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US 11,893,872 B2Granted
System and methods for wireless hand hygiene monitoring
OwnerChristopher D. Hermann, Russell Scott McCroryinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for providing hand hygiene dispenser stations configured to remind users to use the hand hygiene dispenser stations. In one or more embodiments, the present systems and methods provide individual provider identification and networked communication among hand hygiene stations (dispenser stations), enabling tracking of providers and data collection regarding hand hygiene products usage (hand hygiene compliance).
Claims19
A system for tracking and improving hand hygiene comprising:
- a hand hygiene dispenser station operatively connected to a hand hygiene product dispenser for dispensing a hand hygiene product, the hand hygiene dispenser station comprising:
- at least one sensor for detecting when an action to receive the hand hygiene product is performed by the hand hygiene product dispenser, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to at least one processor;
- and
- a wirelessly adjustable proximity sensor for determining when an object is within a predetermined distance from the hand hygiene product dispenser, the proximity sensor operatively connected to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operatively configured to:
- receive from a geographically remote data collection server, environmental programming information including alert parameters;
- receive, from the proximity sensor, a proximity indication that a particular object is within the predetermined distance;
- upon receiving the proximity indication, determine that the at least one sensor did not detect the action to receive the hand hygiene product within a predetermined time period;
- determine that at least one alert parameter included in the environmental programming information received from the geographically remote data collection server is met;
- and
- activate an alert at least partially based upon:
- a) the determination that the at least one sensor did not detect the action to receive the hand hygiene product within the predetermined time period, and b) the determination that at least one alert parameter included in the environmental programming information received from the geographically remote data collection server is met based on a current operating environment of the hand hygiene dispenser station.
8 more elements
A computer-implemented method for tracking and improving hand hygiene comprising:
- providing a hand hygiene dispenser station comprising:
- 1) at least one sensor for detecting when a user performs an action to receive a hand hygiene product, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to at least one processor;
- 2) an electromechanical usage sensor for detecting when the hand hygiene product is low, the electromechanical usage sensor operatively coupled to the at least one processor;
- and 3) memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured for:
- receiving, by the at least one processor, from a geographically remote data collection server, environmental alert parameters;
- receiving, by the at least one processor, from an ultrasound proximity sensor, a proximity indication that an object is within a predetermined distance of the ultrasound proximity sensor;
- upon receiving the proximity indication, receiving, by the at least one processor, one or more broadcasts;
- extracting, from the one or more broadcasts:
- one or more unique addresses;
- one or more battery levels of a broadcasting device;
- and/or
- one or more information packets;
- determining, by the at least one processor,
- that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within a predetermined time period;
- facilitating, by the at least one processor, playing an audio indication based on determining that at least one of the environmental alert parameters received from the geographically remote data collection server are met;
- logging by the at least one processor, the one or more unique addresses in memory with an indication that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period;
- and
- transmitting the one or more unique addresses received from the tag and the indication that the at least one sensor did not detect the user performing the action within the predetermined time period.
15 more elements
A first hand hygiene detection apparatus and a second hand hygiene detection apparatus, the first hand hygiene detection apparatus and the second hand hygiene detection apparatus operatively connected and operatively connected to a respective hand hygiene product dispenser, the first hand hygiene product dispenser further comprising:
- digital radio operatively connected to at least one processor configured to receive information from the second hand hygiene detection apparatus and/or from a data server;
- and memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operatively configured for:
- receiving at least one environmental alert parameter from a geographically remote data collection server, wherein the at least one environmental alert parameter comprises one or more of the following:
- time of day, location, and objects detected;
- receiving a dispensing event indication, via the digital radio, that a dispensing event associated with a particular unique address occurred at the second hand hygiene detection apparatus;
- storing the dispensing event indication in memory;
- receiving, from an ultrasound proximity sensor, a proximity indication that an object is within a predetermined distance of the first hand hygiene product dispenser;
- upon receiving the proximity indication:
- transmitting a proximity indication to at least one tag;
- and based on transmitting the proximity indication, receiving one or more unique addresses from the at least one tag;
- determining that the one or more unique addresses includes the particular unique address, determining whether the dispensing event occurred within a predetermined amount of time;
- facilitating playing of an audio reminder upon determining that the dispensing event did not occur within the predetermined amount of time or upon determining that the one or more unique addresses does not include the particular unique address, and upon determining that the at least one environmental alert parameter from the geographically remote data collection server has been met.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.