GB2466638A

GB2466638A - A hand washing indicating device configured to be worn by a person

Info

Publication number: GB2466638A
Application number: GB0823633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clare Macko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2008-12-30
Publication date: 2010-07-07
Also published as: GB0823633D0

Abstract

A device (1, 2, 3) configured to be worn by a person and to indicate whether that person has recently washed their hands based on a direct interaction between water, soap or other chemical present in hand cleaner. The device may be worn on the wrist e.g. a band (1, 3) or may be attached to clothing. The detection of hand washing may be by a reagent configured to change colour in the presence of water, soap or other chemical present in hand cleaner. The device may also feature a timer and/or alarm feature.

Description

I Title

A DEVICE CONFIGURED TO BE WORN BY A PERSON

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a device configured to be worn by a person.

Background to Invention

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are strains of common bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics such as penicillins. MRSA causes the same type of infections as antibiotic sensitive strains but they are harder to treat. About 30% of the general population carry staphylococcus aureus in their nose or on their skin as part of the normal bacteria living on our bodies. The majority of people with MRSA are colonised', this means that they carry the bacteria harmlessly and suffer no ill effects. In a few people it may cause infection, ranging from boils and abscesses to more serious infections such as septicaemia (blood poisoning).

MRSA can be found on people both in hospital and in the general community, although patients in hospital are more likely to develop infection because of certain risk factors: the presence of the very young or very edery, chronic wounds, chronic disease, weak immune systems, antibiotic over-use etc. MRSA is spread by person to person contact, mainly by the hands. Therefore, regularly washing one's hands is a simple procedure which helps contain the spread of infection. Unfortunately, as * has been observed by the inventor who is a health professional, whilst hospital procedures may ::..: mandate such regular washing, such procedures can be overlooked and it is inherently difficult for a third party to monitor compliance with such procedures, one way or the other.

I * I.

* * * Methods and apparatus for hand washing systems per se are known, for example, from US patent application US2006272361. a. *. * I a * S *. . I * * **

Summary of Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device configured to be worn by a person and to indicate whether that person has recently washed their hands based on a direct interaction between water, soap or other chemical present in a hand cleaner.

Such a device may ensure and at the very least encourage hospital staff to regularly wash their hands given that not doing so would be readily apparent to fellow hospital staff, patients and visitors. Such regular hand washing helps to control the spread of MRSA and the like.

Conveniently, the device is in the form of a band to be worn on the wrist, a patch to be adhered to skin or clothes or, alternatively, comprises attachment means for attaching to the clothes of a person.

The device may comprise a reagent configured to change colour in the presence of water, soap or other chemical present in a hand cleaner, e.g. alcohol.

Alternatively, the device may comprise a material which gives the illusion of changing colour when wet. An example of such a material would be that used for children's toys which allow "painting" on a fabric with water.

In a further alternative, the device may comprise a timer configured to be reset upon contact with water when a person washes their hands. For example, such a device may comprise two electrodes coupled to the timer, wherein the wetting of the two electrodes completes a circuit between the two electrodes, and wherein completion of the circuit causes the timer to be reset.

Such a timer device may further comprising an audible or visible alarm. S.. * . * S. * 5S * S * *.* *. . * S * * S. * *.* * * *5 * * . * a S. * S * * S.

Brief Description of DrawinQs

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, schematically, a wristband according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows, schematically, an adhesive patch according to the present invention; and Figure 3 shows, schematically, a further wristband according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

EXAMPLE 1.

Referring to figure 1 a plastic wristband 1 according to the present invention is shown having a band portion 10 and a reservoir portion 11 in the form of a recess in the wristband and in to which a porous, fabric patch 12 is adhered. The fibres of the fabric patch (now shown) are coated with a reagent which will change colour once in contact with alcohol.

In use, a wearer of such a wristband 1 and washing their hands and forearms using an alcohol based hand cleaner would ensure that some of the alcohol based hand cleaner contacts and is absorbed in to the fabric patch 12. As a consequence, the alcohol in the hand cleaner reacts with the reagent coating of the fibres of the fabric patch, and thereby causes the fabric patch to temporarily change colour (i.e. to a colour indicative of the wearer having recently washed their hands). S...

* : Overtime, the alcohol evaporates and the fabric patch returns to its original colour (i.e. a colour S...

indicative of the wear not having recently washed their hands).

* . A suitable reagent for alcohol would be suggest themselves to a person skilled in that art, e.g. see US Patent 7381506. Other reagents for water, soap or other chemicals present in hand cleaners might also be used. * *5 * S * *

*:*. EXAMPLE 2

Referring to figure 2, an adhesive patch 2 according to the present invention is shown comprising a indicating material upper layer 21 attached to an adhesive lower layer 22. Using the adhesive layer, a wearer may adhere the patch to the back of their hand.

The indicating material upper layer 21 comprises a material which gives the illusion of changing colour when wet. A suitable material would include that used by Tomy (RTM) in their "Aquadraw" range of toys.

The ayer has imprinted thereon a "W" in a permanent colour corresponding to that which the indicating material upper layer 21 changes when wet. Accordingly, when the indicating material upper layer 21 is wet, the W is not clearly evident. However, when dry or drying out (indicative of time elapsing since the wearer's hands were washed), the indicating material upper layer 21 reverts to its dry colour, revealing the "W' and reminding the wearer to wash there hands.

EXAMPLE 3

Referring to figure 3, a wristband 3 according to the present invention is shown having a band portion 31 and a functional portion 30 on which is mounted an display 32, and LED indicator 35, two electrodes 33, 33' and two buttons 34, 34'. The functional portion 30 is configured to provide a countdown timer to be displayed on the display 32 which is configured to be reset upon water contacting both electrodes 33, 33' and thereby completing an electric circuit. This contacting of water is indicative of a wearer washing their hands, and thus the timer indicative of the time that has elapsed since they did. Once the timer has counted down to zero, the LED indicator flashes, thereby providing a visible alarm reminding the wearer to wash their hands, and indicating to those around that the washing of the wearer's hands is over due. An audible alarm might also be used S...

* : The above examples are not intended to be exhaustive and, undoubtedly, other configurations of device can be employed to indicate whether the wearer of that device has recently washed their hands based on a direct interaction between water, soap or other chemical present in a S. * . .: hand cleaner.

I *i.

I S. 55 * 5 S * . S. S S * S **

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device configured to be worn by a person and to indicate whether that person has recently washed their hands based on a direct interaction between water, soap or other chemical present in a hand cleaner.
2. A device according to claim 1 in the form of a band to be worn on the wrist.
3. A device according to claim 1 in the form of a patch to be adhered to the person.
4. A device according to claim 1 further comprising attachment means for attaching to the clothes of a person
5. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a reagent configured to change colour in the presence of water, soap or other chemical present in a hand cleaner.
6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the reagent reacts with water.
7. A device according to claim 5 wherein the reagent reacts with alcohol.
8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4 comprising a material which gives the illusion of changing colour when wet.
9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4 comprising a timer configured to be reset upon contact with water when a person washes their hands.
10. A device according to claim 9 comprising two electrodes coupled to the timer; wherein the wetting of the two electrodes completes a circuit between the two electrodes; and wherein * completion of the circuit causes the timer to be reset. **S.s
11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10 further comprising an audible or visible alarm. ** a * *. * S. S.. S. 55 * S * * 5 S. 5 * S 5 * SS