Contamination avoiding device

Abstract

A device for minimizing the absorption of pathogens collected on a person's hands by contact between the hand and the face of said person, includes a barrier placed in the crook of the elbow that limits the flexion of the elbow as the hand approaches the face. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a proximity sensor is positioned on a part of the person's body to sense and warn the person that a hand is about to touch the face. An audio or visual warning signal or a mechanical or electrical stimulation may be triggered by the output of the sensor. A method is also provided for progressively weaning the person from reliance on said devices.

1 . A device for minimizing the absorption of pathogens by a person through contact of said person's: face by said person's hand, which comprises:
 an activatable sensory stimulus element;   a detector adapted to detect two or more orientation conditions of said hand; and   a trigger responsive to said detector, said trigger being adapted to selectively activate said stimulus element upon detection of each of said conditions.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said orientation conditions comprise an event selected from the group consisting of:
 a relative location between said hand and said face being less than a first given distance;   a relative location between said hand and said face being less than a first given distance for a given time period; and,   a relative location between said hand and said face being less than a second given distance which is less than said first given distance.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said detector comprises: a proximity sensor for sensing a distance between said hand and said face. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said detector further comprises a timer associated with said proximity sensor for tracking a duration that said distance is less than or equal to a given distance. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said proximity sensor is mounted proximal said person's face. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said detector comprises a position sensor mounted on one of said person's forearms, wherein said sensor is positioned to detect a substantially vertical orientation of said forearm. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said activatable sensory stimulus element comprises a first stimulus generator selected from the group consisting of:
 an audible signal generator;   an electrical shock generator;   a pressure inducing mechanism;   a pain inducing mechanism; and,   a visual indicator.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , which further comprises a second stimulus generator selected from the group consisting of:
 an audible signal generator;   an electrical shock generator;   a pressure inducing mechanism;   a pain inducing mechanism; and,   a visual indicator.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said first stimulus generator creates a stimulus different from said second stimulus generator. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said stimulus element generates a first stimulus in response to said detector detecting a first of said orientation conditions, and wherein said stimulus element generates a second stimulus in response to said detector detecting a second of said orientation conditions; wherein said first stimulus is different from said second stimulus. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said first stimulus differs from said second stimulus in duration, intensity, or type. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises: means for adjusting an intensity output of a sensory stimulus generated by said activatable sensory stimulus element. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein an intensity of a sensory stimulus of said activatable sensory stimulus element is made proportional to said distance. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said activatable sensory stimulus element comprises means for limiting the range of movement of said hand toward said face. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said means for limiting comprise:
 a hinge having first and second wings rotatively joined at a fulcrum point, said first wing being secured to a forearm of said person, said second wing being secured to an upper arm of said person, and said fulcrum point being placed over an antecubital fossa between said forearm and upper arm; and   means for restricting the range of rotation of said hinge.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said means for limiting comprise:
 a hinge having first and second wings rotatively joined at a fulcrum point;   said first wing being secured to a forearm of said person, said second wing being secured to an upper arm of said person, and said fulcrum point being placed over an antecubital fossa between said forearm and upper arm;   means for restricting the range of rotation of said hinge;   wherein, said means for deterring comprise:
 an E.M.R. emitter and an E.M.R. detector mounted on alternate ones of said wings; and 
 means for signaling to said person when said detector senses a given E.M.R. level from said emitter. 
   
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said means for limiting comprise a resiliently compressible member placed over the antecubital fossa of said arm. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said member comprises a hermetically sealed and inflated bladder. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to fit over the upper part of one each of said person's forearm, elbow and lower part of arm;   a cable anchored at one end to said upper part and at an opposite end to said lower part, and passing behind said elbow; and   means for detecting tension of said cable.