# US 2019/0172336 A1 · Method for the disinfection and the quality control of the disinfection of the hands of a user and apparatus for carrying out the method

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- Number: US 2019/0172336 A1
- Document ID: US20190172336A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/322,905
- Filed: 2017-12-13
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14
- Assignees: Handinscan Zrt.
- Applicants: Handinscan Zrt.
- Inventors: Tamás Péter HAIDEGGER; Péter SZERÉMY; Ákos LEHOTSKY; Gergely MAJOR; Bence TAKÁCS; Péter RÓNA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172336A1

## CPC

- G08B 21/245: {Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands}
- A61L 2/18: Liquid substances
- A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
- A61L 2/26: Accessories
- A61L 2/28: Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation
- A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
- A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

Method for the disinfection and the quality control of the disinfection of the hands of a user comprising the steps of:—dispensing a predetermined amount of the mixture of a disinfectant substance and a light reflection modifying substance on the hands to be disinfected,—allowing the user to smear and rub the mixture on his/her hands,—inserting the hands one after the other into an imaging compartment (11) of an apparatus (10) for disinfection quality control;—illuminating the inserted hand with light sources (14) emitting light having a predetermined spectral distribution and intensity;—recording the image of the hand (9) from both sides by cameras (16);—processing the recorded image to provide distinction between areas of the hand contacted and non-contacted by the mixture, wherein the light reflection modifying substance is a substance that absorbs light in at least a predetermined wavelength range which is added to the disinfectant substance in an amount that decreases light absorption of areas treated by the mixture and retains at the same time disinfectant properties; the light source emits light to cover the predetermined range and the cameras have sensitivity in that range, furthermore, in the processing step areas of the hand (9) are made brighter which were not contacted previously by the mixture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method for the disinfection and the quality control of the disinfection of the hands of a user comprising the steps of:
dispensing a predetermined amount of the mixture of a disinfectant substance and a light reflection modifying substance on the hands to be disinfected,
allowing the user to smear and rub the mixture on his/her hands,
inserting the hands one after the other into an imaging compartment (11) of an apparatus (10) for disinfection quality control;
illuminating the inserted hand with light sources (14) emitting light having a predetermined spectral distribution and intensity;
recording the image of the hand (9) from both sides by cameras (16);
processing the recorded image to provide distinction between areas of
the hand contacted and non-contacted by the mixture,
characterized in that said light reflection modifying substance is a substance that absorbs light in at least a predetermined range a wavelength which is added to the disinfectant substance in an amount that decreases light absorption of areas treated by the mixture and retains at the same time disinfectant properties; said light source (14) emits light to cover said predetermined range and said cameras (16) have sensitivity in said range, furthermore, in said processing step areas of said hand (9) are made brighter which were not contacted previously by the mixture.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein following said processing step showing the processed picture of the hand to the user to enable him/her to perform a second disinfection where the displayed, previously not treated areas will be contacted by the mixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein Avobenzone that has a CAS registration number: 155633-54-8 is used as a light absorbing substance having absorption properties in the ultraviolet (UV) range of wavelength and this substance is added to the disinfectant substance in about a concentration of 10%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein Indocyanine green that has a CAS registration number: 3599-32-4 is used as a light absorbing substance having absorption properties in the infrared (IR) range of wavelength and this substance is added to the disinfectant substance in a concentration of about 1%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2)

The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein Fluorescein that has a CAS registration number: 2321-07-05 is used as a light absorbing substance having absorption properties in the visible range of wavelengths and which should be added to the disinfectant substance in a concentration of about 2%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

An apparatus (10) for hand disinfection quality control for carrying out the method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized by comprising:
a housing (12),
a hand inspection cavity (80) formed on a front face of the housing (12) and adapted for receiving a hand (9) of a user and leading to an imaging compartment (11),
a plurality of light sources (14) emitting light in the absorption spectral range of wavelengths of said light absorption increasing substance are arranged in the imaging compartment (11) to direct light to the whole surface of the hand (9) in said imaging compartment (11),
digital cameras (16) arranged in said imaging compartment (11) being sensitive in said range of wavelength to take images of said illuminated hand (9),
an image processing and evaluating processor unit (30) to provide an image or visual representation of said hand showing areas not contacted by said mixture as bright areas compared to areas contacted by said mixture; and
a display means (50) to show said processed image.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:
input means (40) for locally controlling the operation of the apparatus,
an internal data storage unit (24),
a hand proximity sensor (18) configured to detect presence of a hand of a user within said hand inspection cavity (80),
wherein the processor unit (30) is configured also
to process said visual representation by using a predetermined or user-specific evaluation algorithm for determining the acceptable level of hand sanitation, and based on said evaluation to determine whether or not the quality of disinfection of the inspected hand is acceptable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6, 7)

The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein inner walls of the imaging compartment (11) are covered with an anti reflection material having anti reflection properties in said range of wavelengths.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6, 7, 8)

The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, further comprising one or more status indicators to produce visual or audible status signals representing operating modes of the apparatus and/or disinfection quality control test results.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an interface unit (70) for connecting the apparatus to an external processor device through a wired or wireless connection.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a user identification module with a user proximity sensor (61) to identify the user whose hands (9) are subject to disinfection quality control.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the user identification module is based on the personal identification technology selected from the group of: magnetic card, smart card, RFID, NFC, fingerprint, ultrasound or infrared (IR) identification.