System, method and implementation for increasing a likelihood of improved hand hygiene in a desirably sanitary environment

• US 8,294,584 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Debra Plost, Gerald N. Plost
• Original Assignee: Debra Plost, Gerald N. Plost
• Inventors: Plost, Gerald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/381,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/500, 340/539.26, 340/545, 340/603, 340/691, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A monitor implements a protocol for evaluating the sufficiency of a worker'"'"'s hand washing activity in a desirably sanitary area. After a quantity of cleanser has been dispensed to the worker, data representative of the frequency, amplitude and duration of hand reciprocation by the worker are combined according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator. The indicator is then compared to a predetermined threshold level to determine if the protocol has been satisfied. Preferably, the predetermined mathematical proposition includes variable multipliers which can be selected to reflect the importance to the user of the frequency, amplitude and duration components of the proposition and the user can also select the predetermined pass/fail threshold.

Claims

1. For monitoring hand hygiene protocol compliance of a worker at a cleanser dispenser station, a method comprising the steps of:

detecting a dispensing of cleanser from the cleanser dispenser station at which the worker is present; and

determining whether a predetermined threshold level of hand cleansing motion by the worker has timely occurred following the dispensing.

2. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining a frequency of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker; and

comparing the determined frequency to a predetermined threshold frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining an amplitude of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker; and

comparing the determined amplitude to a predetermined threshold amplitude.

4. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining a duration of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker; and

comparing the determined duration to a predetermined threshold duration.

5. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining a frequency of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

determining an amplitude of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

combining the determined frequency and the determined amplitude according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator; and

comparing the indicator to a predetermined threshold level.

6. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining a frequency of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

determining a duration of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

combining the determined frequency and the determined duration according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator; and

comparing the indicator to a predetermined threshold level.

7. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining an amplitude of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

determining a duration of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

combining the determined amplitude and the determined duration according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator; and

comparing the indicator to a predetermined threshold level.

8. The method according to claim 1, said step of determining comprising the substeps of:

determining a frequency of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

determining an amplitude of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

determining a duration of the cleansing motion hand reciprocation by the worker;

combining the determined frequency, the determined amplitude and the determined duration according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator; and

comparing the indicator to a predetermined threshold level.

9. The method according to claim 8, said substep of determining a duration comprising:

initiating time measurement upon a timely occurrence after dispensing of a predetermined minimum amplitude of the hand cleansing motion; and

terminating time measurement upon an occurrence of an amplitude of hand cleansing motion less than the predetermined minimum amplitude.

10. The method according to claim 9, said substep of determining a frequency comprising counting a number of hand reciprocations occurring during the determined duration.

11. The method according to claim 10, said substep of determining an amplitude comprising:

measuring an axial distance of each hand reciprocation occurring during the determined duration;

counting the number of hand reciprocations occurring during the determined duration; and

determining an average axial distance per hand reciprocation.

12. The method according to claim 11, said predetermined mathematical proposition comprising weighted frequency, amplitude and duration components.

13. The method according to claim 1, the cleanser being soap and the station being equipped to dispense water, the method further comprising the step of determining whether a dispensing of water has occurred at the station within a predetermined time preceding the dispensing of soap at the station.

14. The method according to claim 13, the method further comprising the step of determining whether a dispensing of water has occurred at the station within a predetermined time following the occurrence of a predetermined threshold level of cleansing motion at the station.

15. The method according to claim 1, the cleanser being a waterless cleanser, the method further comprising the step of determining whether at least a predetermined quantity of cleanser has been dispensed to require a threshold drying time of the dispensed cleanser.