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Publication Number
US-9613519-B2
Publication Date
2017-04-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for tracking hand hygiene may comprise a plurality of dispensers, each dispenser configured to detect a hand-hygiene event and wirelessly transmit hand-hygiene event information associated with the hand-hygiene event. The system may also include a room hub configured to wirelessly transmit location information. Further, the system may include a user circuit module configured to wirelessly receive the hand-hygiene event information, wirelessly receive the location information, and store the hand-hygiene event information, a first time stamp associated with the hand-hygiene event information, the location information, and a second time stamp associated with the location information, in a memory. The user circuit module may also be configured to transmit the hand-hygiene event information, the first time stamp, the location information, the second time stamp, and a user identifier to a central server.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a hand-hygiene tracking system in which a plurality of dispensers detects a hand-hygiene event and wirelessly transmits hand-hygiene event information associated with the hand-hygiene event. A room hub wirelessly transmits location information, and a user circuit module wirelessly receives the hand-hygiene event information from any of the plurality of dispensers and the location information from the room hub.
The user circuit module stores the hand-hygiene event information and a first time stamp associated with the hand-hygiene event information in a memory. The user circuit module also stores the location information and a second time stamp associated with the location information in the memory, and then transmits the hand-hygiene event information, the first time stamp, the location information, the second time stamp, and a user identifier to a central server.
The disclosure further describes wireless ping/acknowledgement signals for routing and data exchange among system components, optional power-saving operation using periodic wake/sleep and motion-threshold states for the badge and dispenser modules, and time-stamp generation using a timing circuit/clock with optional master clock updates. At the central server, analytics are used to determine hand-hygiene opportunities, hand-hygiene events, and compliance with a hand-hygiene protocol, and to generate hand-hygiene statistics and reports.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims covering a hand-hygiene tracking system, a method for tracking hand hygiene, and a device for tracking hand hygiene. Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on wireless collection of dispenser hand-hygiene event information and room location information, storing both with corresponding first and second time stamps, and transmitting the combined data together with a user identifier to a central server.
System with dispensers, room hub, and user circuit module for wirelessly transmitting time-stamped hand-hygiene event data
A system for tracking hand hygiene including a plurality of dispensers that detect a hand-hygiene event and wirelessly transmit hand-hygiene event information, a room hub that wirelessly transmits location information, and a user circuit module that receives hand-hygiene event information and location information, stores each with a first and second time stamp respectively, and transmits the hand-hygiene event information, first time stamp, location information, second time stamp, and a user identifier to a central server.
Method with wirelessly detecting, time-stamping, and transmitting hand-hygiene event and location information
A method for tracking hand hygiene including detecting a hand-hygiene event at one of a plurality of dispensers, wirelessly transmitting hand-hygiene event information associated with the hand-hygiene event, wirelessly receiving the hand-hygiene event information at a user circuit module, wirelessly transmitting location information from a room hub and wirelessly receiving the location information at the user circuit module, storing the hand-hygiene event information and a first time stamp and storing the location information and a second time stamp in a memory of the user circuit module, and transmitting the hand-hygiene event information, the first time stamp, the location information, the second time stamp, and a user identifier from the user circuit module to a central server.
Device with wireless transceiver to store and transmit time-stamped hand-hygiene event information with location and user identifier
A device for tracking hand hygiene including a user circuit module comprising a wireless transceiver and a memory, the wireless transceiver receiving hand-hygiene event information and location information, the user circuit module storing the hand-hygiene event information and a first time stamp and storing the location information and a second time stamp in the memory, reading a user identifier from the memory, and the wireless transceiver transmitting the hand-hygiene event information, the first time stamp, the location information, the second time stamp, and the user identifier to a central server.
The independent claims consistently require combining dispenser-detected hand-hygiene event information with room-hub location information at a user circuit module, storing both with corresponding first and second time stamps, and transmitting the combined data along with a user identifier to a central server for tracking.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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