IES86116B2

IES86116B2 - Hand sanitizer device

Info

Publication number: IES86116B2
Application number: IES20120087A
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Crowe; Terry Hyland
Original assignee: John Crowe; Terry Hyland
Priority date: 2012-02-21
Filing date: 2012-02-21
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Also published as: IES20120087A2; WO2013124332A1

Abstract

A hand sanitizer device for dispensing sanitizer material comprising: means for communicating across a data network; means for retaining a reservoir of sanitizer material; means for dispensing an adjustable amount of sanitizer material; and means for detecting when the amount of sanitizer material in the device is low; wherein the amount of sanitizer material dispensed by the means for dispensing may be adjusted remotely via the means for communicating across a data network.

Description

HAND SANITIZER DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to sanitizing devices. In particular, the present invention relates to hand soap dispensers.

Background to the Invention In recent years, a number of significant threats to public health have arisen, such as the Η1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009-2010 and the increase in the number of Multidrug Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus outbreaks in hospitals. Poor personal hygiene exacerbates these public health threats because it facilitates the spread of pathogens. As a result, there has been an increased emphasis on the need for good hygiene habits, especially in locations where the spread of pathogens is particularly likely, such as in hospitals and restaurants.

The hands are one of the primary vectors involved in facilitating the spread of pathogens from person to person. As such, it is widely recognised that a key component of any improved hygiene regime is effective hand washing. Because of this, robust programmes for ensuring that individuals regularly wash their hands in an effective manner have been regularly advocated. A number of devices have been developed with the goal of facilitating programmes for ensuring effective hand washing.

WO2008/119158 discloses a system and method to encourage increased hand hygiene compliance in environments where the transfer of pathogens is of particular concern.

The system comprises wearable tags for individual users and a plurality of hand sanitizer stations which can detect wearable tags in the immediate vicinity. The system functions by detecting movement of a tagged user from a first area adjacent to a first hand sanitizer station to a second area adjacent to a second hand sanitizer station and S 8 611 6 alerting the tagged user if it is determined that it is time they used a hand sanitizer station.

US2006/0243740 discloses an apparatus for automatically dispensing hand sanitizing fluid. The dispensing dosage of the device may be configured during the course of its installation.

US2011/082595 discloses a chemical product dispensing device which may calibrate the dispense parameters of the chemical product based on electronic communication of the nature of the chemical product to be dispensed. The chemical product may be packaged to comprise a machine-readable tag, and the electronic communication may result from the device reading this machine readable tag.

These systems suffer from a number of disadvantages. In locations where large numbers of hand sanitizer devices are deployed, such as in hospitals, it can be difficult, timeconsuming and expensive to attend to the upkeep and maintenance of all the devices, ensuring that they are fully stocked and functional. Furthermore, as new public health threats emerge, hand sanitization procedures may be amended. Amending these procedures may entail altering the dosage level of existing sanitizer dispensed from in situ hand sanitizer dispensers or configuring said dispensers to dispense a new sanitizer at a new dosage level. Such a reconfiguration can be similarly difficult, time consuming and expensive where a large number of sanitizers are deployed throughout a location.

Furthermore, as hand wash programmes are implemented, it is preferable to have some way of determining the efficacy of these programmes. To improve the accuracy of such efficacy calculations, it would be preferable to minimize the variation in hand wash techniques employed by various users. It is widely recognized that hand washing technique is one of the most significant factors in the efficacy of hand washing. Therefore standardizing the hand washing techniques adopted by various users ensures a consistency to the data gathered, and allows more accurate conclusions to be drawn.

However, it is difficult to determine the efficacy of hand wash programmes without first ascertaining the level to which the programmes are being complied with. As such, it would be preferable to have some way of measuring the extent of hand wash programme compliance. Furthermore, to assist the degree to which the hand wash programmes are complied with, it would also be preferable to have some way of providing a timely reminder to users that they should wash their hands.

Summary of the Invention An embodiment of one aspect of the invention comprises a hand sanitizer device for dispensing sanitizer material comprising: means for communicating across a data network; means for retaining a reservoir of sanitizer material; means for dispensing an adjustable amount of sanitizer material; and means for detecting when the amount of sanitizer material in the device falls below a predetermined threshold level; wherein the amount of sanitizer material dispensed by the means for dispensing is adjustable remotely via the means for communicating across a data network. This is advantageous because it allows the device to be controlled and monitored across the data network from a central location, thereby facilitating the upkeep and maintenance (ensuring it is stocked and functional) from a remote and/or centralised location. It also is advantageous because it allows the device to be adjusted and/or reconfigured from a remote and/or centralised location.

The hand sanitizer device may further comprise a display means.

The display means may be configured to display an instructional video on optimal handwashing technique when the device is in use. This is advantageous because the device may educate users as to effective hand-washing techniques, thereby minimizing the variation in hand-washing techniques amongst users, and ensuring greater adherence to a hand-washing programme.

The display means may further be configured to display an instructional video on infection prevention techniques when individuals pass by the device.

The device may further comprise sensing means configured to sense individuals passing by the device and to trigger playback of the instructional video when the sensor detects individuals passing by the device. This is advantageous because the device may detect passers by and notify them to use the device, thereby aiding in the compliance with a hand-washing programme.

The means for detecting comprised in the device may itself comprise a sensor and the device may be further configured to generate an alert when the sensor detects that the amount of sanitizer material has fallen below a predetermined threshold level. This is advantageous because the device may automatically notify users that the sanitizer material should be replenished (either by refilling a sanitizer reservoir or replacing an empty sanitizer reservoir with a full sanitizer reservoir) before the sanitizer runs out completely.

Data corresponding to the alert may be transmitted to a remote location via the means for communicating.

The device may further comprise means for recognising individual users of the device, and means for recording the device usage patterns of each individual user. This is advantageous because it allows accurate levels of hand-wash compliance to be gauged, and this data in turn can be used to improve overall compliance with a hand-wash programme.

The means for recognizing individual users may comprise means for allowing said individual users to log into individually assigned unique user accounts.

The means for recognizing individual users may further comprise any of the following: an RFID reader configured to recognize individual RFID tags that may be issued to individual users; a contactless smart card reader configured to recognize individual contactless smart cards that may be issued to individual users.

An embodiment of another aspect of the invention comprises a system comprising a plurality of any of the hand sanitizer devices described above and a central server, said devices each connected to said central server via their respective means for communicating.

The central server may be configured such that it may adjust the amount of sanitizer material dispensed by at least one of the devices.

The means for detecting comprised in each device in the system may be configured to alert the central server in the event the amount of sanitizer material in the device is low.

The server may be further configured to relay recorded device usage patterns of each user to the central server, Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sanitizer device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention in a closed configuration; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the sanitizer device of Figure 1 in an open configuration; Figure 3 is a front view of a reservoir, pump and low sanitizer level sensor of the sanitizer device of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic of a plurality of sanitizer devices connected to a central server in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figure 1, a hand sanitizer device 100 comprises a main housing 101, a video screen 102, a sanitizer dispenser housing 103 and a drip tray 104, In some embodiments, the sanitizer device comprises audio speaker equipment housed in an audio speaker housing 209.

The main housing 101 comprises a rear portion 105 and a front portion 106. The video screen 102 is mounted to said front portion 106. The rear portion 105 and front portion 106 of said housing are connected via hinges (not shown).

The sanitizer dispenser housing 103 is connected to and situated beneath the main housing 101. The sanitizer dispenser housing 103 comprises a front portion 108 connected to the front portion 106 of the main housing and a rear portion 109 (shown in Figure 2) connected to the rear portion 105 of the main housing. The drip tray 104 extends below the sanitizer dispenser housing and is positioned to catch any residual sanitizer material dripping from the dispenser housing 103.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hand sanitizer device 100 of Figure 1 wherein the main housing is open. The front portion 106 is sized or arranged to accommodate the video screen 102 such that the video screen 102 is segregated from the interior of the main housing. In one embodiment, the video screen is be segregated from the interior of the main housing by a hatch 107 hingedly attached to the rear portion 105 of the main housing. This is desirable to protect the electronics in the video screen from any possible fluid leakage in the interior of the main housing. As can also be seen, the front portion 108 of the dispenser housing is attached to the front portion 106 of the main housing, and the rear portion 109 of the dispenser housing is attached to the rear portion 105 of the main housing.

The rear portion 105 of the main housing is configured to retain a reservoir of sanitizer material (not shown) in a cavity 202. Typically, this sanitizer comprises a fluid such as a hand soap or an antiseptic gel. Typically, the reservoir is replaceable and/or refillable. The reservoir may comprise a mouth that is in fluid communication with an inlet comprised in a sanitizer pump 201. The pump 201 further comprises an outlet 203 such that sanitizer material entering the pump 201 via the inlet can be pumped out of the pump through the outlet 203. The outlet 203 of the pump 201 is positioned such that when the main housing is closed, it is adjacent an aperture in the front portion 108 of the dispenser housing to allow pumped sanitizer material to be dispensed. In a preferred embodiment, the pump 201 further comprises a cover to protect the pump from fluid leakage in the interior of the main housing. The pump 201 is connected to an actuating mechanism to cause the pump 201 to dispense sanitizer. In a preferred embodiment, the pump may be connected to a power supply, and the actuating mechanism may comprise a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user’s hands positioned to receive sanitizer material, and means for activating the pump based on the detection by the sensor. The pump 201 may preferably comprise a peristaltic pump. The pump may be adjustable to alter the amount of soap dispensed in a single dispensing action (the “dosage” of the pump). Preferably, the device is connected over a network to a server, and the pump dosage may be adjusted via the server.

A cable (not shown) extends from circuitry (not shown) housed in the rear portion of the main housing, and is connected to the video screen 102. Typically, the circuitry comprises means for controlling playback of video on the video screen, playback of audio via the audio equipment (either as an independent audio track or as the audio component of a video), means for managing communication over a network and/or means for controlling the activity of the pump 201, Typically, the circuitry further comprises memory for retaining video and/or audio files for respective playback on said video screen 102 and said audio equipment. The rear portion 105 of the main housing further comprises an Ethernet socket for connecting an Ethernet cable, a power socket for connecting a power supply, and a USB socket for connecting a USB cable or USB memory stick. Said sockets are also connected to the circuitry housed in the rear portion of the main housing.

The rear portion 105 of the main housing may be attached directly to a wall. Alternatively, a bracket may be attached to a wall, and the rear portion of the main housing may be configured to attach to said bracket.

In the event the device is configured to dispense hand soap, it can be positioned proximate to a sink. Alternatively, if it is configured to dispense an antiseptic sanitizer, it is not necessarily preferable to position the device proximate to a sink. Use of the invention will now be described in accordance with an embodiment of the invention where the device is positioned proximate to a sink, is configured to dispense hand soap, and wherein the actuating mechanism connected to the pump comprises a sensor and means for activating the pump.

A user wishing to obtain hand soap with which to wash their hands places their hands proximate to the sanitizer dispenser housing such that the sensor detects the presence of the hands, The means for activating the pump is then triggered by the sensor detection, and causes the pump to dispense hand soap through the aperture in the dispenser housing and into the user’s hands. After the user moves their hands away from this position, any residual soap dripping from the dispenser will be caught by the drip tray.

In one embodiment, one or more of the devices may be deployed in a work environment where it is regularly required of employees that they wash their hands. In this embodiment, the one or more devices may be configured to recognize individual users and to record their patterns of device use. In one embodiment, the device comprises a login screen that allows users to log in using an individual password or personal identification number, In one embodiment, the video screen of each the device comprises a touch screen to allow login details to be entered. In an alternative embodiment, each device furthers comprise a keypad or keyboard to allow login details to be entered. Alternatively or additionally, individual users are issued with unique identification tags or cards that allow each device to recognize individual users. For example, each device may comprise a magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic stripe cards issued to each user, an RFID reader for reading RFID tags issued to each user, or a contactless smart card reader to reading contactless smart cards issued to each reader. It may be useful to record the device usage patterns of each user in order to enforce handwash programmes that are introduced in a workplace, Recording the handwash patterns of each user enables the levels of compliance with the handwash programmes to be monitored, thereby pinpointing where improvements can be made in compliance levels.

In a preferred embodiment, the device may be connected over a network to a central server. In one embodiment, connection may take place over an Ethernet connection via an Ethernet socket in the device, but it will be appreciated that a variety of other wired (eg USB) or wireless (eg IEEE 802.11) connections may be used, along with the relevant apparatus required to achieve such connections. User compliance levels recorded by each device may be relayed to the central server, thereby allowing user patterns from multiple devices within a given locale to be aggregated.

In embodiments where the device is connected over a network to a central server, the dosage of the pump may be controlled and adjusted remotely from the central server. In embodiments where multiple devices are connected over a network to a central server, the dosage of the pump in each device may be controlled and adjusted remotely from the central server. In one embodiment, all devices may be controlled so that their respective pumps have the same dosage. Alternatively, devices may be assigned to groups, each group corresponding to differing dosages, or alternatively the dosage of each device may be individually controlled. This is particularly advantageous where a large number of devices are installed in a single location, and it is desired to change dosage of certain devices - for example, because the sanitizing material dispensed by the devices is changed, or because an increase or decrease in dosage levels is required due to a change in policy.

The device may further comprise a sensor for detecting when the amount of sanitizer material in the device falls below a predetermined threshold. Figure 3 depicts an embodiment of the pump 201 of Figures 1 and 2 as connected to a reservoir of sanitizer material. The pump 201 comprises a tube 301 interconnecting the mouth 302 of the reservoir 303 and the inlet 304 of the pump 201, wherein the sensor comprises a pair of probes. A first probe 306 is positioned in the tube proximate to the reservoir mouth and a second probe 307 positioned proximate to the pump inlet 304. When the amount of sanitizer material is not low and the device is in use, the probes 306 and 307 are both in contact with the sanitizer material in the tube 301. The sanitizer material exerts an equal pressure on probes 306 and 307. When the amount of sanitizer material runs low, the sanitizer material vacates the area of the tube proximal to probe 306 before vacating the area of the tube proximal to probe 307. This results in a disparity between the pressure received by probe 306 and the pressure received by probe 307, and this disparity triggers an alert that the level of sanitizer material in the device is low (i.e. that it has fallen below a predetermined threshold).

The device can be configured to display an alert on the video screen that the reservoir of sanitizer material needs replacing or refilling in response to receipt of the alert from the sensor. If the device is connected over a network to a central server, an alert may be relayed to the central server regarding the low amount of sanitizer material remaining in the device. In the event the device is configured to recognise individual users, the central server may then send a communication to the device, requesting that the reservoir be replaced or refilled. When a user logs on to the device, the communication is displayed, and the user may choose to ignore the communication or to replace or refill the reservoir. Either way, the device then sends a message back to the central server that the logged-in user reviewed the communication.

In an embodiment, the device may be configured to detect when a user is using the device and to play an educational video message on the video screen 102 demonstrating effective hand-washing technique. The video may further comprise an audio track. The playback of the video may be triggered by a user logging in, or by the device detecting the user in another way. For example, the device may further comprise a dedicated sensor for detecting a proximate user. Alternatively, the device may be configured to trigger video playback upon actuation of the sanitizer pump 201. In one embodiment the device may be configured such that a logged in user using the device will trigger playback of a first instructional video and a non-logged in user using the device will trigger playback of a second instructional video.

The device may be configured such that when it is not in use it may playback a default video and/or audio message. The device may further comprise a sensor for detecting when users pass by the device, and may be configured to communicate a message to said user to wash their hands. The message may be communicated via the video screen, the audio speakers or both.

The video and/or audio messages stored on the device may be modified or replaced.

This may be done via the network connection comprised in the device, or via alternative connections comprised in the device, for example a USB connection. The device may be configured to incorporate advertising messages into some or all of the video and/or audio messages.

A plurality of devices deployed throughout a premises may each be connected to a common central server to comprise an integrated hand sanitizing system. Figure 4 depicts a schematic of a system 400 comprising a plurality of devices 402, each connected to a central server 404 over a network 406. In one embodiment the central server 404 can be used to adjust sanitizer dosage levels dispensed by each device 402, thereby facilitating centralized control of the dosage levels. The central server 404 can also be used to oversee device usage patterns of recognized users. In addition, the central server 404 can be used to receive alerts that the level of sanitizer in a device has fallen below a predetermined threshold. The central server may comprise any computing device that is capable of communicating over a network and that possesses processing capabilities.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination,

Claims

1. A hand sanitizer device for dispensing sanitizer material comprising: means for communicating across a data network; means for retaining a reservoir of sanitizer material; means for dispensing an adjustable amount of sanitizer material; and means for detecting when the amount of sanitizer material in the device falls below a predetermined threshold level; wherein the amount of sanitizer material dispensed by the means for dispensing is adjustable remotely via the means for communicating across a data network.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display means wherein the display means is further configured to display an instructional video on infection prevention techniques when individuals pass by the device.

3. The device of any preceding claim wherein the means for detecting comprises a sensor and wherein the device is further configured to generate an alert when the sensor detects that the amount of sanitizer material has fallen below a predetermined threshold level.

4. , The device of any preceding claim further comprising means for recognising individual users of the device, and means for recording the device usage patterns of each individual user.

5. A system comprising a plurality of the devices of any of claims 1 to 4 and a central server, said devices each connected to said central server via their respective means for communicating.