WO2021205165A1

WO2021205165A1 - Hand sanitiser monitor

Info

Publication number: WO2021205165A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/050853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nigel Davis; Andrew Tulloch
Original assignee: Aan Medical Limited
Priority date: 2020-04-08
Filing date: 2021-04-07
Publication date: 2021-10-14
Also published as: GB202104905D0; GB2593985A; GB2593984A; GB202104904D0; EP4132334A1

Abstract

A hand sanitiser monitor (1) in combination with a hand sanitiser dispenser (3), the monitor (1) having a first sensor (10) giving a visual, aural or other output on detection of a person. The monitor (1) can sense dispensing of sanitiser and provides an alert when the need to replenish or replace the sanitiser is identified.

Description

HAND SANITISER MONITOR

Technical Field

This invention relates to hand sanitiser monitors.

Background

Recent issues arising from the transmission of infectious agents have highlighted the role played by hand sanitisation in reducing transmission.

Although the use of hand sanitisation has increased, it is something easily forgotten in a busy routine. Their use tends to increase in periods of crisis or when the need to use hand sanitisers is highlighted but tends to fall again when the crisis or highlighting falls away.

There is a need, therefore, to increase and maintain the use of hand sanitation.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention a hand sanitiser monitor in association with a hand sanitiser has a first sensor giving a visual, aural, or other output on detection of a person.

As an addition, such a monitor may sense dispensing of sanitiser and alert when the need to replenish or replace the sanitiser is identified.

One way of sensing dispensing is to detect the number of uses or length or time of use of hand sanitiser and cumulating until reaching a number or time when all the sanitiser in the dispenser can be assumed to have been used or nearly used.

Another method of sensing the dispensing is by weighing the sanitiser dispenser.

In one example, the hand sanitiser monitor can be associated with a hand operated sanitiser dispenser.

In another example the monitor is used in association with a hand sanitiser dispenser having a hoop or U-shape with one or a plurality of inwardly directed apertures disposed around the inside of the hoop or U to direct sanitiser treatment emerging from the apertures to a person’s hand or hands placed within the hoop or U, and a container containing the sanitiser connected to the aperture(s).

In one embodiment of this example the hand sanitiser dispenser has a hoop in the form of an elongate 0 with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis. For some applications, the longest axis may be vertical; for others, especially smaller devices, the longest axis may be horizontal.

In such an example the monitor may be integrated with the hand sanitiser.

Alternatively, the monitor may be a separate unit upon which the hand sanitiser dispenser stands.

The monitor may have a camera-based sensor, the camera monitoring an area. When the view changes, for example, as a result of the movement of a person or the opening of a door, a visual or aural indication of the likely presence of a person is triggered.

The monitor may have a movement sensor, for example, to detect the opening of a door or a person moving about.

The monitor may have a proximity detector that could react to a person passing by.

The output of the monitor could be arranged to play a tune or tunes, play a voice message, illuminate one or more LEDs, vibrate etc. The aim being to attract the attention of a busy passer by thereby promoting use of the sanitiser(s). Tunes, messages, and lights could be arranged to follow a random pattern to maintain interest over a longer period.

In situations such as entrances to hospital wards, the monitor could be connected to a door interlock or the desk of a person controlling entrance to the ward, to prevent entry to the ward until the hand sanitiser had been used.

Issues have arisen from theft of sanitiser; a system as described in the preceding paragraphs would address that, as the weight detection system would identify the loss of weight associated with the removal of the sanitiser container triggering a warning or alarm.

In another aspect of the invention a hand sanitiser dispenser a hand sanitiser dispenser comprises a hoop or U-shape with one or a plurality of inwardly directed apertures disposed around the inside of the hoop or U to direct sanitiser treatment emerging from the apertures to a person’s hand or hands placed within the hoop or U, a container containing the sanitiser connected to the aperture(s).

In this aspect, it is preferred that the hand sanitiser dispenser comprises a hoop in the form of an elongate 0 with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis.

The elongate 0 can be arranged with the long axis vertical in some devices but for smaller dispenser an arrangement with the long axis horizontal may be preferred.

In this aspect the monitor may be integrated with the hand sanitiser. The integrated monitor may have some or all the features discussed above.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figures 1A and 1B show perspective views of a monitor according to the invention in conjunction with a hand pumped sanitiser unit according to a first example of the invention;

Figure 2A is a perspective view of the top of the monitor of figures 1A and 1B with the hand sanitiser removed;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of the bottom of the hand sanitiser monitor of figures 1A, 1B and 2A;

Figures 3A and 3B show perspective views of an alternative sanitiser according for use with the invention;

Figure 3C is a section on the line A-A’ of figure 3A;

Figure 3D is a schematic view of the hand sanitiser of figures 3A and 3B partially sectioned on the line B-B’ of figure 4A;

Figure 4A shows the sanitiser of figures 3A to 3D mounted on the monitor of figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 4B shows an alternative U-shaped configuration of a hand sanitiser mounted on the hand sanitiser monitor of figure 1 to 3; and

Figures 5A and 5B show an alternative sanitiser unit with an elongate hoop which may incorporate the monitor of the invention and an integrated unit, or which may be placed on the monitor of figures 1 to 3.

Illustrative examples

In figures 1A and 1B containers of

hand sanitiser

2 and 3 are shown atop a hand sanitiser monitor 1.

The container of hand sanitiser 2 is a traditional, pouring, hand sanitiser container, where sanitiser falls from the hand sanitiser container through a narrow exit when the container is up ended. The container could be deformable to aid ejection of the sanitiser or provided with a plunger which on pressing the plunger dispenses a set amount of sanitiser.

The container of hand sanitiser 3 is a no touch hand sanitiser container where a detector 4, infra-red or PIR for example, detects the presence of a hand or hands and hand sanitisers the sanitiser through a nozzle 5.

The monitor 1 can be seen in detail in figures 2A and 2B.

The

hand sanitiser

2 or 3 is mounted on a pressure pad 11. In the case of hand sanitiser 3, the pad 11 may also have electrical connection to the hand sanitiser 3. To hold the hand sanitiser 2 or 3 in place, the pad 11 may be sticky or magnetic. In the latter case the

hand sanitisers

2 and 3 would also need to have ferromagnetic material at their bases. The arrangement allows retrofitting of the monitor to existing hand sanitiser(s).

A detector 10, a camera, PIR, X-ray or an acoustic reflection detector at the front of the monitor which detects the movement of a person nearby, or a door monitor detecting movement through a door. This detection causes the LEDs 14 to illuminate or flash and/or a sound to be emitted from the speaker 13.

Dispensing of sanitiser from the

hand sanitiser

2 or 3 can be detected by the change of weight on the pressure pad 11. Alternatively, in the case of hand sanitiser 3, if wished, dispensing of sanitiser can also be detected by measuring the voltage change or current flow in the hand sanitiser on ejection of sanitiser.

Monitoring of the use of the

hand sanitisers

2 and 3 can be used to inform about the content of the

hand sanitisers

2 or 3 by, for example, illumination of a warning light 12 when replenishment of the sanitiser is needed or sending a signal to a remote monitor warning of the need to replenish or ordering sanitiser resupply automatically. The fact that use of sanitiser is detected can also be used to suppress the outputs though the LEDs 14 and/or speaker 13.

The absolute or change of weight of the sanitiser container in the pressure pad 11 is monitored. A sensor associated with the pressure pad can detect a defined final weight for an empty container, or a pre-determined reduction from the weight of a full container. In principle, the weight sensing system could have a switch or dial to select from commonly used weights of containers or it could be customised so that each manufacturer of sanitiser could deploy its own bespoke version of the device.

Alternatively, a sensing system could be set to only detect the presses on the spray nozzle and count them until assumed to be near empty. It could monitor continuously, but preferably at set intervals or perhaps only after a press on the bottle to reduce power consumption.

As a result, the sensing system can be set to warn a facilities manager controller of the need to replenish or replace the sanitiser by an LED or alarm or through an app or SMS message.

Staff, at say, a hospital or care home often have a bar code or RFID tag included in staff badges, an RFID/code scanner 15 allows tracking of use by such staff. In particular, the scanner may be arranged to read a barcode tag, on a tag of a member of staff , visitor’s tag, or resident’s or patient’s tag or to communicate with an RFID tag on a person nearby, so allowing monitoring of adherence to sanitisation policies.

The monitor is provided with a mains connection 18 and stand by battery 16. A LAN connection 17 may be provided for external monitoring purposes.

In figures 3A to 3D, a hand sanitiser 20 according to an aspect of the invention comprises a circular hoop 21 of stainless steel, plastic or like material compatible with hand sanitiser. The hoop has an internal groove 22, in which is set a tube 23 made of silicon rubber or like material compatible with hand sanitiser. Separate tubes 23 extended around the inside of the left-hand side of the hoop 21 and the right-hand side of the hoop 21. One end 24 of the each of the tubes 23 is joined to a manifold 25 mounted in a hollow base 26, the other ends 27 of the tubes are closed. The tubes have a plurality of apertures 28 from which any sanitiser fluid in the tubes is expelled.

The hoop itself is mounted on the base 26. The tubes 23 are held in place at the top and bottom of the hoop 21 by plates 30. Manifold 25 is connected to the outlet 33 of an electric pump 31 mounted in the base 26. A cartridge 32 containing sanitiser is mounted though the top of the base 26, with its outlet nozzle connected to an upstanding nipple 34 on a cartridge mounting 35. The bottom of the base 26 is closed by a base plate 36. The cartridge mounting 35 is mounted on the base plate 36. A fluid connection 37 is provided in the cartridge base to a pump connector 38 also upstanding from the cartridge mounting 35. A short length of tube 39 of silicon rubber or like material connects the pump connector 38 to the pump inlet 40. Cartridge 32 is replaceable.

The pump 31 is powered from a battery or mains source 41 through a switch 42. The switch 42 is operated by an infra-red sensor 43 which identifies the presence of hands in the hoop 21. Optionally, a programmable chip 44 may be included in association with the switch 42 to limit the period in which the motor is switched on to prevent over-dispensing of sanitiser.

Although in the example, the pump 31 is fixed in the base 26, it could be provided as part of the cartridge 32, with the pump and cartridge being replaced as one unit. Alternatively, a pressurised cartridge could be used and replaced as a whole.

In a further variation the cartridge 32 could be refillable, whether it is a separate from pump 31 or pump 31 is integrated with it as one unit.

In operation, a person places his/her hands within the hoop 21. The presence of the hands in the hoop detected by the infra-red sensor 43 which turned on the switch 42 controlling the pump 31. Instead of the intra-red sensor 43some other form of motion or proximity sensor could be used. Sanitiser in cartridge 32 is pumped by pump 31 into each of the tubes 23 around the hoop 21. The pump pressure in the tubes 23 forces the sanitiser through apertures 28 as a spray 29 onto the hands.

Alternative structures are possible. In particular, the tubes 23 need not be separate silicon rubber tubes in grooves 22, but can be integrally formed within the hoop 21, which then will have no groove 22. Th apertures 28 are formed in the inner wall of the hoop to communicate through to the tubes 23.

As another alternative, the sanitiser could be an open U-shape as opposed to hoop shaped. In the context of a busy entrance to a hospital ward, a U-shaped sanitiser may be easier to use.

As a further development, the hoop or U 20 of the sanitiser could be a disposable unit, being a plug fit into the base 26. As a still further development the sanitiser could be a disposable sealed unit including the sanitiser itself.

Figure 4A and 4B respectively illustrate a combination of a monitoring device and hoop shaped sanitiser or a U-shaped sanitiser. The parts of the hand sanitiser itself are as described in figures 3A to 3D. In both figures the hand sanitiser 20 is mounted on a pad 11, of a monitor 1, the monitor being as described in figures 2A and 2B.

The pad 11 is attached to the bottom of the hollow base 25 of the hand sanitiser magnetically. A chip 19, in the monitor, controls the operation of the monitor, receiving signals from detector 10 (in figures 1 to 3), illuminating the LEDs 14 and/or producing an audible signal through speakers 13. Depletion of sanitiser in the cartridge 32 is monitor by measuring the weight of the sanitiser 20 on pad 11. When the weight decreases below a predetermined figure, the chip 19 causes the waning lamp 12 to be illuminated. As an alternative. The number of operations and length of time of use of the pump 31 can be monitored using chip 44, and this information passed to chip 19. In turn this calculates the likely level of depletion of cartridge 32, illuminating lamp 12 and, if built in, sending a warning of depletion to a central controller or to a reordering system.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a complete hand sanitiser unit 60 generally as illustrated in figures 3A to 3D, although in the embodiment of figures 5A and 5B, the tubes linking the cartridge (32 in figures 3A to 3D) to the outlet and nozzles 68 in figures 5A and 5B (28 and 29 in figures 3A to 3D), is below the surface of the hoop 61, rather than in grooves (22 in figure 3A). The presence of a hand or hands in the hoop 61 is detected by a detector 63, which triggers the operation of the motor to cause sanitiser to flow from a cartridge mounted in the body 70 of the hand sanitiser unit 60 to the outlets and nozzles 68. Use of the sanitiser is monitored by a chip (44 in figures 3A to 3D ), and a warning of the need to replace the sanitiser cartridge displayed on the display 64 or by lighting LEDs 66 (say to red) around the hoop 61.

In figures 5A and 5B, the hoop 61 is an elongate 0 shape with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis. This arrangement combines the benefit of a hoop arrangement with the ease of use of the U-shaped hand sanitiser unit as illustrated in figure 4B.

A door 65 is provided in the base of the hand sanitiser unit 60 allowing access to the sanitiser cartridge for refilling or replacement purposes.

Legs 69 are provided on which the hand sanitiser unit to stand. The hand sanitiser unit can be stood on a monitor 1 (as seen in figure 3).

A connection from the monitor can be used to post messages on the display 63, or to the LEDs 66 to indicate presence of the sanitiser.

It should be noted that the hand sanitiser of figures 5A and 5B can include a proximity detector as discussed in relation to figures 1 and 2, and thus, in combination with the depletion monitoring system, has an integrated monitoring system in accordance with the invention, or the hand sanitisers of figures 5A and 5B can be mounted on a monitor of the kind discussed in figures 1 and 2.

Although figures 5A and 5B show the long axis of the elongate 0 shape of the hoop being vertical, for ease of use, particularly with smaller dispensers arranging the long axis such that it is horizontal may be preferred.

The foregoing descriptions are examples of monitors, according to the invention, other constructions may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

A hand sanitiser monitor in association with a hand sanitiser dispenser having a first sensor giving a visual, aural, or other output on detection of a person.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 1 sensing dispensing of sanitiser and alerting when the need to replenish or replace the sanitiser is identified.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 2 detecting the number uses or length or time of use of hand sanitiser cumulating until reaching a number or time when all the sanitiser in the dispenser can be assumed to have been used or near used.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 2 in which measuring dispensing of sanitiser is sensed by weighing the sanitiser dispenser .
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the monitor is in association with a hand operated dispenser.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in in having an associated hand sanitiser with a hoop or U-shape with one or a plurality of inwardly directed apertures disposed around the inside of the hoop or U to direct sanitiser treatment emerging from the apertures to a person’s hand or hands placed within the hoop or U, and a container containing the sanitiser connected to the aperture(s).
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 6 in which the associated hand sanitiser has a hoop shape in the form of an elongate 0 with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis.
A hand and sanitiser monitor according to claim 7 in which the longest axis is vertical.
A hand sanitiser monitor according to claim 7 in which the longest axis is horizontal.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the associated hand sanitiser has a hoop or U-shape with one or a plurality of inwardly directed apertures disposed around the inside of the hoop or U to direct sanitiser treatment emerging from the apertures to a person’s hand or hands placed within the hoop or U, a container containing the sanitiser connected to the aperture(s) and in which the monitor is integrated with the hand sanitiser.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 10 in which the hand sanitiser has a hoop shape in the form of an elongate 0 with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11 the dispenser having a further sensor initiating spraying of sanitiser when a person’s hand or hands is/are placed within the hoop.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the associated hand sanitiser is mounted atop the monitor.
A hand sanitiser monitor as claimed in claim 13 in which the associated hand sanitiser is mounted on a pressure pad on top of the monitor, said pressure pad being used to determine the weight of the hand sanitiser.
A hand sanitiser dispenser comprising a hoop or U-shape with one or a plurality of inwardly directed apertures disposed around the inside of the hoop or U to direct sanitiser treatment emerging from the apertures to a person’s hand or hands placed within the hoop or U, a container containing the sanitiser connected to the aperture(s).
A hand sanitiser dispenser as claimed in claim15 comprises a hoop in the form of an elongate 0 with the longest axis perpendicular to the shortest axis.
A hand sanitiser dispenser as claimed in claim 16 in which the long axis is vertical.
A hand sanitiser dispenser as claimed in claim 16 in which the long axis is horizontal.
A hand sanitiser dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 having a monitor to detect the presence of a person in proximity to the sanitiser said monitor on detecting a person drawing attention to the presence of the sanitiser.
A hand sanitiser dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 monitoring the use of hand sanitiser and alerting when hand sanitiser requires replacement.