GB2548551A

GB2548551A - A wearable personal dispensing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2548551A
Application number: GB1604326.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Devine Arthur
Original assignee: Hyintel Ltd
Current assignee: Hyintel Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-14
Filing date: 2016-03-14
Publication date: 2017-09-27
Also published as: GB201604326D0; WO2017157953A1

Abstract

A wearable dispensing unit 100 for use in a hand hygiene monitoring system can incorporate a variety of sizes and shapes of anti-bacterial liquid containers 150, and comprises a two-part casing including a base 110 and an interchangeable sheath 130. The base has a sensor to detect a dispensing operation of the container and includes one part of a pair of locking members. The sheath encloses the container and includes the other part of the pair of locking members. A plurality of sheaths of different dimensions may be provided to accommodate different sizes or brands of containers. The sensor may detect pressure changes whilst the locking members may be in the form of plugs and sockets. A communications module may send data to a remote location. Sensors may also be provided to detect separation of the base part from the sheath as well as orientation.

Description

“A wearable personal dispensing unit”

Introduction

This invention relates to a wearable personal dispensing unit. More specifically, this invention relates to a wearable personal dispensing unit for use in a hand hygiene monitoring system.

Outbreaks of infections in hospitals and other clinical settings have led to a call for greater vigilance among staff and guests regarding hand hygiene. One approach to achieve this has been to monitor the use of anti-bacterial liquid by staff and guests. Current types of apparatus for monitoring the use of anti-bacterial liquid for hand hygiene in a clinical setting require the use of specific containers of anti-bacterial liquid. This means that the users are dependent on a specific supplier which can be problematic if the supplier stops supplying the specific container of anti-bacterial liquid or increases their prices.

Additionally, due to personal preferences or for medical or religious reasons, not all users will use the same anti-bacterial liquid. This necessitates the use of multiple bespoke personal dispensing units, one for each type of anti-bacterial liquid container in use. This increases the cost of providing the hand hygiene monitoring system and may result in the use of equipment not monitored by the system thereby reducing the efficacy of the hand hygiene monitoring system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to some of the above problems.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a wearable personal dispensing unit (PDU) for use in a hand hygiene monitoring system, the wearable PDU comprising a two-part casing including: a base part having a sensor to detect a dispensing operation of an antibacterial liquid container encased in the casing; an interchangeable sheath part dimensioned to enclose an anti-bacterial liquid container in co-operation with the common base part, in which the common base part further comprises one part of a pair of complementary, releasable locking members, the interchangeable sheath part having the other part of the pair of complementary releasable locking members to releasably secure the common base and interchangeable sheath parts together.

By having such a PDU, multiple disparate types of containers of anti-bacterial liquid can be enclosed between the common base part and interchangeable sheath part of the PDU and used in a hand hygiene monitoring system. This includes differently sized and shaped bottles and tottles, and different brands of anti-bacterial liquid. This PDU frees the user from reliance on any one particular supplier or brand of anti-bacterial liquid, which guards the user against price increases or shortage of supply. The PDU also allows for individuals to use different brands of anti-bacterial liquid within the hand hygiene monitoring system, for instance if they are allergic to the anti-bacterial liquid in use in their clinical setting or if they will not use alcohol-containing or animal-derived products for ethical reasons. This PDU prevents the use of unmonitored anti-bacterial liquid, a practice which undermines any hand hygiene monitoring system. The PDU can be brought into use seamlessly within a clinical setting without disposal of current antibacterial liquid containers and without changing suppliers or brands.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a plurality of interchangeable sheath parts of differing dimensions, each interchangeable sheath part having the other part of the pair of complementary releasable locking members identical to the other interchangeable sheath parts. Thus each common base part may be connected to a variety of shapes and sizes of interchangeable sheath part. This aspect of the invention allows containers of various sizes and shapes to be used with the PDU. The containers may be bottles or tottles (containers which have the nozzle at the bottom) and may have a squeeze or pump dispensing mechanism. It is envisaged that the clinical setting may have several spare interchangeable sheath parts in case a different size is required by a member of staff. Importantly, while the common base part houses the electronics and communication equipment, the interchangeable sheath parts are very simple and inexpensive.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a sensor mounted on an end wall of the common base part. This sensor is operable to detect a pump dispensing mechanism from the container. This allows the use of multiple disparate types of pump dispenser containers in the system.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a sensor mounted on an actuator arm extending outwardly longitudinally from the common base part. The sensor is operable to detect a squeeze dispensing mechanism from the container, which allows the use of multiple disparate types of squeeze dispenser containers in the system.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a pair of sensors, one mounted on an end wall of the common base part and the other mounted on an actuator arm extending outwardly longitudinally from the common base part. The sensor mounted on an end wall is operable to detect a pump dispensing mechanism and the sensor mounted on the actuator arm is operable to detect a squeeze dispensing mechanism from any container. This allows the use of either a squeeze or a pump dispenser container with a single base unit. The actuator arm allows a sensor to be positioned further up the container at the point at which the bottle is squeezed.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises an actuator arm hingedly connected to the remainder of the common base part. The hinge facilitates dispensing from a squeeze dispensing container. The hinge may simply comprise flexible plastic.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises an interchangeable sheath part having an aperture at its end remote from the common base part for through passage of a nozzle of an anti-bacterial liquid container. The aperture can accommodate a variety of sizes and shapes of nozzles and caps including caps having pump mechanisms and lids. It may accommodate bottles or tottles of liquid. It is to be understood that in a PDU comprising a tottle, the common base part will in fact be on top of the tottle, and the aperture for the through passage of a nozzle will be at the bottom of the tottle.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises an interchangeable sheath part having an elongate channel cut-out extending along part of its length. This channel is designed to accommodate the actuator arm of the common base part. The actuator arm can then contact the container during a squeeze dispensing action and the sensors located on the actuator arm can be activated. The channel will also allow the actuator arm to bend inwards towards the container during a squeeze dispensing action.

In one embodiment of the invention one of the complementary releasable locking members comprises a plug and the other of the complementary locking members comprises a socket arranged for engagement through axial movement of the plug and socket towards each other. This is a preferred embodiment due to its simplicity and ease of use as the container will need to replaced or refilled regularly. It will be possible to release the parts by hand. Grips may be provided on the common base part and on the interchangeable sheath part to facilitate their release.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a pressure sensor. This is a particularly preferred embodiment as the pressure sensor is inexpensive to provide and reliable in operation.

In one embodiment of the invention the PDU further comprises a communications module mounted in the common base part operable for transmitting information to a remote location. This allows collection of data regarding the use of the anti-bacterial liquid dispenser. This may incorporate user identification. In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a wearable PDU in which there is provided a communications module mounted in the common base part operable for receiving information from a remote location. Various communications are envisaged: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF and so on. It is also envisaged that the PDU could sound an alarm or have a blinking LED (or other) light and/or a vibration module as a reminder to the user to disinfect hands periodically or upon entry to a new area. The PDU may be provided with a small user interface display on the base part or on the actuator arm so that status and/or messages can be relayed to the PDU.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a wearable PDU in which there is provided a sensor operable to detect the orientation of the PDU. By having a sensor to detect orientation of the PDU, the PDU will be able to detect if the bottle has been turned upside down before dispensing as may be required in some instances. This effectively confirms the dispensing operation.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a wearable PDU in which there is provided a sensor operable to detect separation of the common base part from the interchangeable sheath part. By having a sensor to detect separation of the common base part from the sheath, this can be interpreted as indicating that the bottle of antibacterial fluid is being changed.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a wearable PDU in which at least one of the common base part and the interchangeable sheath part are constructed from an antimicrobial material. For example, one or both of the sheath part and the common base part may be constructed from an anti-microbial plastic, such as those incorporating silver-ion technology.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a wearable PDU in which the common base part comprises a sealed housing. Preferably, the common base part will be waterproof or at least splash proof.

It is important that the electronics are housed in the common base part rather than the interchangeable sheath part. The common base part can accommodate multiple different sizes and shapes of anti-bacterial liquid container and is effectively never out of use in the system. The sheath parts, by contrast, come in various sizes to match the various sizes of containers and are designed to be simple and cheap so that there can be several spare sheath parts in the system in case a different sized container is used.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a PDU according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the PDU of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the common base part of an alternative embodiment of a PDU;

Figure 4 is a top view of a base insert of the PDU of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sheath part for the PDU comprising the common base part and base insert respectively of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the common base part of an alternative embodiment of a PDU;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a base insert of the PDU of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sheath part for the PDU comprising the common base part and base insert respectively of Figures 6 and 7;and

Figures 9 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic representations of several disparately shaped bottles and sheaths for use with the common base part of Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a PDU 100 comprising a base part 110, a sheath part 130 and a container for anti-bacterial liquid 150. The container 150 comprises a bottle 151 with a cap 153 provided with a dispensing nozzle (not shown). The base part 110 of the PDU comprises a housing 111 for electronics (not shown) and an actuator arm 113 extending outwardly longitudinally from the base part. The actuator arm 113 comprises a pressure sensor (not shown) to sense if the bottle 151 has been squeezed. Also shown on the base part is a charging port 115 for the electronics.

The body 131 of the sheath part 130 has a nozzle aperture 133 through which the nozzle on the cap 153 of an encased container 150 can protrude. The sheath part 130 also comprises an elongate channel 139 cut-out extending along part of its length which allows contact between the actuator arm 113 of the base part 110 and the container 150. The sheath part 130 further comprises an aperture 137 through which the level of antibacterial liquid in the container 150 may be ascertained. There is a slot 135 at the base of the sheath part for engagement with the base part 110.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a base part 210 of a PDU and a base insert 225 respectively. In this view, the housing for electronics 211 is open and the bottom plate 217 can be seen. There is provided a thumb grip 221 for releasing the base part from the sheath part. There is provided a communications module (not shown) with aperture 222 through which signals such as IR, light or sound can be emitted. The actuator arm 213 is joined to the housing 211 by a hinge 219. A pressure sensor 215 is provided on the actuator arm 213. Screw posts 223 are provided on the base 211 and these are complementary to the notches 229 on the base insert to connect the base insert 225 to the housing 211. The screw posts 223 may further act to support and/or contain internal modules in the base part. The base insert comprises a metal plate 227 which forms part of a pressure sensor. It will be understood that the base insert could be constructed from another compatible material other than metal.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a sheath part 230 for use with the base part 210 of Figure 3. The sheath part 230 differs from the sheath part 130 in that the housing 231 is substantially elliptical in cross section and has a flat top to accommodate bottles of this shape. Additionally, the sheath part 230 comprises a protective cover 241 for the actuator arm 213 of the complementary base part 210.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a base part 310 and a base insert 325 respectively. The base part 310 and base insert 325 are releasably securable by screws (not shown) that pass through screw posts 223 on the base part and the screw holes 333 of the base insert. The base part 310 has a plurality of end stops 329 for engagement with the complementary mounting posts 331 on the base insert 325. The mounting posts 331 and the end stops 329 co-operate to keep the base insert spaced apart from the bottom plate 217. The base part 310 differs from previous embodiments in that the housing 311 is substantially circular and the thumb grip 321 has a rounded arch shape.

Referring to Figure 8, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a sheath part 330 for use with the base part 310 of Figure 6. The body 331 of the sheath part is substantially circular in cross section and has a rounded top. The aperture 335 is rounded arch shaped, complementary to the thumb grip 321 of the base part 310 shown in Figure 6. Additionally, the sheath part 330 comprises a protective cover 341 for the actuator arm 213 of the complementary base part 310.

Referring to Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, there are shown a plurality of alternative sheath parts 350, 360, 370, 380 for use with the base part 310 of Figure 6 and with differently-shaped bottles 355, 365, 375, 385 respectively. The sheath parts 350, 360, 370, 380 are dimensioned so that they form a relatively close fit with their respective bottles 355, 365, 375, 385 but each of the sheath parts 350, 360, 370, 380 will also be connectable to base part 310.

For example, bottle 365 (and by extension the corresponding sheath 360) as shown in Figure 10 is taller than bottle 355 (and by extension the corresponding sheath 350) as shown in Figure 9. Bottle 375 as shown in Figure 11 differs from bottle 355 shown in Figure 9 in that the shoulders of bottle 355 are more rounded that those of bottle 375 and the end cap of bottle 355 is marginally narrower than the end cap of bottle 375. However, it can be seen that in this instance the sheaths 350 and 370 are identical and either sheath can accommodate bottle 355 or 375. Finally, bottle 385 shown in Figure 12 comprises a different dispensing mechanism for the anti-bacterial or other fluid contained in the bottle and the main body of the bottle 385 is shorter than the main body of the other bottles 355, 365, 375. Hence the sheath 380 is also shorter than the other sheaths 350, 360, 370. Furthermore, the sheath 380 is not provided with an aperture through which the level of anti-bacterial or other fluid contained in the bottle can be inspected.

In this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” and the terms “include, includes, included and including” are all deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is in no way limited by the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims: (1) A wearable personal dispensing unit (PDU) for use in a hand hygiene monitoring system, the wearable PDU comprising a two-part casing including: a common base part having a sensor to detect a dispensing operation of an anti-bacterial liquid container encased in the casing; an interchangeable sheath part dimensioned to enclose the anti-bacterial liquid container in co-operation with the common base part; and in which the common base part further comprises one part of a pair of complementary, releasable locking members, the interchangeable sheath part having the other part of the pair of complementary releasable locking members to releasably secure the common base part and interchangeable sheath part together.
(2) A wearable PDU as claimed in claim 1 in which there are provided a plurality of interchangeable sheath parts of differing dimensions, each interchangeable sheath part having the other part of the pair of complementary releasable locking members identical to the other interchangeable sheath parts.
(3) A wearable PDU as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the sensor is mounted on an end wall of the common base part.
(4) A wearable PDU as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the sensor is mounted on an actuator arm extending outwardly longitudinally from the common base part.
(5) A wearable PDU as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which there is provided a pair of sensors, one mounted on an end wall of the common base part and the other mounted on an actuator arm extending outwardly longitudinally from the common base part.
(6) A wearable PDU as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the actuator arm is hingedly connected to the remainder of the common base part.
(7) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which the interchangeable sheath part has an aperture at its end remote from the common base part for through passage of a nozzle of an anti-bacterial liquid container.
(8) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which the interchangeable sheath part has an elongate channel cut-out extending along part of its length.
(9) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of the complementary releasable locking members comprises a plug and the other of the complementary locking members comprises a socket arranged for engagement through axial movement of the plug and socket towards each other.
(10) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sensor is a pressure sensor.
(11) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a communications module mounted in the common base part operable for transmitting information to a remote location.
(12) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a communications module mounted in the common base part operable for receiving information from a remote location.
(13) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a sensor operable to detect the orientation of the PDU.
(14) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a sensor operable to detect separation of the common base part from the interchangeable sheath part.
(15) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the common base part and the interchangeable sheath part are constructed from an antimicrobial material.
(16) A wearable PDU as claimed in any preceding claim in which the common base part comprises a sealed housing.
(17) A wearable PDU as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.