Method and apparatus for determining the operational state of a contact device
The present invention discloses a method and an analysis apparatus for determining an operational state of a contact device. The method comprising detecting a change in one of temperature and/or proximity data of a contact surface of the contact device with reference to a baseline value. Thereafter, the method comprising generating at least one of temperature profile and proximity profile from the detected change in the at least one of temperature and/or proximity data of the contact surface of the contact device and the baseline value. Lastly, the method comprising comparing the at least one of temperature profile and/or proximity profile with corresponding standard profiles stored in a memory of an analysis apparatus and determining the operational state of the contact device based on the comparison. The contact device may be one of a contact surface, a stethoscope, or a surface monitor.
1 . A stethoscope having an indication of clean status comprising:
a contact surface on the stethoscope being configured to contact a body surface;
one or more temperature sensors mounted on the contact surface of the stethoscope, and being configured to detect a change of temperature;
an analysis apparatus communicatively coupled to the one or more temperature sensors, and a display, the analysis apparatus comprising: a processor, and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores a plurality of predetermined standard profiles of a series of temperature changes in a predetermined time based on a phase change of a cleaning solution on a contact surface of the stethoscope and processor-executable instructions, which on execution, cause the processor to:
determine a baseline value of temperature for an environment of the stethoscope;
store the baseline value of temperature for the environment;
detect, by the one or more temperature sensors, a series of temperature changes in a predetermined time on data of the contact surface of the stethoscope;
analyze the series of temperature changes detected;
determine a temperature profile with a corresponding standard profiles stored in the memory;
determine the clean status of the stethoscope as a clean state when a match exists between the temperature profile and one of the plurality of a corresponding standard profile;
display, by at least one visual indicator on the display, a clean status as a clean state of the stethoscope and is ready for use, wherein use of the stethoscope will prevent the spread of infection:
detect, by the one or more temperature sensors, the temperature of the environment has returned to the baseline value:
further detect, by the one or more temperature sensors, a temperature of the contact surface has changed from the baseline value indicative of the stethoscope in use and not clean; and
activate, the at least one visual indicator to indicate the clean status as an unclean state of the stethoscope.