The present invention relates to a method and device for disinfecting one or more hands of a user. Particularly to a device and method for the removal or neutralisation of pathogens on the hands of a user.

A pathogen is a biocidal agent that causes disease or illness to its host. Pathogens can be generally categorised into one of viral, bacterial or fungal, and are responsible for a huge number of illnesses and fatalities amongst humans. Pathogens affect the health of humans when they enter the body, which can occur in many known ways such as via the mouth and nose and via open wounds on the human body.

Pathogens that can live outside a host on a benign substrate present a high likelihood of being passed from host to host. It is well documented that one of the most common ways that such a transfer of pathogens occurs in humans is through contact of the pathogen with the hands. Hand disinfection is therefore of utmost importance to prevent the spread of pathogens.

In the healthcare environment, where the existence of pathogens is increased, the need to frequently disinfect hands is paramount to curtail the spread of infection and disease. Indeed health workers are advised to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of pathogens among patients.

One of the problems associated with hand washing is the time and effort taken to undertake the procedure. Although hand washing and drying can be efficiently undertaken in only about one to two minutes, in a busy healthcare situation, the frequency with which the hands should be disinfected means that the hands should be washed many times an hour, which leads to a large overall drain on a health workers time. Furthermore, repeated washing and scrubbing of the hands with soap and water can lead to the hands being damaged and sensitive which disincentives people to frequently wash their hands.

It is an object of aspects of the present invention to provide a solution to the above mentioned or other problems. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand disinfection device comprising a disinfection chamber into which one or more of a user's hands may be placed, the device further comprising means to cause an atomised liquid disinfection agent to enter the disinfection chamber to thereby disinfect a user's hands, in use.

Preferably, the disinfection chamber comprises an opening to thereby allow one or more hand of a user access there into. Preferably, the opening is generally kidney shaped.

Preferably, the disinfection chamber is generally egg shaped. Preferably, the disinfection chamber generally has the shape of an oblate spheroid. The chamber may be spherical. Preferably, the chamber does not comprise any internal vertices therein.

Preferably, the device further comprises detection means operable to detect the presence of one or more of a user's hands in the disinfection chamber. The detection means may comprise one or more sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the detection means comprises an infra red sensor.

Preferably, the atomised liquid disinfection agent is caused to enter the disinfection chamber in response to the detection of one or more of a user's hands in the disinfection chamber via the detection means. Preferably, the device further comprises atomising means operable to provide an atomised liquid disinfectant agent from a source of a disinfectant agent. Preferably, the atomising means comprises one or more ultra sonic transducer.

Preferably, the ultrasonic transducer operates at a frequency of between about 1 and 2 MHz, more preferably between about 1 .5 and 1.8 MHz and most preferably between about 1.6 and 1 .7 MHz.

In a most preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer operates at a frequency of about 1.65 MHz. Preferably, the atomising means is operable to atomise the liquid disinfectant at a rate of between about 100 and 500cc/hour, more preferably between about 200 and 400 cc/hour. Preferably, the device comprises storage means for storing a source of a disinfection agent. The storage means may comprise a reservoir.

Preferably, the device comprises one or more circulation enhancing device, which may be arranged to cause or enhance the circulation of the atomised liquid disinfection agent within the disinfection chamber. The circulation enhancing device may comprise a fan, which may be electronically operated.

The circulation enhancing device may be situated adjacent to the storage means. The flow of air emanating from the circulation enhancing device may be directed to pass over the atomised liquid disinfection agent.

Preferably, the atomised liquid disinfection agent has an average droplet size of less than about 20μm, more preferably less than about 15μm and most preferably less than about 10μm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the atomised liquid disinfection agent has an average droplet size of less than about 5μm.

Preferably, the atomised liquid disinfection agent has an average droplet size of between about 0.1 to 20μm, more preferably, between about 0.5 to 10μm and most preferably between about 0.5 and 4μm

The average droplet size may be measured using known techniques. For example, the average droplet size may be measured using a Malvern® droplet size analyser.

Preferably, the disinfection agent comprises a first biocidal agent.

Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises at least one emulsifying agent.

Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant.

Preferably, the emulsifying agent comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant.

Preferably, the at least one emulsifying agent comprises one or more fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether. Preferably, the at least one emulsifying agent comprises the polyoxyethylene ether of a mixture of fatty alcohols, which fatty alcohols are preferably C ₁₀ to C ₂₅ alcohols, more preferably Ci ₅ to C ₂₀ alcohols. Preferably, the at least one emulsifier comprises the polyoxyethylene ether of a mixture fatty alcohols, wherein the average number of ethylene oxide residues in the polyoxyethylene chain is between about 5 and 50, more preferably, between about 15 and 35, more preferably between about 20 and 30 and most preferably about 25.

Preferably, the at least one emulsifying agent is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 5 and 25% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one emulsifying agent is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 10 and 20% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one emulsifying agent is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 12.5 and 17.5% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one emulsifying agent is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of about 15% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent).

Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises a source of ehtylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). For example, preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises a salt of EDTA, such as the tetrasodium salt thereof.

Preferably, the source of EDTA is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 5 and 30% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the source of EDTA is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 10 and 25% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the source of EDTA is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 15 and 20% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the source of EDTA is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of about 17.5% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises at least one carbonate. Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises at least one carbonate salt, which may be, for example, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

Preferably, the at least one carbonate is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount between about 5 and 25% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least are of carbonate is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 10 and 20% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one carbonate is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of between about 12.5 and 17.5% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent ). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one carbonate is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of about 15% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent ).

Preferably, the first biocidal agent comprises at least one alcohol. Preferably, the at least one alcohol is optionally substituted, preferably by an amino group. Preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises an optionally substituted C1 -C6 alcohol. More preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises an optionally substituted C2 to C4 alcohol. More preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises an optionally substituted C2 alcohol. Preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises 2-aminoethanol.

Preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount between about 10 and 40% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount between about 15 and 35% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount between about 20 and 30% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount between about 21 and 25% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one alcohol is present in the first biocidal agent in an amount of about 23.5% (by total weight of the first biocidal agent). The disinfection agent may alternatively or additionally comprise a second biocidal agent.

Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one oxidising agent. Preferably, the at least on oxidising agent comprises a source of chlorine dioxide.

Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound. Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one halide salt of a quaternary ammonium compound, which is preferably a fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide salt. Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises a source of at least one dialkyl dimethyl ammonium moiety, for example, a halide salt thereof. Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises a source of a didecyl dimethyl ammonium moiety, for example a halide salt thereof, such as didecyl dimethyl chloride.

Preferably, the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 1 % and 15% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 2% and 10% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 4% and 8% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount of about 6% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one metal salt. Preferably, the at least one metal salt is a salt of any of the following metals: lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium or calcium. Preferably, the at least one metal salt is a metal halide salt, which metal halide salt may be any of fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one metal salt comprises potassium chloride.

Preferably, the at least one metal salt is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 0.1 to 10% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one metal salt is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 0.3 to 5% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). More preferably, the at least one metal salt is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 0.5 to 2% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one metal salt is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount of about 1 % (by total weight of the second biocidal agent).

Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one alcohol. Preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises 1 , 2 or 3 hydroxyl functional groups. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one alcohol comprises at least one C1 to C6 organic moiety being substituted with 1 to 3 hydroxyl functional groups. More preferably, the at least one alcohol comprises at least one C2 to C4 organic moiety being substituted with a single hydroxyl functional groups. For example, preferably the at least one alcohol comprises isopropanol.

Preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 5% and 20% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent).

More preferably, the at least one alcohol is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 10% and 15% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment the at least one alcohol is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount of about 12.5% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent).

Preferably, the second biocidal agent comprises at least one surfactant.

Preferably, the at least one surfactant is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 5 and 25% (of the total weight of the second biocidal agent).

More preferably, the at least one surfactant is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 10 and 20% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent).

More preferably, the at least one surfactant is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount between about 14 and 18% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent). In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one surfactant is present in the second biocidal agent in an amount of about 16% (by total weight of the second biocidal agent).

It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the disinfection agent of the present invention may contain the first biocidal agent therein, the second biocidal agent therein, or both biocidal agents therein.

General references herein to "the biocidal agent" include references to both the "first biocidal agent" and the "second biocidal agent".

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of hand disinfection, the method comprising the steps of causing an atomised liquid disinfection agent to enter a disinfection chamber, placing one or more hand into the disinfection chamber to thereby cause the atomised liquid disinfection agent to contact the or each hand. The method may require that the or each hand is resident in the disinfection chamber for a disinfection period, which may be between about 1 and 120 seconds. Preferably, the disinfection period is less than about 60 seconds, more preferably less than about 40 seconds.

The method may comprise the step of using different disinfection agents for different instances of hand disinfection. For example, the method may comprise the use of a first disinfection agent in certain instances, and an alternative disinfection agent in other instances.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of alternating disinfection agents on a week by week basis. In this manner, the likelihood of pathogens developing a resistance to certain disinfectants could be alleviated. All of the features contained herein may be combined with any of the above aspects and in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a hand disinfection device;

Figure 2 shows a side cross sectional view of a hand disinfection device;

Figure 3 shows a front view of a hand disinfection device;

Figure 4 shows a partial cross sectional view of a hand disinfection device from above;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of an atomising unit of a hand disinfection device;

Figure 6 shows a front cross sectional view of an atomising unit of a hand disinfection device; Figure 7 shows a rear partial cross sectional view of an atomising unit of a hand disinfection device;

Figure 8 shows a side cross sectional view of an atomising unit of a hand disinfection device; and

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a disinfection chamber.

Referring first to figures 1 to 4, there is shown a hand disinfection device 102 of the present invention. The device 102 comprises a generally rectilinear housing 104, having a disinfection chamber 106 partially contained therein, and partially protruding from a front face 108 thereof. As can be seen in detail in figure 2, the disinfection chamber 106 is generally spherical, having a kidney shaped aperture 1 10 therein operable to allow a user to place one or more hands into the disinfection chamber, in use, as will be described in detail hereunder.

Referring now specifically to figure 2, there is shown a cross sectional view of the device 102, showing an atomising unit 1 12, which will be described in detail hereunder with reference to figures 5 to 8, situated beneath the disinfection chamber 106. At a rear of the disinfection chamber 106, aligned generally above the atomising unit 1 12 is a further aperture 1 14, which, in use, is operable to allow the ingress of an atomised liquid disinfection agent into the disinfection chamber, as will be described hereunder. Situated within the housing 104, above the chamber 106 is a control unit 1 16, comprising electrical circuitry operable to control the device, as will be described in detail below.

Referring now to figures 5 to 8, there is shown an atomising unit 1 12 of the device 102 of the present invention. The unit 1 12 comprises a rectilinear housing 1 18 having a generally cylindrical reservoir 120 therein. At a base of the reservoir 120, coaxial therewith, is an ultrasonic transducer 122.

As can be seen in figure 5, situated above a small edge portion of the cylindrical reservoir 120 is a deflection plate 124, which will be described in more detail with relation to figure 8. Referring now to figure 6, there is shown a float switch 126 situated within the reservoir 120. The float switch is operable to detect the amount of liquid 128 resident in the reservoir 120 and relay this information to the control unit 1 16 of the device 102. The liquid in the float switch is a disinfection agent.

Figure 7 shows a rear side of the unit 1 12 having a fan 130 arranged to divert a flow of air up a tube 132. Referring to figure 8, the tube 132 can clearly be seen next to the reservoir 120 having a fan at a lower end thereof, which fan 130 is arranged to blow air up the tube 130. Above an upper extent of the tube 132 is the deflection plate 124, which extends over the upper end of the tube 132 and over a small portion of the open upper end of the reservoir 120. Along and edge of the deflection plate 124 proximal to the reservoir 120 is a downwardly extending lip 134, which serves to deflect the flow of air downward toward the base of the reservoir 120. Referring now to figure 9, there is shown an alternative disinfection chamber 206 for use in the present invention. As can be seen in figure 9, the chamber 206 is more egg shaped than spherical. The chamber 206 is, in shape, like an oblate spheroid with a slightly pointy top section. It has been found by the inventors that this egg shaped chamber offers further advantages in the disinfection of hands placed therein because the shape of the chamber encourages a longer residence time of the atomised liquid disinfection agent therein.

In use, the device 102 operates as follows. A user places one or more hand into the chamber 106 (or 206). The presence of one or more hand of a user is detected by a sensor (not shown), which may be an infra red motion sensor. The detection of one or more hand within the chamber causes the device to automatically operate by turning on the fan 130 to start air circulating and by activating the ultrasonic transducer to thereby cause the liquid 128 resident in the reservoir 120 to form an atomised liquid disinfection agent. The atomised liquid disinfection agent is rendered aerosol and carried by the moving air into the disinfection chamber. A user then carries out a usual hand washing motion until a light (not shown) on the housing of the device 102 indicates that the cycle has finished (after a predetermined period of time, preferably around 20 to 30 seconds). User then removes their disinfected hand(s). The device 102 uses an ultrasonic transducer that operates at a resonance frequency of 1 .65Mhz, an atomistaion rate of about 350cc/hour and produces an average droplet size of about 2μm. An example of a suitable liquid disinfection agent is as follows: % w/w Endimal 1500 ^* 24.0%

Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride 2.0%

(Bardac-22)

Potassium Chloride 0.4%

lsopropanol 5.0%

Linear Primary alcohol ethoxylate 6.0%

with 12 moles Eto (Surfac UN120)

Water 62.6%

^* Endimal 1500 is a 15% Stabilized Oxychlorine Solution, commercially available from Siemens Water Technologies, Corp.

A hand disinfection device according to the present invention has the advantage that a user may quickly and simply disinfect their hands without the need to wash and scrub. This means that the time spent disinfecting the hands can be significantly reduced and the damage caused by repeated scrubbing of the hands is alleviated.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.