HAND HYGIENE DISPENSER

Abstract

Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for dispensing material using a hand hygiene apparatus. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a dispensing device configured to dispense at least some material. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a first motion sensing device configured to activate an alert responsive to detecting a movement. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a second motion sensing device configured to deactivate the alert or activate a second alert responsive to detecting a second movement.

Description

BACKGROUND

The world suffers from millions of cases per year of Hospital Acquired Infections (“HAI's”)—also known in the medical literature as Nosocomial Infections—which may comprise infections that a patient did not have when they came into the health care facility, but acquired during treatment. Estimates of the direct costs of these infections are staggering.

With limited government spending on healthcare, the HAI's will continue to be an important issue for the government and for healthcare providers, and thus the healthcare providers may need to address this issue if they want to avoid the costs associated with HAI's consuming an increasing share of their profits.

According to the evidence from some scientific studies, an effective way to prevent HAI's is through increasing proper hand hygiene for health care workers, patients, and visitors. The literature suggests that the most effective way to prevent HAI's and/or increase hand hygiene compliance is to make hand hygiene compliance a part of the culture.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques are described herein for dispensing material using a hand hygiene apparatus. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a dispensing device configured to dispense at least some material. The material may be used for cleaning and may comprise, for example, alcohol. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a first motion sensing device configured to detect a movement. The movement may be indicative of a presence (e.g., and/or an entrance) of a user (e.g., in a room comprising the hand hygiene apparatus). In response to the detection of the movement, the first motion sensing device may activate an alert. The alert may comprise at least one of an optical alert (e.g., a light) or an auditory alert (e.g., a sound), and/or may activate an alert located on the healthcare employee. The hand hygiene apparatus may comprise a second motion sensing device configured to detect a second movement. The second movement may be indicative of the user using the hand hygiene apparatus and/or the dispensing device (e.g., to dispense the material on a hand of the user). In response to the detection of the second movement, the second motion sensing device may at least one of deactivate the alert (e.g., by turning off a light or stopping the playing of a sound) or activate a second alert (e.g., by turning on a different (e.g., color) light and/or playing a different sound).

The following description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and implementations. These are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for dispensing material for hand hygiene.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for dispensing material for hand hygiene.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary method for dispensing material for hand hygiene.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary environment for dispensing material for hand hygiene.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary environment for dispensing material for hand hygiene.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary computer-readable medium wherein processor-executable instructions configured to embody one or more of the provisions set forth herein may be comprised.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computing environment wherein one or more of the provisions set forth herein may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are illustrated in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.

A person may enter a (e.g., hospital) room to visit a patient, for example. The person may be a medical professional who is responsible for treating the patient. Alternatively, the person may be a friend, family member, or other visitor of the patient. It may be appreciated that prior to entering the room, the person may have been exposed to an infectious agent (e.g., virus, bacterium, prion or fungus, etc.). For example, the person may have touched a chair with the infectious agent while sitting in a waiting room, and/or touched food comprising the infectious agent while eating at a cafeteria. If the person enters the room to visit the patient without taking proper precautions, the person may expose the patient to the infectious agent, and may increase the probability of the patient suffering from an additional illness and/or ailment and may, for example, increase time spent in the hospital and treatment cost. It may be appreciated that a patient suffering from the additional illness and/or ailment associated with the infectious agent may have a harder time overcoming the original illness and/or ailment that prompted the patient to be in the (e.g., hospital) room (e.g., due to a weakened immune system). It may further be appreciated that the risk of the patient being exposed to the infectious agent by the person (e.g., and/or other infectious agents by other persons) may be mitigated if the person applies one or more materials (e.g., comprising alcohol, soap, etc.) (e.g., associated with hygiene). For example, the person may apply the one or more materials to one or more hands of the person (e.g., since the person may be most likely to touch the patient and/or an object near the person with the hands of the person).

Accordingly, among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques are provided herein for dispensing material using a hand hygiene apparatus. In particular, a movement (e.g., indicating that a person entered a room) may be detected by a first motion sensing device. An alert (e.g., an optical alert, an auditory alert, etc.) may be activated responsive to the detection of the movement. For example, the alert may remind a person to interact with an apparatus in order to apply one or more materials to at least a portion of the person in order to mitigate a likelihood of carrying one or more infectious agents. A second movement (e.g., indicating that the person used a dispensing device to apply hand hygiene-related material to one or more hands of the user) may be detected by a second motion sensing device. In one embodiment, the alert may be deactivated (e.g., the optical alert may be turned off and/or the auditory alert may be turned off, etc.) responsive to the detection of the second movement. For example, the alert may stop reminding the person to interact with the apparatus. In another embodiment, a second alert (e.g., a second optical alert, a second auditory alert, etc.) may be activated responsive to the detection of the second movement. For example, the second alert may indicate that the person satisfactorily interacted with the apparatus. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, the first motion sensing device may be coupled to and/or comprised in a same apparatus as the second motion sensing device, while in other embodiments, the first motion sensing device may be detached from the apparatus and/or from the second motion sensing device, and/or the second motion sensing device may be detached from the apparatus and/or from the first motion sensing device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus 100 configured for dispensing (e.g., hand hygiene-related) material. The apparatus 100 may comprise a first sensor 102. The first sensor 102 may comprise a first motion sensing device, and may be used to detect movement (e.g., in front of the first sensor 102 and/or in front of the apparatus 100). In one embodiment, the first sensor 102 may provide a beam and/or detect the movement based upon (e.g., an interaction with and/or an interruption of) the beam. In another embodiment, the first sensor 102 may detect the movement based upon radiation. For example, the first sensor 102 may comprise a passive infrared sensor. It may be appreciated that the movement may indicate that a person entered a (e.g., patient's hospital) room and/or area, for example. In some embodiments, the first sensor 102 may be attached to and/or comprised in the apparatus 100. In other embodiments, the first sensor 102 may be detached from the apparatus 100. For example, if the apparatus 100 is comprised in a room, the first sensor may be comprised in a different location in the room, and/or may be comprised in a different room.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a first alert component 106. The first alert component 106 may, for example, activate a first alert responsive to the detection of the movement by the first sensor 102. For example, the first alert may comprise an optical alert (e.g., an LED and/or other light) and/or an auditory alert (e.g., indicative of a sound of a voice, a beep, a chime, etc.) (e.g., transmitted via a speaker, for example), among other things. For example, the optical alert may comprise illumination of a light of a first color (e.g., red), and/or the auditory alert may comprise a sound of a voice requesting a user to observe (e.g., hand) hygiene-related regulations. In an embodiment, the first alert may increase in intensity (e.g., the optical alert may become brighter and/or blink at a higher rate and/or the auditory alert may grow louder, etc.) (e.g., after a threshold amount of time) (e.g., until a second movement is detected).

The apparatus 100 may comprise a dispenser 110. The dispenser 110 may, for example, comprise at least some material and/or dispense (e.g., release) the material (e.g., onto (e.g., a hand of) a user). The material may be at least partially associated with hygiene. For example, the material may comprise alcohol, soap, and/or other materials associated with the observation of hygiene. In one embodiment, the dispenser 110 may dispense the material when a person interacts (e.g., touches, pulls, presses, etc.) a physical trigger associated with the dispenser 110. In another embodiment, the dispenser 110 may dispense the material when the person interacts with a sensor that does not require the person to physically touch the sensor. For example, the dispenser 110 may dispense the material responsive to detection of movement (e.g., a waving of a hand of the person below the dispenser 110 and/or below the apparatus 100) using a beam-based sensor and/or a radiation-based sensor.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a second sensor 104. The second sensor 104 may comprise a second motion sensing device, and may be used to detect a second movement (e.g., below the second sensor 104 and/or below the apparatus 100). In one embodiment, the second sensor 104 may provide a beam and/or detect the second movement based upon (e.g., an interaction with and/or an interruption of) the beam. In another embodiment, the second sensor 104 may detect the second movement based upon radiation. For example, the second sensor 104 may comprise a passive infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the second sensor 104 may detect the second movement based upon a physical trigger. For example, the second sensor 104 may detect a pulling, a pressing, a touching, etc. of the second sensor 104 and/or (e.g., one or more other portions of) the apparatus 100 by a person. It may be appreciated that the second movement may indicate that the person used the apparatus 100 and/or the dispenser 110 (e.g., to dispense (e.g., hygiene-related) material on at least part of the person), and/or that the person at least performed an action believed to indicate a high probability (e.g., if not definite confirmation) of use of the apparatus 100 and/or the dispenser 110, for example.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a second alert component 108. The second alert component 108 may, for example, deactivate the first alert activated by the first alert component 106 responsive to the detection of the second movement by the second sensor 104. For example, the optical alert and/or the auditory alert associated with the first alert component 106 may be turned off. Alternatively and/or additionally, the second alert component 108 may, for example, activate a second alert responsive to the detection of the second movement by the second sensor 104. For example, the second alert may comprise a second optical alert (e.g., an LED and/or other light) and/or a second auditory alert (e.g., indicative of a sound of a voice, a beep, a chime, etc.) (e.g., transmitted via a speaker, for example), among other things. For example, the second optical alert may comprise illumination of a light of a second color (e.g., green), and/or the second auditory alert may comprise a sound of a voice thanking a user for observing (e.g., hand) hygiene-related regulations.

It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, the first alert component 106 may be different than the second alert component 108, while in other embodiments, the first alert component 106 may be the same as (e.g., and/or coupled to) the second alert component 108. For example, the first alert component 106 may comprise a first speaker, and the second alert component 108 may comprise the (same) first speaker. In another example, the first alert component 106 may comprise the first speaker, and the second alert component 108 may comprise a (e.g., different) second speaker. For example, the first speaker may be associated with a first sound while the second speaker may be associated with a (e.g., different) second sound. In another example, the first alert component 106 may comprise a first optical device (e.g., light source), and the second alert component 108 may comprise the (same) first optical device. In another example, the first alert component 106 may comprise the first optical device, and the second alert component 108 may comprise a (e.g., different) second optical device. For example, the first optical device may be associated with a first (e.g., colored) light while the second optical device may be associated with a (e.g., different) second (e.g., colored) light. In an embodiment, the first speaker and/or the second speaker may be comprised in and/or integrated with a speaker system in the room (e.g., a speaker system of a hospital).

It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, the first sensor 102 may be different than the second sensor 104, while in other embodiments, the first sensor 102 may be the same as (e.g., and/or coupled to) the second sensor 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an apparatus 200 configured for dispensing (e.g., hand hygiene-related) material. The apparatus 200 may comprise one or more features that may be similar one or more features of the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. For example, the apparatus 200 may comprise a first sensor 202 that may be similar, at least in part, to the first sensor 102 of apparatus 100. The apparatus 200 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a first alert component 206 that may be similar, at least in part, to the first alert component 106 of apparatus 100, for example. The apparatus 200 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a dispenser 210 that may be similar, at least in part, to the dispenser 110 of apparatus 100, for example. The apparatus 200 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second sensor 204 that may be similar, at least in part, to the second sensor 104 of apparatus 100, for example. The apparatus 200 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second alert component 208 that may be similar, at least in part, to the second alert component 108 of apparatus 100, for example.

In the apparatus 200, the second sensor 204 may be coupled (e.g., electrically, electronically and/or mechanically) with the dispenser 210. For example, the second sensor 204, which may be used to detect a second movement that causes a deactivation of a first alert and/or an activation of a second alert, may also be used to cause the dispenser 210 to dispense at least some (e.g., hygiene-related) material to a user. Alternatively and/or additionally, the second sensor 204 may be coupled (e.g., electrically, electronically and/or mechanically) to a different sensor that causes the dispenser 210 to dispense at least some (e.g., hygiene-related) material to the user (e.g., upon sensing the second movement and/or a different (e.g., third) movement).

In one embodiment, the second sensor 204 may provide a beam and/or detect the second movement based upon (e.g., an interaction with and/or an interruption of) the beam. In another embodiment, the second sensor 204 may detect the second movement based upon radiation. For example, the second sensor 204 may comprise a passive infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the second sensor 204 may detect the second movement based upon a physical trigger. For example, the second sensor 204 may detect a pulling, a pressing, a touching, etc. of the second sensor 204 and/or (e.g., one or more other portions of) the apparatus 200 by a person.

One embodiment of dispensing (e.g., hand hygiene-related) material is illustrated by an exemplary method 300 in FIG. 3. At 302, the method starts. At 304, an alert (e.g., an optical alert, an auditory alert, etc.) may be activated. The alert may be activated responsive to a detection of a movement (e.g., indicating that a person entered a room). The movement may, for example, be detected by a first motion sensing device. At 306, the alert may be deactivated (e.g., the optical alert may be turned off and/or the auditory alert may be turned off, etc.). The alert may be deactivated response to a detection of a second movement (e.g., indicating that the person used a dispensing device to apply hand hygiene-related material to one or more hands of the user). The second movement may, for example, be detected by a second motion sensing device. Alternatively and/or additionally, at 306, a second alert (e.g., a second optical alert, a second auditory alert, etc.) may be activated. The second alert may be activated responsive to the detection of the second movement. At 308, the method ends.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an environment 400 for dispensing (e.g., hand hygiene-related) material. The environment 400 may comprise a first room 402. The first room 402 may, for example, comprise a hospital room. The first room 402 may comprise a first area 404 (e.g., comprising a first bed) for a first patient and/or a second area 406 (e.g., comprising a second bed) for a second patient. The first room 402 may also comprise a doorway 408, which may be used by one or more persons to enter the first room 402, for example.

The first room 402 may comprise an apparatus 410. The apparatus 410 may be similar to the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 and/or the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2. For example, the apparatus 410 may have one or more features that may be similar one or more features of the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 and/or the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2. For example, the apparatus 410 may comprise a first sensor 414 that may be similar, at least in part, to the first sensor 102 of apparatus 100 and/or the first sensor 202 of apparatus 200. The apparatus 410 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a first alert component that may be similar, at least in part, to the first alert component 106 of apparatus 100 and/or the first alert component 206 of apparatus 200, for example. The apparatus 410 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a dispenser that may be similar, at least in part, to the dispenser 110 of apparatus 100 and/or the dispenser 210 of apparatus 200, for example. The apparatus 410 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second sensor 412 that may be similar, at least in part, to the second sensor 104 of apparatus 100 and/or the second sensor 204 of apparatus 200, for example. The apparatus 410 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second alert component that may be similar, at least in part, to the second alert component 108 of apparatus 100 and/or the second alert component 208 of apparatus 200, for example.

The first sensor 414 may, for example, comprise a first motion sensing device, and may detect a movement when a person enters the first room 402 via the doorway 408. In one embodiment, the first sensor 414 may comprise a passive infrared sensor and/or may detect the movement based upon radiation of the person (e.g., when the person is within a window of detection of the first sensor 414) and/or using infrared radiation. In another embodiment, the first sensor 414 may emit a beam 416 and/or detect the movement based upon (e.g., an interaction with and/or an interruption of) the beam 416. The beam 416 may, for example, be emitted horizontally away from a wall of the first room 402. For example, the beam 416 may be (e.g., substantially) perpendicular to the wall of the first room 402 and/or (e.g., substantially) parallel to a ceiling and/or floor of the first room 402. The beam 416 may be at a first angle away from a wall of the first room 402 that the apparatus 410 may be coupled and/or mounted to, for example. In one or more embodiments, the first angle may be less than 90 degrees, while in other embodiments, the first angle may be greater than 90 degrees. In some other embodiments, the first angle may be 90 degrees. Upon detection of the movement, the first alert component of the apparatus 410 may be activated.

The second sensor 412 may, for example, detect a second movement when the person approaches and/or uses the apparatus 410. For example, the second sensor 412 may comprise a second motion sensing device, and may be used to detect a second movement (e.g., below and/or in front of the second sensor 412 and/or below and/or in front of the apparatus 410). In one embodiment, the second sensor 412 may provide a beam 418 and/or detect the second movement based upon (e.g., an interaction with and/or an interruption of) the beam 418. The beam 418 may, for example, be emitted (e.g., substantially) vertically below the apparatus 410. For example, the beam 418 may be (e.g., substantially) parallel to the wall of the first room 402 and/or (e.g., substantially) perpendicular to a bottom portion of the apparatus 410, a ceiling and/or floor of the first room 402. The beam 418 may be at a second angle away from the bottom portion of the apparatus 410, for example. In one or more embodiments, the second angle may be less than 90 degrees, while in other embodiments, the second angle may be greater than 90 degrees. In some other embodiments, the second angle may be 90 degrees.

Alternatively and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the beam 418 may be emitted horizontally away from a wall of the first room 402. For example, the beam 418 may be (e.g., substantially) perpendicular to the wall of the first room 402 and/or (e.g., substantially) parallel to a ceiling and/or floor of the first room 402. The beam 418 may be at a third angle away from a wall of the first room 402 that the apparatus 410 may be coupled and/or mounted to, for example. In one or more embodiments, the third angle may be less than 90 degrees, while in other embodiments, the third angle may be greater than 90 degrees. In some other embodiments, the third angle may be 90 degrees.

In another embodiment, the second sensor 412 may detect the second movement based upon radiation. For example, the second sensor 412 may comprise a passive infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the second sensor 412 may detect the second movement based upon a physical trigger. For example, the second sensor 412 may detect a pulling, a pressing, a touching, etc. of the second sensor 412 and/or (e.g., one or more other portions of) the apparatus 410 by a person. Upon detection of the second movement, the second alert component of the apparatus 410 may be activated and/or the first alert component of the apparatus 410 may be deactivated.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an environment 500 for dispensing (e.g., hand hygiene-related) material. The environment 500 may comprise a first room 502. The first room 502 may, for example, comprise a hospital room. The first room 502 may comprise a first area 504 (e.g., comprising a first bed) for a first patient and/or a second area 506 (e.g., comprising a second bed) for a second patient. The first room 502 may also comprise a doorway 516, which may be used by one or more persons to enter the first room 502, for example. The environment 500 may (e.g., also) comprise a second room 518. The second room 518 may, for example, comprise another hospital room, which may, for example, be used for cleaning and/or hygiene-related purposes.

The second room 518 may comprise an apparatus 510. The apparatus 510 may be similar to the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2 and/or the apparatus 410 in FIG. 4. For example, the apparatus 510 may have one or more features that may be similar one or more features of the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2 and/or the apparatus 410 in FIG. 4. For example, the apparatus 510 may comprise a first sensor 514 that may be similar, at least in part, to the first sensor 102 of apparatus 100, the first sensor 202 of apparatus 200 and/or the first sensor 414 of apparatus 410. The apparatus 510 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a first alert component that may be similar, at least in part, to the first alert component 106 of apparatus 100, the first alert component 206 of apparatus 200 and/or the first alert component of apparatus 410, for example. The apparatus 510 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a dispenser that may be similar, at least in part, to the dispenser 110 of apparatus 100, the dispenser 210 of apparatus 200 and/or the dispenser of apparatus 410, for example. The apparatus 510 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second sensor 512 that may be similar, at least in part, to the second sensor 104 of apparatus 100, the second sensor 204 of apparatus 200 and/or the second sensor 412 of apparatus 410, for example. The apparatus 510 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise a second alert component that may be similar, at least in part, to the second alert component 108 of apparatus 100, the second alert component 208 of apparatus 200 and/or the second alert component of apparatus 410, for example.

The first sensor 514 may, for example, comprise a first motion sensing device, and may detect a movement when a person enters the second room 518 via a doorway 508. Upon detection of the movement, the first alert component of the apparatus 510 may be activated. The second sensor 512 may, for example, detect a second movement when the person approaches and/or uses the apparatus 510. Upon detection of the second movement, the second alert component of the apparatus 510 may be activated and/or the first alert component of the apparatus 510 may be deactivated. In an embodiment, the second alert component may unlock and/or open the doorway 516. That is, the person may be granted access to the first room 502 only after indicating that the person used the apparatus 510 in the second room 518. In some embodiments, an override option may be available to enable the person to access the first room 502 without using the apparatus 510 (e.g., in case of an emergency). Information (e.g., time, date, context, etc.) about instances when the override option is used may be recorded (e.g., in memory).

In one or more embodiments, one or more features may further be incorporated. For example, a hand hygiene dispensing apparatus may control a dispensing of (e.g., hygiene-related) material and may, for example, limit a frequency of dispensing of the material. In another example, an (e.g., first, second, etc.) alert component and/or an alert (e.g., an optical alert, an auditory alert, etc.) may be directed in one or more directions. The one or more directions may comprise a direction of an area of a patient and/or a direction of an area of a doorway, for example. For example, one or more optical alerts may be illuminated (e.g., mainly) in a direction of an area of a patient, while one or more auditory alerts may be played (e.g., mainly) in a direction of an area of a doorway, for example. A (e.g., physical) trigger may in some embodiments comprise a rubber band and/or a hard physical trigger. In one embodiment, an alert may comprise a message (e.g., sent via email, text message, etc.) to a user (e.g., a person who was detected by a motion sensing device and/or an administrator of the apparatus). The alert comprising the message may be sent responsive to detection of a person by a motion sensing device and/or after a determination that the person did not properly interact with the apparatus and/or comply with one or more regulations (e.g., within a threshold amount of time).

It may further be appreciated that one or more components, devices, and/or aspects disclosed herein may be (e.g., physically) coupled together, and/or may be (e.g., physically) separate. For example, one or more separate components, devices, and/or aspects may communicate using one or more wireless technologies.

In an embodiment, a first alert component may shine a first (e.g., optical) alert on a wall (e.g., in a hospital room) in a first color (e.g., red) and/or a second alert component may shine a second (e.g., optical) alert on the wall (e.g., and/or another wall) in a second color (e.g., green) different than the first color. The first color may indicate that one or more persons in a room have not yet complied with one or more hand hygiene related regulations, while the second color may indicate that (e.g., all of the) one or more persons in the room have complied with one or more hand hygiene related regulations.

An apparatus may be configured to (e.g., selectively) track and/or store one or more user interactions with the apparatus. For example, data associated with and/or representative of one or more user interactions with the apparatus may be stored in memory. In an embodiment, data associated with (e.g., merely) one or more user interactions associated with a failure to properly interact with the apparatus and/or comply with one or more regulations may be stored (e.g., while data associated with one or more user interactions associated with a successful proper interaction with the apparatus and/or compliance with the one or more regulations may not be stored). In another embodiment, at least some data may be tracked and/or stored based upon one or more users associated with one or more user interactions with the apparatus. For example, one or more users (e.g., employees of a hospital) may carry one or more tracking devices (e.g., a near field communication (NFC) device, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, a mobile phone, etc.) that may identify (e.g., to the apparatus) the one or more users (e.g., as employees of the hospital). In the example, when a first user with a tracking device is detected by (e.g., a first motion sensing device of) an apparatus, the apparatus may store, in memory, a time of the detection and/or information about how the first user interacted with the apparatus (e.g., whether and/or how quickly the first user properly interacted with the apparatus (e.g., by being detected by a second motion sensing device and/or using a dispensing device) and/or complied with regulations).

Data stored by the apparatus may be accessed (e.g., by one or more computers) via one or more wired or wireless methods, for example. In one example, data may be stored (e.g., by the apparatus) on a removable chip. In another example, the apparatus (e.g., and/or one or more other apparatuses (e.g., in one or more other rooms in a hospital)) may be connected (e.g., via a network) to one or more computers (e.g., an administrative computer of a hospital), and the data may be accessed by the one or more computers via the connection (e.g., via the network) (e.g., automatically via a feed). In another example, the apparatus may be connected to a computer via a wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth connection, and/or NFC and/or RFID.

In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise and/or be coupled to one or more (e.g., video) cameras. For example, the apparatus may be connected (e.g., via wire or wireless connection) to one or more security cameras (e.g., in a hospital). In the example, if a user interaction with the apparatus is determined to meet one or more criteria (e.g., failure to comply with regulations, etc.), the apparatus may request that at least one of the one or more security cameras record and/or store one or more images (e.g., and/or video). In another example, the apparatus may comprise a built-in camera.

It may be appreciated that one or more tablet devices may be used in association with an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be coupled to a tablet device. In another example, a tablet device may store data (e.g., images, video, audio, etc.) in association with the apparatus. In another example, a tablet device may be used by a user to identify the user to the apparatus (e.g., for purposes of tracking interactions of the user with the apparatus). In another example, a tablet device may be used (e.g., by an administrator and/or auditor) to collect data from one or more apparatuses (e.g., via wireless and/or wired connections).

In some embodiments, an apparatus may be comprised in and/or encased by a plastic and/or metal case. The apparatus may be coupled (e.g., and/or removable from) a dispensing device configured to dispense (e.g., hygiene-related) material. For example, one or more parts of the apparatus may be able to fasten to (e.g., and/or click into, strap onto, wrap around, etc.) one or more parts of the dispensing device.

Still another embodiment involves a computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to implement one or more of the techniques presented herein. An exemplary computer-readable medium that may be devised in these ways is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the implementation 600 comprises a computer-readable medium 602 (e.g., a CD-R, DVD-R, or a platter of a hard disk drive), on which is encoded computer-readable data 604. This computer-readable data 604 in turn comprises a set of computer instructions 606 configured to operate according to one or more of the principles set forth herein. In one such embodiment 600, the processor-executable computer instructions 606 may be configured to perform a method, such as at least some of the exemplary method 100 of FIG. 1, for example. In another such embodiment, the processor-executable instructions 606 may be configured to implement a system, such as at least some of the exemplary system 200 of FIG. 2, at least some of the exemplary system 300 of FIG. 3, at least some of the exemplary system 400 of FIG. 4, and/or at least some of the exemplary system 500 of FIG. 5, for example. Many such computer-readable media 602 may be devised by those of ordinary skill in the art that are configured to operate in accordance with the techniques presented herein.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system”, “interface”, and the like are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a controller and the controller can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.

Furthermore, the claimed subject matter may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 7 and the following discussion provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment to implement embodiments of one or more of the provisions set forth herein. The operating environment of FIG. 7 is only one example of a suitable operating environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the operating environment. Example computing devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile devices (such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), media players, and the like), multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Although not required, embodiments are described in the general context of “computer readable instructions” being executed by one or more computing devices. Computer readable instructions may be distributed via computer readable media (discussed below). Computer readable instructions may be implemented as program modules, such as functions, objects, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), data structures, and the like, that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the computer readable instructions may be combined or distributed as desired in various environments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a system 700 comprising a computing device 702 configured to implement one or more embodiments provided herein. In one configuration, computing device 702 includes at least one processing unit 706 and memory 708. Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device, memory 708 may be volatile (such as RAM, for example), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc., for example), or some combination of the two. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 7 by dashed line 704.

In other embodiments, device 702 may include additional features and/or functionality. For example, device 702 may also include additional storage (e.g., removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic storage, optical storage, and the like. Such additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 7 by storage 710. In one embodiment, computer readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein may be in storage 710. Storage 710 may also store other computer readable instructions to implement an operating system, an application program, and the like. Computer readable instructions may be loaded in memory 708 for execution by processing unit 706, for example.

The term “computer readable media” as used herein includes computer storage media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions or other data. Memory 708 and storage 710 are examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by device 702. Any such computer storage media may be part of device 702.

Device 702 may also include communication connection(s) 716 that allows device 702 to communicate with other devices. Communication connection(s) 716 may include, but is not limited to, a modem, a Network Interface Card (NIC), an integrated network interface, a radio frequency transmitter/receiver, an infrared port, a USB connection, or other interfaces for connecting computing device 702 to other computing devices. Communication connection(s) 716 may include a wired connection or a wireless connection. Communication connection(s) 716 may transmit and/or receive communication media.

The term “computer readable media” may include communication media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions or other data in a “modulated data signal” such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may include a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.

Device 702 may include input device(s) 714 such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, infrared cameras, video input devices, and/or any other input device. Output device(s) 712 such as one or more displays, speakers, printers, and/or any other output device may also be included in device 702. Input device(s) 714 and output device(s) 712 may be connected to device 702 via a wired connection, wireless connection, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, an input device or an output device from another computing device may be used as input device(s) 714 or output device(s) 712 for computing device 702.

Components of computing device 702 may be connected by various interconnects, such as a bus. Such interconnects may include a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), such as PCI Express, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), firewire (IEEE 1394), an optical bus structure, and the like. In another embodiment, components of computing device 702 may be interconnected by a network. For example, memory 708 may be comprised of multiple physical memory units located in different physical locations interconnected by a network.

Those skilled in the art will realize that storage devices utilized to store computer readable instructions may be distributed across a network. For example, a computing device 720 accessible via a network 718 may store computer readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein. Computing device 702 may access computing device 720 and download a part or all of the computer readable instructions for execution. Alternatively, computing device 702 may download pieces of the computer readable instructions, as needed, or some instructions may be executed at computing device 702 and some at computing device 720.

Various operations of embodiments are provided herein. In one embodiment, one or more of the operations described may constitute computer readable instructions stored on one or more computer readable media, which if executed by a computing device, will cause the computing device to perform the operations described. The order in which some or all of the operations are described should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated by one skilled in the art having the benefit of this description. Further, it will be understood that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment provided herein.

Moreover, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims may generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Also, at least one of A and B or the like generally means A or B or both A and B.

Although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art based at least in part upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure includes all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary implementations of the disclosure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing at least some material, comprising:

a first motion sensing device configured to activate an alert responsive to detecting a movement; and

a second motion sensing device configured to, responsive to detecting a second movement, at least one of: deactivate the alert; or activate a second alert.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the alert comprising at least one of:

an optical alert; or

an auditory alert.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a dispensing device configured to dispense at least some material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the second movement detected by the second motion sensing device when a user activates the dispensing device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, the activating of the dispensing device by the user comprising at least one of:

the second movement detected by the second motion sensing device; or

an activation by the user of a physical trigger on the dispensing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, at least one of:

the first motion sensing device configured to detect the first movement based upon at least one of a first beam or a first radiation; or

the second motion sensing device configured to detect the second movement based upon at least one of a second beam, a second radiation or a physical trigger.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, at least one of the first motion sensing device or the second motion sensing device comprising a passive infrared sensor.

8. A method for dispensing at least some material, comprising:

activating an alert responsive to detecting a movement; and

deactivating the alert or activating a second alert responsive to detecting a second movement.

9. The method of claim 8, the alert comprising at least one of:

an optical alert; or

an auditory alert.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising using a dispensing device to dispense at least some material.

11. The method of claim 10, the second movement detected by the second motion sensing device when a user activates the dispensing device.

12. The method of claim 11, the activating of the dispensing device by the user comprising at least one of:

the second movement detected by the second motion sensing device; or

an activation by the user of a physical trigger on the dispensing device.

13. The method of claim 8, at least one of:

the first motion sensing device configured to detect the first movement based upon at least one of a first beam or a first radiation; or

the second motion sensing device configured to detect the second movement based upon at least one of a second beam, a second radiation or a physical trigger.

14. The method of claim 13, at least one of the first motion sensing device or the second motion sensing device comprising a passive infrared sensor.

15. A hand hygiene apparatus for dispensing at least some material, comprising:

a dispensing device configured to dispense at least some material;

a first motion sensing device configured to activate an alert comprising at least one of an optical alert or an auditory alert responsive to detecting a movement based upon at least one of a first beam or a first radiation; and

a second motion sensing device configured to, responsive to detecting a second movement when a user activates the dispensing device based upon at least one of a second beam, a second radiation or a physical trigger, at least one of: deactivate the alert; or activate a second alert comprising at least one of a second optical alert or a second auditory alert, the activating of the dispensing device by the user comprising at least one of: the second movement detected by the second motion sensing device; or an activation by the user of a physical trigger on the dispensing device.

16. The hand hygiene apparatus of claim 15, at least one of the first motion sensing device or the second motion sensing device comprising a passive infrared sensor.

17. The hand hygiene apparatus of claim 15, the auditory alert indicative of at least one of a voice, a beep or a chime.

18. The hand hygiene apparatus of claim 15, the apparatus coupled to a wall.

19. The hand hygiene apparatus of claim 18, the optical alert configured to shine on the wall.

20. The hand hygiene apparatus of claim 18, the optical alert configured to shine on the wall in a first color, the second optical alert configured to shine on the wall in a second color different than the first color.