AT523892A1 - Device for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects, the device (1) comprising a housing (2) with at least one cavity (3), the housing (2) having at least one opening (4) for guiding the hands into the cavity (3) and at least one fluid dispensing device (6) for dispensing a disinfectant (7) and at least one UV light source (8) for irradiating the hands are arranged in the cavity (3), by means of which a disinfection process can be carried out, the device (1) comprising a display device for displaying a signal after the end of the disinfection process and/or an unlocking device for releasing a passage after the end of the disinfection process, the fluid dispensing device (6) for dispensing carbon dioxide and/or a glycerol compound trained in skin care.

Description

Device for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects

The invention relates to a device for disinfecting hands, forearms or

small items.

Hands and forearms are often infected with bacteria and viruses and often with fungi and have to be cleaned several times for sterile activities, but also in everyday life. In principle, washing with soap is also an option, although this manual washing process is always carried out with sufficient time and care

connected is.

One feels one's face with one's hands hundreds of times a day and can thus easily carry pathogens from the surface of the skin via the mucous membranes close to the face (mouth, nose, eyes, ears) into the interior of the human organism or onto other surfaces

transfer.

Surfaces often form a very good transmission basis for pathogens of all kinds and in many cases cannot be adequately disinfected. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the hands and forearms, which act as a kind of transmission bridge between different surfaces, are sufficiently and intensively disinfected at relevant moments. Shopping baskets, shopping trolleys, door handles and surfaces on packaging of all kinds should be mentioned here as examples. But shaking hands and other touches can also be dangerous if hands and forearms are not disinfected

turn out

KR 20050000283 A discloses a device for sterilizing or disinfecting hands. This device has a housing with an opening into which the hands are inserted. This device is a large, mobile device. The device also has a sensor for detecting the introduction of the hands, a disinfection unit for dispensing a disinfectant and a sterilization lamp. Furthermore, this device includes a monitor to display the progress of the disinfection process. Further disinfection devices are known from the documents KR 20110004195 U, US 2016000951 A1, KR 101953557 B1 and WO 2016179193 A1.

In the field of medical professions, from nurses to surgeons, hygiene measures can be life-saving or at least not bring diseases. It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a device for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects which offers the most efficient possible disinfection of the hands, forearms or small objects held in the hands. In particular, the device is intended to prevent people from cleaning their hands thoroughly too quickly or too superficially.

This object is achieved by a device for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects, which comprises a housing with at least one cavity, the housing having at least one opening for passing the hands through into the cavity and in the cavity a fluid dispensing device for dispensing a disinfectant and a UV light source for irradiating the hands are arranged, the device having a display device for displaying a signal after the end of the disinfection process and/or an unlocking device for releasing a

run after completion of the disinfection process.

In order to simultaneously achieve skin care with the device according to the invention, the device is designed to release carbon dioxide and/or a glycerol compound for skin care. Carbon dioxide briefly lowers the pH value and is therefore particularly suitable for skin care.

The aim of the device according to the invention is to inactivate or destroy germs and harmful organisms on the skin surface of the hand and forearm by multiple use of UVC radiation, propyl alcohol atomization and preferably carbon dioxide gassing. If a small object is held in the hand, this can also be disinfected. Thus, after the use of the device, a pathogen-free state can be brought about, which in the event of later contact with mucous membranes or surfaces for a limited time

inconspicuous microbiological diagnosis guaranteed.

The device has the advantage that the irradiation with the UV light source with a

predetermined intensity and duration is feasible. There is no need to rely on the user's knowledge or cooperation as the hands are located within the cavity at a predetermined distance from the UV light source and premature withdrawal of the

hands will cause the disinfection process to be aborted, resulting in no signal being output or

no passage is released. The intensity and duration of the irradiation can therefore be predetermined and thus optimized in order to inactivate the inactivation processes in pathogens and

to start germinating.

The use of the disinfectant can also be regulated and optimized by the device. The fluid dispensing device can dispense the disinfectant in a predetermined dispensing quantity and the signal can only be triggered or the passage can only be released when the hands have been cleaned with the disinfectant for a predetermined period of time. A correct cleaning movement could even be checked by means of a camera. In this case, the disinfection process could only be considered complete when a cleaning movement is recognized according to a predetermined pattern or an essentially complete one

Wetting of the hands with the disinfectant was detected.

The device thus creates the possibility that, firstly, the user himself knows that his hands have been cleaned correctly. Secondly, it can also prevent a user from skipping a cleaning or from doing it too quickly and thus insufficiently. For example, people with uncleaned hands or forearms may be prevented from entering a hospital, store, mall, or other area where safety concerns exist. In particular, positioning in an operating washroom for cleaning hands before putting on the latex gloves is a good idea, as this area of application has special

safety precautions are required.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the UV light source is a UVC light source, in particular a UVC LED lamp or a UVC mercury vapor lamp. In technical terms, UVC light is understood to mean light with a wavelength of 100 nm to 300 nm. Light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, preferably 250 nm to 290 nm, is particularly preferably output for the device according to the invention. By irradiating the hands with light of these wavelengths, the inactivation processes in the pathogens and germs are started. Parts of the DNA or two information carriers in the DNA dimerize and stick together through the photochemical process and make them practically unusable for cellular transcription and

replication.

A particularly beneficial effect of the UV light source could with an intensity of

at least 10 mJ/cm? and/or a maximum of 100 mJ/cm? be achieved. through the

Given the known distance between the hands and the UV light source inside the cavity, the power of the UV light source can be adjusted in advance in order to achieve the desired intensity. The size of the cavity of the device can be chosen such that the

User cannot move his hands significantly away from said distance.

Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, isopropyl alcohol with a concentration of 70% to 80% is used as a disinfectant. Like the UV light source, isopropyl alcohol has a bactericidal and virus-inactivating effect and, in atomized or nebulized form, can also penetrate into remote corners where the UV light is not effective. If isopropyl alcohol or another atomizable liquid for the invention

Device is used, the fluid dispensing device is therefore preferably an atomizer.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the unlocking device is designed to open a barrier, a turnstile or a door. The device according to the invention can thus be set up, for example, in front of a door, in particular the entrance door of a hospital or supermarket. Access through the door to the hospital or supermarket is only released when the

Disinfection process was released by the device according to the invention.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises a movement sensor in the area of the opening for detecting entry of the hands. The disinfection process can thus be started fully automatically without the need for an external signalling. The motion sensor enables touch-free operation of the device, further reducing the transmission of germs or viruses

is prevented.

So that the user can obtain additional information during the disinfection process of his hands or forearms, the device preferably also has a monitor for displaying the remaining time of the disinfection process or an advertising message during the disinfection process. For example, if the device is positioned in front of a building, directions to a destination within the building may be displayed on the monitor. For use in front of a shop or shopping center, it is particularly useful to display in-shop offers on the monitor

or shopping center to display goods available.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects using the device according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, comprising the steps:

- inserting hands, forearms or small objects into the cavity of the device,

- dispensing the disinfectant and the carbon dioxide and/or a glycerol compound from the fluid dispenser onto the hands, forearms or small objects;

- Irradiation of hands, forearms or small objects using the UV light source; and

- Outputting a signal through the display device or enabling a passage through the unlocking device after completing the

disinfection process.

In particular, it is advantageous in the method according to the invention if the step of dispensing the disinfectant is carried out before the step of irradiation, since this order of application ensures a particularly high level of disinfection efficiency

Hands or forearms is achieved.

Advantageous and non-limiting embodiments of the invention are shown

explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention in a perspective view. FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 in a sectional view.

FIG. 3 shows the method steps carried out with the device from FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects. In the following, the application of disinfecting the hands will be explained in detail, but this is equally applicable for disinfecting the forearms, in which case the device 1 can be made longer. The difference in disinfecting the forearms is that the user places the hands further into the device 1. All objects that can be held in the hands and can thus be brought into the device 1, e.g. ballpoint pens, glasses, keys and various cards such as ATM cards or credit cards, are regarded as small objects. The user can rotate the items in their hands during the disinfection process

to achieve complete disinfection.

The device 1 can be set up, for example, in an operating room for washing hands before putting on the latex gloves. Other possible uses are in public buildings such as schools or government buildings, in shopping malls, in front of business entrances or in other places where hand disinfection is necessary. However, the invention is not limited to this

Applications are limited, but can be used regardless of the area of application.

According to FIG. 1, the device 1 has a housing 2 with a cavity 3 that is accessible via two openings 4 . The housing 2 is cuboid in the illustrated embodiment, but it could also be cylindrical, spherical or some other shape. In one embodiment, the housing 2 can be formed by simple outer walls and the cavity 3 corresponds to the entire internal volume of the housing 2. In other embodiments, for example, a tube or other structure can be arranged in the housing 2 in which the hands are to be disinfected. In this case, the inner volume of the pipe or the structure forms the cavity 3. Two or more cavities 3 could also be provided, for example each

a cavity 3 for an opening 4 or for a hand.

The two openings 4 are located side by side, i.e. on one side of the housing 2, for which other configurations could also be envisaged, e.g

Openings 4 on opposite sides of the housing 2.

The two openings 4 each have a size such that a hand can be passed through one of the openings 4 . The openings 4 can, for example, have a diameter of 10 cm to 15 cm if they are circular. If the openings 4 are configured essentially rectangular, they can, for example, a

10 cm to 15 cm in length and 5 to 15 cm in height.

It can also be provided that instead of two openings 4, a single opening is provided for both hands to pass through. More than two openings 4 could also be provided, for example if the hands of several people are to be reached at the same time

are to be disinfected and the device is designed correspondingly larger.

To position the device 1 at a place of use, for example, the housing can simply be placed on a floor, table or other support or hung on a wall. In the embodiment, the device 1 has its own base 5

on, so that the device 1 can be positioned at any location without it

requires a special condition. The base 5 has a length that can be chosen such that the openings 4 are at a height of 1 m to 1.5 m, whereby

People can put their hands through the openings 4 in a simple manner.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the device 1 in detail. Accordingly, the device 1 has at least one fluid dispensing device 6 in the cavity 3 for dispensing a disinfectant 7 and at least one UV light source 8 for irradiating the hands with UV light 9.

The fluid dispensing device 6 for dispensing a disinfectant 7 can be a spray head or atomizer, for example, so that the hands can be evenly covered with disinfectant. In other cases, the disinfectant 7 can also simply be discharged from a dispensing opening in liquid or gel form and the user is asked to rub the disinfectant 7 inside the cavity 3 on his hands. It goes without saying that the fluid dispensing device 6 arranged in the cavity 3 dispenses the disinfectant 7 into the cavity 3

spends

Isopropyl alcohol in a concentration of 70% to 80% in atomized, nebulized or liquid form is used as the disinfectant 7, for example. However, other disinfectants can also be used, preferably alcohol-based aqueous disinfectants. In order to store the disinfectant 7, the device can include an internal memory (not shown) and/or an external memory. In particular, the device 1 can be connected to a console with a

external storage to be connected.

The intensity to be achieved with the UV light source 8 is between 10 and 100 mJ/cm?. Depending on the application, however, higher or lower intensities can also be used. As is known to those skilled in the art, the abbreviation UV light stands for ultraviolet light and refers to light with a wavelength of 100 nm to 380 nm. For the invention, however, UVC light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, preferably 250 nm to 290 nm. Light in these wavelengths is suitable

particularly good for starting inactivation processes in the pathogens and germs. In order to generate the UVC light, the UV light source 8 is used, for example, as a UVC LED

Lamp or UVC mercury vapor lamp formed. In all cases, one or

several UV light sources 8 are used. According to the embodiment of Figure 2

three UV lamps 8 are used, with a first UV lamp 8 conically emitting UV light 9 from bottom to top, a second UV lamp 8 conically emitting UV light 9 from top to bottom and a third UV lamp 8 UV -Light 9 radiates conically against the entry direction of the hands. The UV lamps 8 arranged at the top and bottom could also be realized by a ring-shaped or tube-shaped UV lamp 8, with the hands being passed through the ring-shaped or tube-shaped UV lamp 8. By means of the third UV lamp 8, which emits UV light 9 conically counter to the entry direction of the hands, areas on the hands can be reached that are not illuminated by the UV lamps 8 arranged above and below. Depending on the embodiment, it is also possible to use only one UV lamp 8 or at least two UV

Lamps 8 to be provided.

The UV lamp/s 8 can be installed rigidly in the cavity 3 or can also be moved through the cavity 3 . For example, a UV lamp 8 can be provided which rotates about a substantially horizontal axis around the hands. As a result, the number of UV lamps 8 can be reduced. The fluid dispensing device 6 can also be arranged rigidly in the cavity 3 or movably in the cavity 3 and dispense the disinfectant 7 therein. For example, the fluid dispensing device 6 can be arranged on the same mechanism as the UV lamp 8 about the said horizontal axis

rotates.

The fluid dispenser 6 of the device 1 can also be used to dispense a skin care agent such as carbon dioxide (CO- 1 ) or a glycerol compound to prevent drying of the user's hands. The skin care agent can be dispensed simultaneously with the disinfectant 7 or after the disinfectant 7 before, after, or during the irradiation by the UV lamp 8. The skin care product can from the same or a different output opening

Fluid dispensing device 6 are issued.

FIG. 2 also shows that the device 1 includes one or more movement sensors 10 in the area of the openings 4 . The movement sensor 10 is used to detect the entry of the hands into the openings 4 and to start the disinfection process using the fluid dispenser 6 and the UV lamp 8 . The movement sensor 10 can also be used to detect an early withdrawal of the hands from the cavity 3 before the end of the disinfection process. The motion sensor can be optical, capacitive or some other type

be trained.

To control the disinfection process, the device also includes a control unit 11 which starts and ends the disinfection process and/or controls the sequence in which the fluid dispensing device 6 and the UV lamp 8 are started. For this purpose, the control unit 11 with the motion sensor 10, the fluid dispensing device 6 and / or

UV lamp 8 connected, for example wired.

In order for the user to know when the disinfection process is complete, the device 1 emits a signal and/or releases a passage. If the device 1 is to emit a signal after the end of the disinfection process, this can be displayed, for example, via a display device 12 such as a green LED light and/or via a monitor 13 . If the display signal is displayed only on the monitor 13, can

the separate LED light 12 can be dispensed with.

If a signal to release a passage is issued, an unlocking device not shown in detail is used for this purpose. This can, for example, be a lock, an electromechanical actuator or simply an interface for outputting a

unlock signal.

The monitor 13 can also be used to show the user the remaining time of the disinfection process or an advertising message during the disinfection process. A countdown that lets the user know when the disinfection process is complete is particularly suitable. The monitor 13 can also show that the dispensing of the disinfectant will start shortly

will not frighten the user.

If a passage is to be released after the disinfection process has ended, the display device 12 or the monitor 13 can be dispensed with. In this embodiment, the device 1 is arranged, for example, in front of a door, a barrier or a turnstile and the device 1 opens the passage as soon as the disinfection process is completed. For example, the door can be opened automatically or just unlocked. This ensures that the device 1 or the

Disinfection process cannot be bypassed by users. The disinfection process, which is carried out by means of the device 1, is now

explained in more detail with reference to FIG. The process starts as soon as the user hands it

introduced into the openings 4 of the device 1 in a step S1. This will be in one

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Step S2 recognized by the motion sensors 10, whereupon in the device 1 of

disinfection process is started.

The control unit 11 receives the signal from the movement sensors 10 and then controls the fluid dispensing device 6 to dispense the disinfectant 7 in a step S3. In an optional step S4, a skin care product is then dispensed from the fluid dispensing device 6. After a first predetermined period of time after the start of the dispensing of the disinfectant 7 or the skin care product, the irradiation of the hands by the UV light source 8 is started in a step S5. The first predetermined period of time is chosen in such a way that the user has enough time to spread the disinfectant 7 on his hands. Alternatively, the first predetermined period of time can be selected in such a way that the fluid dispensing device 6 can rotate once around the hands in order to also atomize the hands from all sides

To spray disinfectant 7.

After a second predetermined period of time after the start of the irradiation by the UV light source 8, the disinfection process is deemed to be complete and in a step S6 the signal to indicate the completion of the disinfection process or a signal to release the passage is output. Finally, in a step S7, the user draws

the hands out of the device 1.

If the movement sensors 10 detect that the hands are already being pulled out of the device 1 during the disinfection process, the disinfection process is interrupted, i.e. no further disinfectant 7 is dispensed and/or the irradiation using the UV light source 8 is stopped. Step S6 is also not carried out in this case and the disinfection process is restarted the next time the hands are placed in the device 1 or

resumed.

The optional step S4 of dispensing the skin care product can be before, after or

be executed simultaneously with steps S3 and S5.

Claims (9)

Expectations: 1. Device (1) for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects, wherein the device (1) comprises a housing (2) with at least one cavity (3), the housing (2) having at least one opening (4) for passing the hands into the cavity (3) and in the cavity (3) at least a fluid dispensing device (6) for dispensing a disinfectant (7) and at least one UV light source (8) for irradiating the hands are arranged, the device (1) having a display device (12) for displaying a signal after the end of the disinfection process and/or includes an unlocking device for releasing a passage after the end of the disinfection process, characterized in that the fluid dispensing device (6) for dispensing carbon dioxide and/or a Glycerol compound is designed for skin care. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the UV light source (8) is a UVC light source, in particular a UVC LED lamp or a UVC Mercury vapor lamp, which is mounted rigidly or movably in the cavity (3). 3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the UV light source (8) is designed to light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, preferably 250 nm to 290 nm. 4. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the UV light source (8) for irradiating the hands, forearms or small objects with a intensity of 10 mJ/cm? up to 100 mJ/cm? is trained. 5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the of the fluid dispenser (6) output disinfectant isopropyl alcohol with a Concentration is from 70% to 80%. 6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the unlocking device trained to open a barrier, turnstile or door. 7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device (1) has a motion sensor (10) in the region of the opening (4) for detecting entry of the hands includes. 8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device (1) further comprises a monitor (13) for displaying a remaining time of the disinfection process or an advertising message during the disinfection process. 9. A method for disinfecting hands, forearms or small objects using the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps: - inserting the hands, forearms or small objects into the cavity (3) of the device (1), - dispensing the disinfectant (7) and the carbon dioxide and/or a glycerol compound from the fluid dispensing device (6) onto the hands, the forearms or the small objects; - Irradiating the hands, forearms or small objects using the UV light source (8); and - Outputting a signal through the display device (12) or releasing a passage through the unlocking device after completing the disinfection process.