Systems and methods for managing device sanitization

Abstract

A sanitization system includes a sanitization manager and one or more sanitization stations. The sanitization manager monitors portable devices (PDs), and schedules sanitization operations for the PDs based on, inter alia, a sanitization policy. The sanitization policy may require a PD to be sanitized based on a time elapsed since a last time the PD was sanitized and/or potential contamination of the PD (e.g., based on PD usage, location, patient exposure, and/or the like). The sanitization stations may be configured to notify the sanitization manager of sanitization operations performed on respective PDs.

1 . An apparatus for sanitizing a portable device, comprising:
 an enclosure comprising an interior compartment configured to receive the portable device;   a front panel to provide access to the interior compartment, the front panel comprising an interior surface that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation;   a hinge coupling the front panel to a bottom wall of the enclosure, the front panel to rotate relative to the enclosure about a fixed axis of rotation of the hinge, the front panel selectively rotating between an opened and closed position;   wherein when the front panel is in the closed position, the interior surface of the front panel secures the portable device in a raised position, and when the front panel is in the opened position, the interior surface of the front panel supports the portable device in a reclined position; and   one or more emitters configured to emit electro-optical radiation into the interior compartment, wherein at least one emitter is configured to emit the electro-optical radiation into the interior compartment through the interior surface of the front panel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is configured to stabilize the portable device while rotating between an opened and closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel further comprises a guide structure that does not interfere with the ultraviolet radiation to stabilize the portable device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel further comprises a slot to stabilize the portable device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel further comprises a series of grooves to stabilize the portable device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel further comprises a high friction surface to stabilize the portable device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in the raised position, the portable device is at an angle relative to the bottom wall of the enclosure, such that the front panel supports the portable device in the raised position. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for sanitizing a portable device, comprising:
 an enclosure comprising an interior compartment configured to receive a portable device;   one or more emitters configured to emit electro-optical radiation into the interior compartment;   a support configured to maintain the plurality of portable devices such that substantially an entire surface of each of the plurality of portable devices is exposed to the electro-optical radiation emitted by the one or more emitters, the support comprising a front panel to provide access to the interior compartment, the front panel comprising an interior surface that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation;   an interface to receive touchless input from a user; and   an actuator to open the enclosure in response to a touchless user input.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a hinge coupling the front panel to a bottom wall of the enclosure, the front panel to rotate relative to the enclosure about a fixed axis of rotation of the hinge, the front panel selectively rotating between an opened and closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the interface comprises a sensor to detect movement outside of the interior compartment, wherein the actuator is configured to open the enclosure in response to the sensor detecting a predetermined movement. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A system for sanitizing a plurality of portable devices, comprising:
 at least one sanitizing station comprising:   an enclosure comprising an interior compartment configured to receive at least one of the plurality of portable devices;   one or more emitters configured to emit electro-optical radiation into the interior compartment; and   a server in communication with the plurality of portable devices and the at least one sanitizing station, the server comprising:   a processor, and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations to alert a user of a need to sanitize one of the plurality of portable devices, the operations comprising:
 monitoring one or more conditions of each of the plurality of portable devices, 
 determining, based on the one or more one or more conditions, that a first portable device requires sanitization according to one or more sanitizing rules, and 
 instructing the user to place the first portable device in the at least one sanitizing station. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sanitizing station further comprises:
 a device detector to identify a received portable device; and   a transmitter to send a signal that notifies the server the identity of the received portable device.   
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the operations of the server further comprise determining that a portable device requires sanitization in response to one or more of: a time since a last sanitization operation was performed on the portable device, a location of the portable device, a patient in the vicinity of the portable device, and a task associated with the portable device. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the operations of the server further comprise receiving location information for each of the plurality of portable devices, and wherein the sanitizing rules define locations that require sanitization. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the sanitizing rules define a sanitation schedule based on location. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein instructing the user comprises sending a signal to the first portable device, the signal causing the first portable device to alert the user of a sanitization requirement. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the signal causes the first portable device to display a warning. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the signal causes the first portable device to emit an audible sound. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the audible sound is persistent until the first portable device is removed from a location. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the signal causes the first portable device to lock.