Fluorescent Hand Decontamination Feedback Using Timed Light Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decontamination methods, particularly in residential, commercial, and healthcare settings, are inefficient and impractical for routine use, leading to poor compliance with hand hygiene guidelines and increased risk of cross-contamination and hospital-acquired infections.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a water dispenser with a light source and fluorescent agent to provide real-time visual feedback on the effectiveness of decontamination, ensuring complete application and removal of a cleansing composition on the skin or its coverings, facilitated by a timer-controlled sequence of water dispensing and light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional decontamination procedures are used in residential or commercial settings, then the complexity of the system is reduced, but the effectiveness and compliance with decontamination guidelines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates visual feedback through fluorescent agents that change appearance under specific lighting conditions, allowing users to see whether decontamination is complete. This feedback mechanism guides users through the decontamination process and confirms when it has been performed correctly, improving reliability without requiring complex monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluorescent agents that exhibit color changes or fluorescence under specific wavelengths of light to indicate the presence or removal of contaminants. This visual indication system provides intuitive feedback to users about decontamination status, making the process more reliable and easier to perform correctly.
2Ease of operation
If manual hand-washing procedures are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of decontamination effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate visual feedback through fluorescent indicators that show whether hands are properly covered with cleanser and whether contaminants remain. This feedback enables users to self-assess decontamination effectiveness without requiring complex measurement devices, maintaining ease of operation while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to perform self-assessment of their decontamination effectiveness through visual indicators. Users can independently determine whether they have completed the decontamination process correctly without requiring external verification, combining simplicity with accurate self-monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If fluorescent agents and light sources are added to the water dispenser, then the measurement precision of decontamination effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines the water dispenser, fluorescent agent dispensing, light source, and visual indication functions into an integrated unit. By merging these components, the system achieves precise measurement of decontamination effectiveness without requiring separate complex devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The water dispenser is designed to perform multiple functions: dispensing water, dispensing fluorescent-containing cleanser, providing illumination, and enabling visual assessment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the effectiveness of decontamination by providing visual feedback on coverage and removal of the cleansing agent, improving compliance and reducing the risk of cross-contamination and infections.
Implementation Method 1
the light source is configured to emit the light at a sufficient intensity and wavelength so as to cause a fluorescent agent disposed about the skin or the covering of the skin of the individual to fluoresce at a wavelength in the visible spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for assessing the effectiveness of a decontamination event to decontaminate a portion of at least one of skin or a covering of the skin of an individual. A composition dispenser housing a power source and configured to dispense a composition with a fluorescent agent. A light module remote from the composition dispenser with a light source powered by the power source of the composition dispenser. The light source to emit light in accordance with a predetermined field of view, and to emit the light at a sufficient intensity and wavelength to cause a fluorescent agent dispensed by the agent dispensing system to fluoresce. The field of view defines an inspection space in which the portion of the individual can be positioned to detect at least one of a presence or an absence of the fluorescent agent during the decontamination event.