SE545448C2

SE545448C2 - Method and device for assistance in hand desinfection with uv light

Info

Publication number: SE545448C2
Application number: SE2250126A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Erik Wikström
Original assignee: Whitebox Ab
Priority date: 2022-02-10
Filing date: 2022-02-10
Publication date: 2023-09-12
Also published as: WO2023153985A1; SE2250126A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for assistance in hand disinfection by means of UV radiation. According to the method, an apparatus (1) comprising a housing (2) having a cavity (3) for receiving a pair of hands (5) and in which said hand can be subjected to ultraviolet radiation, a camera device (10:1, 10:2) with which the hands received in the cavity can be photographed, a computer (7) with software for processing and handling image data, a graphic display means (6) with which information can be presented in real time to a user of the device. Characteristic are the steps of the following operations;- by means of the display means (6) indicating a normative hand position for a user of the apparatus (1) whose hands are in the hand-receiving cavity (3),- determining a current hand position value by detecting by means of a camera image a current hand position of the hands in the hand receiving cavity (3), and determining a first measured value (X1) by comparing the current hand position with the normative hand position, and- determining a change that affects the first measured value (X1) so that the radiation level for the current hand position value changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative hand position value.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTANCE IN HAND DESINFECTION WITH UV LIGHT TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for assistance in hand disinfection by means of UV light according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method according to claim BACKGROUND lt has long been known to disinfect by means of UV light (UV radiation) and especially UVC light with a wavelength range between 100-280 nm. For safety reasons, ultraviolet light in the UVC range has not been used to any great extent for disinfection of hands, as it is known that exposure to UVC wavelengths can cause skin and eye damage and must be performed with great care.

Hitherto known UV disinfection systems for hand disinfection use lamps with wavelengths between 254 nm-280 nm, usually around 254 nm. Studies have shown that wavelengths of 222 nm have similar disinfectant properties as 254 nm, but without the risk of skin or eye damage. The shorter UV 222nm wavelength (known as Far-UV, 200 to 235 nm) has significantly lower penetration depths in organic tissue compared to traditional 254 nm UV light.

Hand disinfection devices in the form of hand dryers that use UV light in combination with an air stream that is passed over the hands are previously known. This type of device is intended to be used as a disinfectant supplement to conventional hand washing with soap and water because experiments have shown that even after very thorough conventional cleaning with soap and water, a lot of bacteria and viruses usually remain on the hands. Studies have shown that it can be about approx. 5% or more bacteria and viruses remain on the hands after conventional washing with soap and water.

This type of hand dryer usually comprises a fan with which air is blown through one or more nozzles on the hands which are inserted into a cavity in which the hands are accommodated so as to dry the hands. Known are hand dryers in which an air flow in the form ofa thin air curtain is blown at high speed from slit-shaped nozzles on the hands and disinfects the hands with UV light during a drying process.

A problem with hitherto known devices that use UV light for disinfection is that it has been difficult to determine when a complete (100%) disinfection of the hands has been carried out. ln this part also lies the problem that the generated UV light in practice must reach the skin in order for it to be effectively disinfected. due to a variety of external factors and circumstances. The current condition of the skin in relation to the UV lightcan to a large extent affect the radiation dose required to achieve the desired complete disinfection. The current position of the hands and not least the fingers when exposed to UV light is also crucial to achieve an effective disinfection. lf the skin is relatively moist, a higher dose is normally required than if the skin is relatively dry. lt would be desirable to dynamically control and streamline the disinfection process so that the smallest possible dose of UV light needs to be generated at each disinfection occasion. That is, it would be desirable to be able to adapt the radiation dose to each current need in a better way than hitherto, i.e. to use more accurately at every opportunity as small a UV dose as possible to achieve a complete and desirable hand disinfection. By thus minimizing the process time and UV dose, hand disinfection could be significantly streamlined and the risk of skin damage minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is thus to provide a method for assistance in hand disinfection which makes this possible. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying out the method itself.

These two objects of the invention are achieved by a method and a device which of the kind specified in claim 1 resp.

The insight underlying the invention is that improved possibilities to control and streamline the disinfection process in hand disinfection so that only a minimum possible dose of UV light needs to be generated at each disinfection occasion while the disinfection result can come as close to 100% as possible if the disinfection can take place on a dynamically feedback way. ln principle, it is a matter of instructing the user from the outset to a standard hand position mode, i.e. a position in which the user places his hands so that they can be exposed in a normative optimal way by disinfecting UV light. Furthermore, a first measured value is determined which is based on an observation which relates to a comparison between the normative hand position and a current hand position, i.e. the user's actual or actual hand position mode. With the help of computer support, a change is finally determined which affects the first measured value in such a way that the radiation level for the current hand position value transitions to or approaches a desired radiation level which corresponds to the normative hand position value.

An embodiment of the invention also includes the possibility of further streamlining the disinfection process in hand disinfection by adjusting the dose of UV light that needs to be generated at each disinfection event depending on the user's actual skin condition, i.e. the required dose of UV light is adjusted according to the status that the user's hands exhibit in terms of skin moisture content, stain conditions such as scabs, redness or the like. ln accordance with the invention, it is a matter ofdetermining a current skin condition for the hands received in the cavity, by measuring the skin of the hands when the hand is in the current hand position by means of a camera image, and determining a second measurement value by comparing the current skin condition with a normative skincondition, to determine a change that affects the second measured value so that the radiation level for the current skin condition changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative skin condition. ln another embodiment of the invention, the feature may; determining a change affecting the first measured value in such a way that the radiation level of the current hand position value transitions to or approaches a desired radiation level corresponding to the normative hand position value , including any of the following steps; - that the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a cavity in which the hands are received is regulated; - by means of a display means for the user in real time, a change or adjustment of the current hand position so that it approaches or transitions to the normative hand position, or one including a combination of each of the above steps. ln another embodiment of the invention, the feature; to determine a change affecting the second measured value in such a way that the radiation level of the current skin condition transitions to or approaches a desired radiation level corresponding to the normative skin condition, comprising any of the following steps; - that the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the cavity is regulated; - adjusting the skin condition by passing a moisture-absorbing stream of air over the hand; or by means of a display means indicating a normative hand position for a user of the apparatus whose hands are in the hand-receiving cavity, ln an embodiment of the invention, the ultraviolet (UV) radiation used is selected from the so-called Far-UV range between 200 to 235 nm, in which the wavelength of 222 nm is preferred. ln one embodiment, a camera of the device used for determining the first current hand position may comprise an image camera which makes it possible to detect a pixel value of obtained images. ln another embodiment, a camera used to detect skin conditions may comprise a spectral camera and said image camera and spectral camera may be configured to work synchronously with each other. ln one embodiment of the invention, the graphical display means may be configured to instruct the user a sequence of successive standard positioning hand position modes.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURESln the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 shows a side view schematically, partly in a longitudinal section, a device for assistance in hand disinfection according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale a schematic longitudinal section through a device for assistance in hand disinfection according to Fig.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a flow chart describing control and management of radiation level based on a normative and current hand position for a user in a hand disinfection assistance device according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a flow chart describing control and control of radiation level based on a normative and current skin condition for a user in a device for assistance with hand disinfection according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 schematically shows a device 1 for assistance in hand disinfection according to the present invention. The device 1 comprises a casing 2 with a cavity 3 which is accessible from the outside through a casing opening 4 and is configured to receive a user's hands 5 to be disinfected with UV light. The device 1 is of the type which, after conventional disinfection in the form of hand washing with two and water makes it possible by means of an air flow in combination with UV light makes it possible to dry and at the same time disinfect the hands with said UV light. lt should be understood that the present invention may but does not necessarily include a device which dries the hands by means of an air flow.

The device 1 is designed as a hand dryer whose casing 2 is placed on a side (front side) said casing opening 4. The casing opening 4 can extend over the entire width of the casing or housing, and to which opening said cavity 3 or cavity connects and which, like the casing opening, extends over the entire width of the housing. The cavity 3 is large enough for a user to be able to insert his hands 5 completely into the cavity. On a top side of the housing is a graphic display means 6 such as a monitor screen or the like with which, in magnification, is indicated by an arrow, real-time information can be presented to a user of the device.

Referring also to Fig. 2, the housing 2 in an upper part comprises a microprocessor- based control unit 7 such as a computer (PC) with software and a non-volatile memory 8 for data storage. The software is configured to form part of a computing means that can handle and process data and I / O signals in the manner described in more detail below. ln a lower part of the casing of the casing 2 there is a cavity in which a fan 6 is arranged which can direct air at high speed through two ventilation ducts 2a, 2b towards two flat nozzles 2c, 2d, which lie next to the casing opening and which open into the cavity. 3 onopposite sides. At a speed of at least 15 m/s, air can blow out of the flat nozzles 2c, 2d against the user's hands 5 inserted into the cavity 3. By 9a, 9b are meant two sensors which are configured to detect an object, i.e. as the hands of a user are inserted into the housing opening 4 and thus into the gap between the sensors. The device is activated when the two sensors 9a, 9b detect an object in the form of hands 5 in the gap between them. The fan 6 can be operated for a predetermined period of time.

The device further comprises a first and second lamp 10:1, 10:2 which are included in a device generally designated 12 for generating UV radiation. The radiation device is so selected that the hands received in the cavity 3 can be applied to ultraviolet (UV) radiation with variable effect. 11:1, 11:2 denote a respective camera which is facing each other in the cavity in order to be able to photograph both the top and bottom of hands 5 in the cavity 3. Said lamps 10:1, 10:2 are facing each other in the cavity for to be able to irradiate the hands 5 from above and below. The lamps 10:1, 10:2 are switched on in connection with the device being activated by the action of the two sensors. The intensity of UV radiation is normally measured in the units of milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2) which is energy per square centimeter received per second.

The device for generating UV radiation is designed in such a way that the UV radiation emitted in the cavity 3 or the cavity has a wavelength in the range of the so-called Far- UV range between 200 to 235 nm, in which the wavelength is 222 nm preferred. The light source can be selected from any commercially available light source that produces UVC light around the required wavelengths. Since UVC light is invisible, it can be supplemented with a spectrum of visible light, e.g. a conventional lamp, an LED lamp or the like to indicate when the appliance is in operation and irradiating the skin ofthe hands With reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 3, it is schematically described how the present invention makes it possible to assist a user to provide an optimally adapted radiation level by dynamically controlling and controlling the required radiation level in hand disinfection.

At step S20, the process starts. ln this position, the sensors 11:1, 11:2 have detected the presence of the user's hands 5 in the cavity 3 of the apparatus. The device is thus activated. The hands 5 in the cavity are subjected to ultraviolet radiation, and the hands 5 received in the cavity 3 are photographed by means of the cameras 11:1, 11:2, obtained images are addressed to the computer 7 which processes this data.

At step S21, the user is instructed in real time to assume a normative hand position for his hands 5 via an image on the graphic display means At step 22, a current hand position for the hands in the cavity 3 is determined on the basis of image data, and at step S23, a first measured value X1 is determined by comparing the current hand position with the normative hand position.At step S24, a change is determined which affects the first measured value X1 so that the radiation level of the current hand position value changes to or approaches a radiation level corresponding to the radiation level which the hands would receive in the normative hand position value.

According to the invention, the term determination means any measure which can affect the first measured value X1 in such a way that the radiation level passes to or approaches the radiation level corresponding to the normative hand position value. ln an embodiment of the invention it could be a matter of the display means 6 presents in real time indicative information which can cause a user of the apparatus to change the current position or position of his hands 5 so that they approach or substantially assume the normative hand position, i.e. a position in which the hands can be exposed in a predetermined optimal way by the disinfecting UV light.

However, at step S24, in the embodiment of the invention described here, determination is made by checking whether the first measured value X1 of the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation with respect to the ratio between the current hand position and the normative hand position is above or below a nominal threshold value. based on comparisons of obtained current image data and stored normative image data. lf the first measured value X1 is above or equal to a predetermined standard value, the UV radiation effect is increased following a first curve shown in a graph in Fig. 3. Similarly, if the first measured value X1 is below the nominal threshold value, UV is reduced the radiation effect following a second curve shown in a graph in Fig.

With reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 4, it is schematically described how the present invention makes it possible to further assist a user in providing an optimally adapted radiation level by dynamically controlling and controlling the required radiation level in hand disinfection.

At step S30 , the process preferably starts running in parallel with that described above in steps S20-S24. ln this starting position, the sensors 11:1, 11:2 have thus detected the presence of the user's hands 5 in the cavity 3 of the apparatus. The device is thus activated. The hands 5 in the cavity are subjected to ultraviolet radiation, and the hands 5 received in the cavity 3 are photographed by means of the cameras 11:1, 11:2, obtained images are addressed to the computer 7 which processes this data.

At step S31 the user is instructed in real time to assume a normative hand position for his hands 5 via the graphic display means 6. At step S32 a current skin condition of the hands in the cavity 3 is determined on the basis of image data and at step S33 a second measured value X2 is determined by comparing the current skin condition with a normative skin condition.

At step 24, a change is determined which affects the second measured value X2 so that the radiation level of the current hand position value transitions to or approaches a radiation level corresponding to the radiation level which the hands would receive in the normative skin condition.According to the invention, the term determination means any measure which can affect the second measured value X2 in such a way that the radiation level transitions to or approaches the radiation level which corresponds to a normative skin condition in the normative hand position value. ln one embodiment, it is conceivable to adapt the skin condition by causing a moisture-absorbing stream of air to pass over the hand, since it is well known that dry skin is more susceptible to UV radiation, which means that the radiation effect can thereby be reduced.

At step 33, in the embodiment of the invention described here, determination is performed by checking whether the second measured value X2 of the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation with respect to the ratio between the current skin condition and the normative skin condition is above or below a nominal threshold value based on processing of image data. lf the second measured value X2 is above or equal to a predetermined standard value, the UV radiation effect is increased following a first curve shown in a graph in Fig. 4. Similarly, if the second measured value X2 is below the nominal threshold value, UV decreases the radiation effect following a second curve shown in a graph in Fig. 4.

Claims

1.Claims 1. Method for assistance in hand disinfection by means of UV radiation and using an apparatus (1) comprising a housing (2) with a cavity (3) adapted to receive a pair of hands (5) and in which cavity ultraviolet radiation can be applied, a camera device (10:1, 10:2) with which the hands received in the cavity can be photographed, a computer (7) with software for processing and handling image data, a graphic display means (6) with which information in real time can be presented to a user of the device, characterized by the steps of the following operations; by means of the graphic display means (6) designating a normative hand position for a user of the apparatus (1) whose hands are in the hand-receiving cavity (3), determining a current hand position value by detecting by means of a camera image a current hand position of the hands in the hand receiving cavity (3), and determining a first measured value (X1) by comparing the current hand position with the normative hand position, and determining a change that affects the first measured value (X1) so that the radiation level for the current hand position value changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative hand position value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of the following operations; determining a current skin condition of the hands (5) received in the cavity (3), by measuring the skin of the hands by means of a camera image when the hands are in the current hand position, and determining a second measured value (X2) by comparing the current the skin condition with a normative skin condition , determining a change that affects the second measured value (X2) so that the radiation level for the current skin condition changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative skin condition.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein an UV-radiation device included in the apparatus is selected so that the hands (5) received in the cavity (3) can be applied to ultraviolet (UV) radiation with variable effect.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the change affecting the first measured value (X1) may comprise one of the following steps; 9 that the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the cavity (3) is regulated; that by means of the display means (6) indicating in real time a change or adjustment of the current hand position so that it approaches or transitions to the normative hand position, or a combination of each of the above steps. _ A method according to claim 3 or 4, comprising the steps of; increasing the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation if the first measured value (X1) is below a nominal threshold value or decreasing the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation if the first measured value (X1) is above the nominal threshold value. _ A method according to claim 3, wherein the change affecting the second measured value (X2) may comprise one of the following steps; regulating the effect of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the cavity (3); adjusting the skin condition by passing a moisture-absorbing stream of air over the hands (5); or a combination of each of the above-mentioned respective steps. _ A method according to claim 2, wherein the skin condition of the hands (5) received in the cavity (3) comprises a current skin moisture content and / or a spot condition on the hands. _ A method according to claim 2, wherein the camera (11:1, 1 1 :2) of the apparatus used for measuring the skin condition comprises a spectral camera (multispectral camera). _ A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera (10:1, 10:2) of the device used for determining the first current hand position comprises an image camera which facilitates detecting a pixel value of images. 10_The method of claim 1, wherein the spectral camera and the image camera are configured to operate synchronously with each other. 11.A method according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the wavelength of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation used in the apparatus is selected between the so-called Far-UV range between 200 to 235 nm, in which wavelength 222 nm is preferred. 12.A method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical display means (6) is configured to instruct the user a sequence of successive standard hand position modes. 13. Device for assistance in hand disinfection by means of UV radiation, which device comprises; a housing (2) having a cavity (3) and an access opening (4) thereto for receiving a pair of hands (5) in the cavity, a device comprising a lamp (10:1, 10:2) arranged to emit light in the cavity (3) in the ultraviolet region, characterized in that it includes one or more cameras (11:1, 11:2) configured to take pictures of the hands (5) received in the cavity (3), a computer (7) with software for processing and managing image data generated by each camera, a graphical display means (6) which is arranged so that information for a user whose hands (5) are received in the cavity (3) can be presented, wherein the computer (7) is configured by means of the graphic display means (6) indicating at least one normative hand position for the hands (5) located in the cavity (3), determining a current hand position by detecting by means of a camera image a current hand position of the hands (5) in the cavity (3), and determining a first measured value (X1) by comparing the current hand position with the normative hand movement position, and to determine a change that affects the first measured value (X1) so that the radiation level for the current hand position value changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative hand position value. 14.The device of claim 1, wherein the computer (7) is further configured;to determine a current skin condition of the hands (5) received in the cavity (3), by measuring the skin of the hands (5) when they are in the current hand position by means of a camera image, and to determine a second measured value (X2) by compare the current skin condition with a normative skin condition, to determine a change that affects the second measured value (X2) so that the radiation level for the current skin condition changes to or approaches a radiation level that corresponds to the normative skin condition.