Systems and methods for applying antimicrobial hand barrier
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for applying an antimicrobial barrier to a hand include a barrier precursor material, a reservoir for the barrier precursor material, and a dispenser connected to the reservoir and configured to dispense the barrier precursor material onto a hand positioned adjacent the dispenser. The barrier precursor material cures and adheres to the hand to form an antimicrobial barrier on the hand. The antimicrobial barrier does not retain or transfer microorganisms from an object grasped by the hand.
1. A system for applying an antimicrobial barrier to a hand, the system comprising:
a barrier precursor material;
a reservoir for the barrier precursor material;
a housing including at least one wall defining a cavity arranged to receive the hand of a person and an opening for the hand to be positioned through when the person is next to and on an exterior of the housing;
a sensor configured to measure a length, a width, and a depth of a hand positioned adjacent the system;
a controller connected to the sensor and configured to select a size and a shape of an antimicrobial barrier required to cover the hand based on information from the sensor;
a dispenser connected to the reservoir and configured to dispense the barrier precursor material onto the hand of the person when the person is next to and on the exterior of the housing, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the dispenser based on the size and shape of the antimicrobial barrier selected by the controller, wherein the barrier precursor material cures and adheres to the hand to form the antimicrobial barrier on the hand, wherein the antimicrobial barrier does not retain or transfer microorganisms from an object grasped by the hand, wherein the antimicrobial barrier has a first thickness in a first area of the hand and a second thickness in a second area of the hand, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness to provide increased protection for the second area of the hand; and
a user interface configured to send information to the controller, wherein the information includes at least one of user credentials or payment information, and wherein the controller is configured to compare the information received from the user interface to criteria stored in the controller and restrict access to the antimicrobial barrier based on the comparison.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a door to selectively close the opening, wherein the door is in an open position when the dispenser dispenses the barrier precursor material onto the hand, and wherein the controller operates the door to restrict access to the cavity based on the comparison of the information received from the user interface and the criteria.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the barrier precursor material comprises a solution comprising additives, an oil, an adhesive, and a solvent, and is free from skin irritants.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the solution is configured to cure in two seconds or less after being dispensed onto the hand.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the barrier precursor material is biodegradable.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes at least one nozzle configured to spray the barrier precursor material onto the hand, a pump, and a motor, wherein the controller operates the motor and the pump to draw the barrier precursor material from the reservoir to supply the barrier precursor material to the nozzle to spray onto the hand.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an indicator connected to the reservoir and configured to provide an indication of an amount of barrier precursor material in the reservoir.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial barrier covers the entirety of the hand.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine if the hand is removed from the cavity before the dispenser dispenses the barrier precursor material onto the hand.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect and scan the hand, and wherein the controller is configured to determine if the hand is ready for the dispenser to dispense the barrier precursor material.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to generate an image of the hand, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the size and shape of the antimicrobial barrier to cover the hand based on the image of the hand.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine if the barrier precursor material is cured to form the antimicrobial barrier before the hand is moved away from the dispenser; and
provide an alert if the hand is moved away from the dispenser before the barrier precursor material is cured.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial barrier is transparent.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are less than 1 millimeter.
15. A method of applying an antimicrobial barrier to a hand, said method comprising:
receiving a user input at a user interface configured to send information to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to compare the information received from the user interface to criteria stored in the controller and restrict access to the antimicrobial barrier based on the comparison;
detecting a hand positioned through an opening defined by at least one wall of a housing, the housing including the at least one wall defining a cavity arranged to receive the hand of a person and the opening for the hand to be positioned through when the person is next to and on an exterior of the housing, wherein a dispenser is connected to a reservoir of barrier precursor material and arranged to dispense the barrier precursor material onto the hand of the person when the person is next to and on the exterior of the housing;
measuring, via a sensor, a length, a width, and a depth of the hand;
selecting, via controller connected to the sensor, a size and a shape of an antimicrobial barrier to cover the hand based on information from the sensor;
dispensing, via the dispenser, the barrier precursor material onto the hand positioned adjacent the dispenser, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the dispenser based on the size and shape of the antimicrobial barrier determined by the controller, wherein the barrier precursor material cures and adheres to the hand to form an antimicrobial hand barrier on the hand after the barrier precursor material is dispensed onto the hand by the dispenser, wherein the antimicrobial hand barrier does not retain or transfer microorganisms from an object grasped by the hand, wherein the antimicrobial barrier has a first thickness in a first area of the hand and a second thickness in a second area of the hand, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness to provide increased protection for the second area of the hand;
determining if the barrier precursor material is cured to form the antimicrobial hand barrier before the hand is moved away from the dispenser; and
providing an alert if the hand is moved away from the dispenser before the barrier precursor material is cured.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an indication when the barrier precursor material has cured to form the antimicrobial barrier on the hand, wherein the barrier precursor material is configured to cure in two seconds or less after being dispensed onto the hand.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein dispensing the barrier precursor material onto the hand comprises spraying the barrier precursor material onto the hand using at least one nozzle.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles positioned on opposite sides of the hand, wherein spraying the barrier precursor material onto the hand using the at least one nozzle includes spraying the barrier precursor material onto opposite sides of the hand simultaneously using the plurality of nozzles.
19. A system for applying an antimicrobial barrier to a hand, the system comprising:
a reservoir;
a housing including at least one wall defining a cavity arranged to receive the hand of a person and an opening for the hand to be positioned through when the person is next to and on an exterior of the housing;
a sensor configured to measure a length, a width, and a depth of hand positioned in the cavity;
a controller connected to the sensor and configured to select a size and a shape of an antimicrobial barrier required to cover the hand based on information from the sensor;
a user interface configured to send information to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to compare the information received from the user interface to criteria stored in the controller and restrict access to the antimicrobial barrier based on the comparison;
a dispenser connected to the reservoir and the controller; and
an antimicrobial barrier configured to adhere to a hand, wherein the antimicrobial barrier has the size and the shape selected by the controller to cover the hand based on information from the sensor, wherein the antimicrobial barrier does not retain or transfer microorganisms from an object grasped by the hand, wherein the antimicrobial barrier has a first thickness in a first area of the hand and a second thickness in a second area of the hand, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness to provide increased protection for the second area of the hand, wherein the hand barrier is transparent, and wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are less than 1 millimeter, wherein the dispenser is arranged to dispense a barrier precursor material or the antimicrobial barrier onto the hand of the person when the person is next to and on the exterior of the housing.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the housing further includes a door to selectively close the opening, wherein the controller operates the door to restrict access to the cavity based on the comparison of the information received from the user interface and the criteria.