# US 10,482,753 B2 · Infection control monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,753 B2 - Document ID: US10482753B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/987,917 - Filed: 2013-09-17 - Published: 2015-03-19 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC - Applicants: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC - Inventors: William Bert Nelson; Robert Sigurd Nelson; Glenn Albert Nickele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482753B2 ## CPC - G08B 21/245: {Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands} - G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract The invention provides an automated hand hygiene/infection control monitoring sensor-based system suitable for improving hand hygiene and multiple infection control measures and ensuring compliance by health care workers as well as visitors to hospitals and clinics. The use of biometric identification devices such as cameras for face recognition and profiling, microphones for voice recognition, etc. permit highly accurate identification without the use of removable identification devices such as identification badges which may include bar codes, magnetic strips or wireless devices such as RFIDS. Identification badges are removable and hence susceptible to being lost, misplaced, etc. Visitors are typically not assigned identification badges and hence enforcement of hand hygiene policies is minimal. Additional applications include reducing food contamination in food industry, the spread of diseases in schools, in businesses, in corporations and governmental facilities and public access facilities such as public restrooms, dining areas and transportation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An infection control monitoring system comprising: at least one camera adapted for identifying and tracking individuals in a room for hygiene and safety compliance, a display adapted for interactive communications with the individuals in the room, an override device enabled by an authorized individual, wherein the monitoring system is programmed to accept electronic commands that override the monitoring system, an electronic communications link to a computer adapted for processing, storage, and verification of data acquired by the monitoring system, wherein the data is analyzed for infection control monitoring of the individuals in the room, and a dispenser unit adapted for dispensing a cleaning agent or infection control material, wherein the infection control monitoring system tracks compliance to a respective infection control step by the individuals in the room. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising at least one biometric identification device adapted for identifying the individuals in the room, the device selected from the list of: a camera adapted for face recognition and profile recognition of the individuals, a microphone adapted for voice recognition of the individuals, a biometric reader adapted for biometric recognition of the individuals, a badge reader adapted for identification of the individuals, an infrared imager adapted for infrared recognition of the individuals, and a chemical sensor adapted for chemical recognition of the individuals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the dispenser unit comprises an insertion slot or portal for cleaning portable medical instruments, and wherein the infection control monitoring system is adapted for tracking of the cleaning of the portable medical instruments by registered individuals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The infection control monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising a camera and a microphone adapted for registration of the registered individuals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the override device comprises a push button, proximity sensor, microphone, touch screen, or virtual keyboard adapted to inactivate the system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, wherein: the system is adapted to track compliance with use of infection control measures selected from masks, gowns, eye shields, head covers, overalls and hazmat suits; or the dispenser unit is adapted to track removal of items selected from gloves, masks and gowns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense presence of hands below the dispenser unit, wherein the dispenser unit is adapted to dispense soap or disinfectant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The infection control monitoring system of claim 7, further comprising a clock programmed to appear on the display, wherein the system registers non-compliance to an aspect of infection control if the hands are removed prematurely to a time period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The infection control monitoring system of claim 7, further comprising an inspection device adapted to examine the hands to evaluate washing effectiveness, wherein the infection control monitoring system is adapted to recognize an individual as compliant once the hands are washed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising: an electronic locking mechanism communicating with the system via a wired or wireless network, wherein a door locks or unlocks based on the compliance; or a door opening mechanism linked to the system, wherein the door opening mechanism is adapted to automatically open a door based on the compliance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The infection control monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the display is adapted to tell the individuals when the compliance is achieved. ### Claim 12 An infection control monitoring method comprising: identifying and tracking individuals in a room for hygiene and safety compliance; interactively communicating with the individuals in the room; enabling an override device, wherein the monitoring system is programmed to accept electronic commands that override the monitoring system; and linking to a computer adapted for processing, storage, and verification of data acquired by the monitoring system, wherein the data is analyzed for monitoring the individuals in the room; and dispensing a cleaning agent or infection control material; and tracking compliance to a respective infection control step by the individuals in the room, sensing presence of hands below the dispenser unit, wherein the dispenser unit is adapted to dispense soap or disinfectant, and examining the hands to evaluate washing effectiveness, wherein the infection control monitoring system is adapted to recognize the individuals as compliant once the hands are washed; or programming a clock to appear on a display screen, wherein non-compliance is registered if the hands are removed prematurely to a time period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising suspending the infection control monitoring method with an authorized button or voice command. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating with the system via a wired or wireless network, wherein a door locks or unlocks based on the compliance, or a door automatically opens based on the compliance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the display screen further tell the individuals when compliance is achieved. ### Claim 16 An infection control monitoring system comprising: at least one video camera adapted for identifying and tracking all individuals in a room space continuously throughout the room space for hygiene and safety compliance purposes, a display screen and a speaker adapted for interactive communications with the individuals in the room space, at least one non-contact override device, wherein the monitoring system is programmed to accept electronic commands that override the monitoring system and use of the at least one non-contact override device is limited to authorized individuals, an electronic communications link to a computer adapted for data post-processing, storage, verification and display of data acquired by the monitoring system, wherein the data is analyzed for monitoring the individuals in the room space, and a dispenser unit with an insertion slot or portal for cleaning portable medical instruments, and wherein the infection control monitoring system implements tracking of use and the cleaning of the portable medical instruments by registered individuals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising at least one non-contact biometric identification device adapted for identifying all the individuals for tracking purposes, the device selected from the list of: a camera adapted for face recognition and profile recognition of the individuals, a microphone adapted for voice recognition of the individuals, a palm recognition biometric reader adapted for palm recognition of the individuals, an eye scanner adapted for the individuals to present an eye, a badge reader adapted for identification of the individuals, an infrared imager adapted for infrared recognition of the individuals, and a chemical sensor adapted for chemical recognition of the individuals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising at least one of a video camera adapted for registration of the registered individuals and a microphone adapted for registration of the registered individuals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the system is linked to a security system adapted for purposes of tracking at least one of: each individual throughout the room space, and the portable medical instruments throughout the room space. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the at least one video camera of the system is integrated with existing video cameras employed to monitor the room space. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising a sensor configured to sense presence of hands below the dispenser unit, wherein the dispenser unit is adapted to dispense soap or disinfectant, and an inspection device adapted to examine the hands to evaluate washing effectiveness, wherein the infection control monitoring system is adapted to recognize the individuals as compliant once the hands are washed; or a clock programmed to appear on the display screen, wherein the system registers non-compliance to an aspect of infection control if the hands are removed prematurely to a time period. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The infection control monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising: an electronic locking mechanism communicating with the system via a wired or wireless network, wherein a door locks or unlocks based on the compliance, or a door opening mechanism linked to the system, wherein the door opening mechanism is adapted to automatically open a door based on the compliance.