker is within range of the wireless tag reader/transmitter and further capable of transmitting the worker and area identifiers to at least one computing device; and

at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus positioned in an area having the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifier and transmit the worker and area identifiers to the at least one computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device comprises a database for storing the worker and area identifiers received from the plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters together with a timestamp indicating when the worker and area identifier pairs were received.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus comprises a cradle, a mounting bracket for affixing the cradle, and a sensor mounted on the cradle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is selected from one of a jacket, flexible teeth, push/pull sensor, optical sensor, and pressure sensor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus is used to dispense a substance selected from foam, handrub, wipes, and tissues.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus further includes a wireless transmitter connected to the sensor, when turned on by the sensor, the wireless transmitter wirelessly alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein when manipulated the sensor turns on the wireless transmitter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein when the sensor is manipulated the wireless transmitter alerts the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless transmitter and at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter use radio frequency for wireless transmission and the tags are RFID tags.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless transmitter and at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter use IR frequency for wireless transmission.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless transmitter and at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter use ultrasound frequency for wireless transmission.

12. The system of claim 3, further comprising an insert including a wireless transmitter, wherein the insert is placed into the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus and is connected to the sensor, when turned on by the sensor, the wireless transmitter wirelessly alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein a lever is used to activate the sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sink station having a faucet and an extension having indicators, and

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter when manipulation of the at least one sink station is detected by the extension.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicators signal recommended duration of water usage and comprise at least one light indicator.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the extension further comprises a paddle wheel for generating electrical power for the at least one light indicator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the extension further comprises a capacitor for collecting excess electrical power.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating a predetermined amount of time for handwashing to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter associated with the at least one sink station and the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter wirelessly transmits the predetermined amount of time for handwashing to the extension of the faucet of the at least one sink station.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the predetermined amount of time for handwashing is used as a duration of time for turning on the at least one light indicator.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter reads the worker identifiers and transmits the worker and area identifier pairs at start and end of handwashing.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless tag is a biometric body part of the worker.

18. A system for monitoring compliance with handwashing protocols by a plurality of workers, each worker carrying a wireless tag haying a worker identifier, the monitoring being performed in a facility having a plurality of areas, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters each having an area identifier, at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter being positioned in each of the areas and each wireless tag reader/transmitter being capable of reading the worker identifier stored in the wireless tag when the worker is within range of the wireless tag reader/transmitter and further capable of transmitting the worker and area identifiers to at least one computing device;

at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus positioned in an area having the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifier and transmit the worker and area identifiers to the at least one computing device;

at least one sink station having a faucet and an extension having indicators positioned in an area having the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, the at least one sink station alerting the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifier and transmit the worker and area identifiers; and

a wireless transmitter on each of the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus and the at least one sink station,

wherein the wireless transmitter on the at least one sink station wirelessly alerts the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter when manipulation of the at least one sink station is detected, and

wherein the extension registers a number of rotations of a paddle wheel indicating an amount of water flowing through the faucet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the number of rotations to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter transmitting the number of rotations to the computing device.

24. A method of monitoring compliance by a plurality of workers with handwashing protocols in a facility having a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of workers having a tag including a worker identifier, each of the plurality of areas having at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter including an area identifier and being capable of reading the worker identifier stored in the wireless tag when the worker is within range of the wireless tag reader/transmitter and of transmitting the worker and area identifiers to at least one computing device, and at least one of the plurality of areas including a cleanser dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus detecting manipulation of the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus and sending an alert signal to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter if manipulation is detected; and

the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter reading the worker identifier of a worker positioned at a predetermined distance away and transmitting the worker and area identifiers to the at least one computing device when the alert signal is received.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of storing the worker and area identifiers received from the plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters together with a timestamp indicating when the worker and area identifier pairs were received in a database on the at least one computing device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of wirelessly transmitting the alert signal from the at least one cleanser dispensing apparatus to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of areas further including a sink station having a faucet and further comprising a step of wirelessly transmitting the alert signal from the at least one sink station to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the computing device a handwashing time for indicating to the worker how much time to use for handwashing; and

calculating an amount of water flowing through the faucet and providing that amount to the computing device for storing in the database.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of turning the faucet off at expiration of the handwashing time.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the alert signal is sent at start and end of handwashing.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the worker identifier is a biometric body part of the worker.

32. A system for monitoring compliance with handwashing protocols by a plurality of workers, each worker carrying a wireless tag having a worker identifier, the monitoring being performed in a facility having a plurality of areas, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless tag reader/transmitters each having an area identifier, at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter being positioned in each of the areas and each wireless tag reader/transmitter being capable of reading the worker identifier stored in the wireless tag when the worker is within range of the wireless tag reader/transmitter and further capable of transmitting the worker and area identifiers to at least one computing device; and

at least one washing station positioned in an area having the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter, and generating an alert signal;

wherein the alert signal alerts the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifier and to transmit the worker and area identifiers to the at least one computing device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the washing station is selected from at least one of a cleanser dispenser and a sink with a faucet.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the washing station comprises a wireless transceiver for wirelessly sending the alert signal.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless transceiver receives from the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter a signal sent by the at least one computing device, the signal indicating a recommended amount of cleansing substance to be used for the worker whose identifier was transmitted.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the wireless transceiver transmits an amount of the cleansing substance used to the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter for transmission to the at least one computing device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the sink further includes a faucet and the cleansing substance used is water.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein, the at least one washing station further comprises a sensor for sensing the worker manipulating the at least one washing station and triggering the wireless transceiver at start and end of handwashing to alert the at least one wireless tag reader/transmitter to read the worker identifier and to transmit the worker and area identifiers to the at least one computing device.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the faucet includes a device for measuring the amount of water used and for generating a signal to be returned to the computing device related to the amount of water used.