Electronically monitored and portable point-of-care hand hygiene dispenser having security features

Abstract

Various embodiments of a point-of-care hygiene dispenser and an electronic hand hygiene event monitoring system are disclosed. One embodiment is directed to point-of-care dispenser and a corresponding electronic monitoring system, wherein the point-of-care dispenser is movable between predetermined zones of interest. Another embodiment is directed to a secure point-of-care dispenser having corresponding dispenser cover and main body interlocks. A still further embodiment is directed to point-of-care dispensing system comprising a point-of-care dispenser having a dispenser cover and a main body, a locking mechanism configured to secure the dispenser covers with the main body in a closed condition, and a docking unit configured for mounting with the point-of-care dispenser.

1 . An electronic hand hygiene event monitoring system comprising:
 a point-of-care dispenser movable between predetermined zones of interest, actuation of the point-of-care dispenser resulting in an RF transmission event at a first power level having a transmission range generally limited to the predetermined zone of interest in which the point-of-care dispenser has been actuated; and   a plurality of RF transceivers disposed in each of the predetermined zones of interest, wherein each RF transceiver is configured to receive the RF transmission events from a point-of-care dispenser in the respective predetermined zone of interest, and to transmit a further RF signal at a second power level having a transmission range extending beyond the pre-determined zone of interest.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of RF transceivers are at a fixed location within the respective predetermined zone of interest. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of RF transceivers is a fixed point-of-care dispenser disposed within a respective predetermined zone of interest. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of RF transceivers is a hub disposed within a respective predetermined zone of interest. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of RF transceivers is a gateway at a fixed location within a respective predetermined zone of interest. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the point-of-care dispenser is configured for mounting to a patient bed. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the point-of-care dispenser is configured for docking with a docking unit. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the predetermined zones of interest include a respective docking unit. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the point-of-care dispenser has transmission range between about 1 meter and 3 meters. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic hygiene event monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of RF transceivers each have a transmission range between about 30 meters and 60 meters. 
     
     
         11 . A point-of-care dispenser comprising:
 a main body having an interior defining a hand hygiene cartridge chamber;   a dispenser cover secured with the main body for pivotal movement of the dispenser cover between an open condition with respect to the main body, and a closed condition with respect to the main body;   at least one main body interlock secured to the main body, wherein the at least one body interlock includes an undercut feature; and   at least one dispenser cover interlock secured to the dispenser cover, wherein the at least one dispenser cover includes an undercut feature, wherein the undercut features of the at least one dispenser cover interlock and the at least one main body interlock engage one another when the dispenser cover is in a closed position with respect to the main body, and wherein engagement between the undercut features increases in response to an increase in a prying force used to move the dispenser cover from the closed condition to the open condition.   
     
     
         12 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one main body interlock comprises:
 a lock spring; and   a locking arm including,
 a rear portion configured to engage the lock spring, 
 a pivot portion configured to allow rotation of the locking arm about a pivot axis, 
 a hook element formed proximate a front portion of the arm, and 
 a vertical opening extending at least partially through the locking arm proximate the hook element. 
   
     
     
         13 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 12 , further comprising a key barrel extending from the pivot portion of the locking arm toward the exterior of the main body where it may accept key. 
     
     
         14 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the key barrel is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         15 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the at least one main body interlock and the at least one dispenser cover interlock include camming surfaces configured to smoothly engage one another as the dispenser cover is moved from the open condition to the closed condition. 
     
     
         16 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the camming surfaces are configured to terminate engagement with one another once the dispenser cover is secured to the main body in the closed condition. 
     
     
         17 . The point-of-care dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser cover interlock comprises:
 a pair of parallel sidewalls extending toward the rear of the dispenser cover and terminating at a rectangular opening, wherein the regular opening is configured to accept the hook element; and   a crossbar disposed proximate a lower edge of the rectangular opening to form the dispenser cover interlock undercut, wherein dispenser cover interlock undercut is configured to engage the vertical opening of the locking arm.   
     
     
         18 . A point-of-care dispensing system comprising:
 a point-of-care dispenser having a dispenser cover and a main body;   a locking mechanism configured to secure the dispenser cover with the main body in a closed condition, wherein the locking mechanism is principally disposed in an interior of the point-of-care dispenser when the dispenser cover is secured with the main body in the closed condition; and   a docking unit configured for mounting with the point-of-care dispenser, the docking unit and point-of-care dispenser being interconnected with a further locking mechanism that is only accessible for release of the point-of-care dispenser from the docking unit when the dispenser cover and main body are in an open state.   
     
     
         19 . The point-of-care dispenser system of  claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an interlocking tab and tab opening. 
     
     
         20 . The point-of-care dispenser system of  claim 19 , wherein the interlocking tab and opening engage one another at an undercut.