A system for enhancing hand hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for enhancing hand hygiene in healthcare settings are complex and not cost-effective for various user areas, failing to consistently prompt individuals to wash their hands after visiting user areas.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising motion sensors to detect entry and exit from user and sanitary areas, processing circuitry to determine time spent in these areas, and a cleaning agent dispenser with a use sensor to issue reminders for hand hygiene, ensuring timely hand washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple detectors and monitoring systems are used to track hand hygiene compliance, then the reliability of infection control monitoring is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into two independent parts: a simple motion sensor in the user area that detects presence and duration, and a separate evaluation unit that processes the data and generates reminders. This segmentation allows the sensing part to remain simple while the processing handles the complexity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation unit acts as an intermediary between the motion sensor and the reminder output. It receives simple motion detection data, processes it according to predefined time criteria, and generates appropriate hand hygiene reminders. This intermediary layer enables reliable monitoring without requiring complex integrated systems.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of person location and exposure time is implemented, then the accuracy of hand hygiene prompting is improved, but the use of energy and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic motion detection to measure exposure time rather than continuous monitoring. The motion sensor periodically detects presence in the user area, and the evaluation unit calculates the time duration based on these periodic detections. This approach achieves accurate exposure time measurement while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Productivity
If multiple sensors and processing units are deployed across different areas, then the coverage and effectiveness of hand hygiene enhancement is improved, but the cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacture decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit is designed as a universal device that can be placed in various user areas (patient rooms, examination rooms, etc.) and works with standard motion sensors. The same evaluation unit design can serve multiple different user areas, reducing manufacturing costs and improving cost-effectiveness while maintaining broad coverage and effectiveness across the facility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a system for enhancing a person's hand hygiene after a visit to a user area. The user area is separate from a sanitary area, and the user area may for example comprise a toilet or the user area can be a patient's room, while the sanitary area may comprise a hand cleaning device. The method comprises detecting when a person enters the user area and detecting whether a person leaves the user area and a person enters the sanitary area following the detection of a person entering the user area. A first detection time period is determined based on the detection of a person entering the user area and a successive detection of a person leaving the user area while at the same time a person enters the sanitary area. It is then determined whether the first detection time period is equal to or larger than a predetermined minimum use-period, and in case the first detection time period is equal to or larger than the predetermined minimum use- period, a first sanitary remind signal is issued. The enhancement of a person's hand hygiene may include hand washing and/or hand disinfection, thus a cleaning agent dispenser may be provided within the sanitary area, and the method may further comprise detecting whether the cleaning agent dispenser is used within a predetermined sanitary- period following the successive detection of a person leaving the user while at the same time a person enters the sanitary area, and in case there is no detection of use of the cleaning agent dispenser within said predetermined sanitary-period, a second sanitary remind signal may be issued. The first sanitary remind signal may be a visual signal, and the second sanitary remind signal may be an audible signal.