Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to antiseptic applicators.

Clinician practices related to cleaning skin of a patient prior to a procedure, such as an intravenous catheter insertion or surgery, may be inconsistent and may deviate from protocol and recommended guidelines. In further detail, clinicians may not clean an insertion or surgical site for a sufficient amount of time to remove unwanted bacteria prior to the insertion or the surgery. Failure to clean the insertion or surgical site for the sufficient amount of time may result in an increased likelihood of infection for the patient. For example, a patient's chances of developing a catheter-related bloodstream infection ("CRBSI") and/or surgical site infection ("SSI") may increase. CRBSIs and SSIs are responsible for increased health care costs. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for devices and methods that facilitate cleaning of the insertion site for the sufficient amount of time.

The international patent publn. No. <CIT> discloses an apparatus for topical application of material for cosmetic or medical purposes, said apparatus comprising measurement apparatus configured to measure a property of the human or animal skin, actuating apparatus configured to change a property of the skin and an application apparatus configured to apply material for cosmetic or medical purposes to the skin.

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more features described herein in order to provide a basic understanding of such features. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all features nor delineate the scope of any or all implementations. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more features in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present invention provides a medical device for sterilizing a body of a patient, as recited in the appended set of claims.

An antiseptic applicator according to the invention includes an applicator body configured to store antiseptic solution, an antiseptic dispenser in communication with the applicator body, and a capacitance sensing integrated circuit having one or more electrically coupled capacitors, wherein the capacitance sensing integrated circuit is configured to determine a capacitance between the one or more capacitors and a human body.

A method of sterilizing the skin of a patient with an antiseptic applicator includes dispensing an antiseptic solution from the antiseptic applicator into a dispenser of the antiseptic applicator, measuring a capacitance between the dispenser and a human body, determining a capacitance between the dispenser and the human body, triggering a timer to record an amount of time when the capacitance is approximately greater than or equal to a threshold capacitance, and terminating the timer when the capacitance falls below the threshold capacitance.

A medical device for sterilizing the body of a patient according to the invention includes an applicator body that stores antiseptic solution, an antiseptic dispenser that dispenses the antiseptic solution, a capacitor abutting a surface of the antiseptic dispenser, and measurement features for determining a capacitance between the capacitor and the body of the patient.

Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.

With reference to <FIG>, an antiseptic solution is disposed within a handle <NUM> of an antiseptic applicator <NUM>. The handle <NUM> stores the antiseptic solution. The antiseptic applicator <NUM> may be used to clean or sterilize skin of a patient, for example. The antiseptic applicator <NUM> may be used to clean the skin prior to a procedure such as, for example, intravenous catheter insertion. The antiseptic applicator <NUM> may include a sponge <NUM>, which may be configured to absorb the antiseptic solution when the antiseptic solution is released from the handle <NUM>. The antiseptic applicator <NUM> includes a usage indicator, which is configured to indicate a period of time that the antiseptic applicator <NUM>, and thus, the antiseptic solution, has been applied to the skin of the patient.

Various types of usage indicators may be used. Referring to <FIG>, the antiseptic applicator <NUM> may include a color-changing element <NUM> as the usage indicator antiseptic applicator <NUM>. In some embodiments, the color-changing element <NUM> may include a peelable color-changing element <NUM>, which may include an outer liner that may be removed or partially removed or peeled. In response to the outer liner <NUM> being removed or partially removed, one or more chemicals of the peelable color-changing element <NUM> may change color upon exposure to air for a particular amount of time. In some embodiments, the peelable color-changing element <NUM> may be configured such that the change in color occurs after the predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, the clinician may peel the outer liner <NUM> of the peelable color-changing element <NUM> immediately prior to or immediately after pressing the antiseptic applicator <NUM> on the skin of the patient and may continuously press the antiseptic applicator <NUM> on the skin until the change in color occurs. The change in color may indicate to the clinician that the clinician has pressed the antiseptic applicator <NUM> to the skin of the patient for the predetermined period of time. For example, the predetermined period of time may be between thirty and sixty seconds. The peelable color-changing element <NUM> may be various shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the peelable color-changing element <NUM> may be configured as a strip, as illustrated in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the color-changing element <NUM> may include a reservoir of one or more chemicals. The reservoir may be configured such that when the clinician presses on the reservoir, the chemicals may mix, which may cause a color of the usage indicator to change after the predetermined period of time. The clinician may press the reservoir immediately prior to or immediately after pressing the antiseptic applicator <NUM> on the skin of the patient and may be able to determine when the antiseptic applicator <NUM>, and thus, the antiseptic solution <NUM> (not illustrated in <FIG>), has been pressed to the skin for a sufficient period of time to prevent infection.

In some embodiments, the antiseptic applicator <NUM> may include a timer, which may be digital or analog, which may be activated by the clinician immediately prior to or immediately after pressing the antiseptic applicator <NUM> to the skin of the patient. The timer may count the predetermined period of time, such as, for example, thirty seconds or sixty seconds. The timer may include an alarm, which may sound when the predetermined period of time has elapsed. In some embodiments, the timer may be disposed in a position on the antiseptic applicator <NUM> that may be easily visible to the clinician, such as on an upper portion of the handle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example method <NUM> of using an antiseptic applicator to clean the skin of the patient, according to some embodiments. The antiseptic applicator may include the antiseptic applicator <NUM>. The method <NUM> may begin at block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the antiseptic applicator may be pressed on the skin of the patient. In some embodiments, pressing the antiseptic applicator on the skin of the patient may also include scrubbing the antiseptic applicator on the skin of the patient. Block <NUM> may be followed by block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the antiseptic applicator may be removed from the skin after the usage indicator indicates a period of time has elapsed, for example, the predetermined period of time. The usage indicator may include one or more LEDs, each of which may indicate the period of time by one or more of the following: changing color, turning on, and turning off. The usage indicator may include a color-changing element, such as, for example, a peelable color-changing element, which may indicate the period of time by changing color.

Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. The method <NUM> may include additional blocks. For example, the method <NUM> may include peeling a color-changing element prior to or shortly after pressing the antiseptic applicator on the skin.

In addition to the previously described embodiments of the antiseptic applicators <NUM>, <NUM>, each of the antiseptic applicators <NUM>, <NUM> may be modified in any suitable manner that allows it to fulfill its intended purpose. Further, the antiseptic applicators <NUM>, <NUM> may be used in any suitable manner.

Referring now to <FIG>, the antiseptic applicator <NUM> relies on capacitive sensors to detect proper contact. Reference numbers similar to those in previous figures indicate similar features. In certain implementations, the usage indicator may include one or more lights, such as LEDs <NUM>. In these and other embodiments, the antiseptic applicator further includes one or more capacitors <NUM>, which may be disposed in the proximity of the sponge <NUM>. The one or more capacitors <NUM> may be configured for use in detecting any contact and/or close proximity between the antiseptic applicator <NUM> and the skin of the patient. The antiseptic applicator <NUM> also includes a timer <NUM>, which may be electrically coupled to the usage indicator and/or the one or more capacitors <NUM>, which may be disposed in close proximity to the sponge <NUM>. When the antiseptic applicator <NUM> contacts the skin of the patient (e.g., via the sponge <NUM>), the effect of the close proximity of the human body to the circuitry containing the one or more capacitors <NUM> may trigger the timer <NUM> or other device, such as an alert or indicator light. The one or more capacitors <NUM> may be disposed on top of the coupler element <NUM>, beneath the coupler element <NUM>, on top of the sponge <NUM>, beneath the sponge, or embedded within the sponge. Other configurations are possible.

In some embodiments, the timer <NUM> is responsive to output from the circuit containing the one or more capacitors <NUM>. The output from the circuit containing the one or more capacitors <NUM> may result from the antiseptic applicator <NUM> contacting or being placed in close proximity to the skin of the patient. For example, the timer may begin to display or internally track elapsed time in response to an output from the circuit containing the one or more capacitors <NUM>. As another example, the timer <NUM> may start displaying or tracking the elapsed time in response to the output from the circuit containing the one or more capacitors <NUM> meeting or exceeding (or alternatively falling below) a predetermined threshold value. The timer <NUM> may stop tracking or displaying elapsed time when the output from the one or more capacitors <NUM> meets or falls below another predetermined threshold value (or alternatively exceeds the threshold value). In yet another example, the timer <NUM> may retain tracked elapsed time when the timer <NUM> stops tracking the elapsed time, such that when the output again meets or exceeds the threshold value, the time <NUM> may start from the tracked elapsed time value instead of from zero. Alternatively, in an example, the timer <NUM> may retain tracked elapsed time until it is reset through any number of triggering features or events, or methods, such as clinician powering off the antiseptic applicator <NUM>, automatic resetting of the timer <NUM> when a predetermined period of time has passed, or clinician manually resetting the timer <NUM>.

In example embodiments, when the elapsed time equals a predetermined period of time, one or more LEDs <NUM> may be turned on or change color to indicate to the clinician that a desired minimum cleaning duration has been achieved.

In some implementations, one of the LEDs <NUM> may be turned on in response to contacts or close proximity between the antiseptic applicator <NUM> and the skin of the patient detected by the one or more capacitors <NUM>. Next, another one of the LEDs <NUM> may be turned on in response to the elapsed time being equal to or greater than the predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may correspond to a length of time to create a contact between the sponge <NUM> having antiseptic thereon and the skin of the patient according to improved or best practices for infection prevention. For example, the predetermined period of time may be <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, and <NUM> seconds. Other durations are possible.

As shown in <FIG>, in example embodiments, an aperture <NUM> may extend through the coupler element <NUM>. The antiseptic solution may be configured to flow from the handle <NUM> to the sponge <NUM> through the aperture <NUM> when the antiseptic solution is released from the handle <NUM>. The antiseptic solution may be released from the handle <NUM> via any number of mechanisms and/or methods. For example, the bottom of the handle <NUM> may include an opening or conduit through which the antiseptic solution may be configured to flow at a predetermined rate. Alternatively, the handle <NUM> may include a switch that, when pressed, releases the antiseptic solution via an opening or conduit (e.g., via opening of a valve therein). Other configurations are possible.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more capacitors <NUM> may surround the aperture <NUM>. For example, the coupler element <NUM> may be disposed within a depression <NUM> in an upper surface of the sponge <NUM>. For example, the coupler element <NUM> may be configured to fit snuggly within the depression <NUM> of the sponge <NUM>. The one or more LEDs <NUM> may be disposed on the coupler element <NUM>. For example, the one or more LEDs <NUM> may be disposed on an edge of the coupler element <NUM>.

Alternatively, the one or more LEDs <NUM> may be disposed in various positions on the antiseptic applicator <NUM> that allows the clinician to view the one or more LEDs <NUM>. Referring now to <FIG>, the circuit components <NUM> of the antiseptic applicator <NUM> may include a power source <NUM>, the one or more LEDs <NUM>, the timer <NUM>, the circuitry containing one or more capacitors <NUM> for use in proximity or contact sensing, and/or a communication circuit <NUM>. Reference numbers similar to those in previous figures indicate similar features.

Referring now to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the antiseptic applicator <NUM> may include an integrated circuit <NUM> having a microprocessor <NUM>, an accelerometer <NUM>, and/or elements of a capacitive sensing integrated circuit (CSIC) <NUM>. The microprocessor <NUM> may be or include a semiconductor microprocessor, a field programmable gate array, a programmable logic device, and/or any suitable processor, for example. The accelerometer <NUM> may include a damping mass used to measure an acceleration based on the displacement of the damping mass, for example. The accelerometer <NUM> may be implemented, for example, using piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive, or micro-electromechanical components. Other components or combination of components are possible. Examples of suitable accelerometer <NUM> are described in BMA <NUM> Digital, Triaxial Acceleration Sensor Data Sheet, the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some implementations, the one or more capacitors <NUM> may be partially encased in a shield <NUM>, which may be disposed on top of or beneath, or embedded within the sponge <NUM>. The shield <NUM> may protect the one or more capacitors <NUM> from corrosion, oxidation, or other kinds of damages. Further, the shield <NUM> may reduce electromagnetic noise detected by the one or more capacitors <NUM>. The shield may be a coating, metallic casing, ceramic shell, or other suitable configurations.

In some implementations, the CSIC elements <NUM> may be electrically coupled to the one or more capacitors <NUM> of the antiseptic applicator <NUM> to measure the capacitance of an applicator capacitor <NUM> formed between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the body of a patient <NUM>. As the one or more capacitors <NUM> are moved closer to a skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM>, for example, the body of the patient <NUM> may begin to distort the electric field lines <NUM> of the circuitry containing the one or more capacitors <NUM>. This distortion may change the capacitance of the one or more capacitors <NUM>. For example, the capacitance of the circuitry containing the capacitor(s) <NUM> may increase when the one or more capacitors <NUM> move closer to the patient's skin <NUM>. By reading the capacitance of the one or more capacitors <NUM>, the CSIC <NUM> may determine the proximity of the antiseptic applicator <NUM> with respect to the skin <NUM>.

In example embodiments, the one or more capacitors <NUM> may be configured as a single capacitor. Alternatively, the one or more capacitors <NUM> may be configured as parallel plates capacitors and/or parallel fingers electrodes, for example. Other similarly operating configurations may also be used.

In some embodiments, the CSIC <NUM> may be configured to detect the capacitance change on the one or more capacitors <NUM>. During the capacitance measurement, the CSIC <NUM> may measure the capacitance values of the applicator capacitor <NUM>, a parasitic capacitor <NUM> and an electrode capacitor <NUM>. For example, a capacitance measurement taken by the CSIC <NUM> at a sensing node 1010a may include a sum of the parasitic capacitor <NUM>, the electrode capacitor <NUM>, and the applicator capacitor <NUM>, or any combination thereof. The parasitic capacitor <NUM> and the electrode capacitor <NUM> may be or include intrinsic capacitors that originate from the hardware configuration of the integrated circuit <NUM>. The parasitic capacitor <NUM> and the electrode capacitor <NUM> may be measured or estimated. Examples of suitable capacitance sensing circuits are described in FDC <NUM>: Basics of Capacitive Sensing and Applications, the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

During normal operation, for example, the CSIC <NUM> may apply a sensing voltage (VSense) at the sensing node 1010a. The sensing voltage may be a direct current (DC) voltage, an alternating current (AC) voltage, or a combination of AC and DC voltage. The CSIC <NUM> may measure (e.g., via sensor or coupling) a sensing charge (QTotal) at the sensing node 1010a. Since the applicator capacitor <NUM>, the parasitic capacitor <NUM>, and the electrode capacitor <NUM> are in parallel configuration, the CSIC <NUM> receives at the sensing node 1010a an equivalent capacitance value (CTotal) approximately equaling to the sum of the capacitance values of the parasitic, electrode, and applicator capacitors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, since <MAT> and <MAT> the equivalent capacitance equation may be rewritten as follows: <MAT> assuming the impact of a ground capacitor <NUM> is negligible. Since VSense, QTotal, CParasitic, and CElectrode are known, the capacitance value of the applicator capacitor <NUM> may be approximated by the following equation: <MAT>.

In example implementations, the CSIC <NUM> may extrapolate the distance between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM> based on the capacitance value of the applicator capacitor <NUM>. The applicator capacitance may be approximated by: <MAT> where A is the cross-sectional area of the one or more capacitors <NUM>, ε is the effective dielectric constant between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the skin <NUM>, and d is the distance between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the skin <NUM>. Using the capacitance equation, the CSIC <NUM> may extract the distance, d, between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the skin <NUM> and/or the CSIC <NUM> may simply identify when the distance is less than a minimum distance indicative of contact with the skin <NUM>. For example, as the antiseptic applicator <NUM>, and therefore the one or more capacitors <NUM>, moves closer to the skin <NUM>, the applicator capacitance may increase due to the decrease in distance d. Similarly, the applicator capacitance may decrease as the antiseptic applicator <NUM> moves away from the skin <NUM>. When the distance d is less than a threshold distance, the CSIS <NUM> may determine that the antiseptic applicator <NUM> is in contact with the patient's skin <NUM>.

Alternatively, the CSIC <NUM> may compare the applicator capacitance to a threshold capacitance indicative of contact with the skin <NUM>. For example, as the antiseptic applicator <NUM> moves closer to the skin <NUM>, the applicator capacitance may increase. When the applicator capacitance meets or exceeds the threshold capacitance, the CSIC <NUM> may determine that the antiseptic applicator <NUM> is in contact with the patient's skin <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the CSIC <NUM> may transmit the measured applicator capacitance to the microprocessor <NUM>. In this example, the microprocessor <NUM> may identify the distance between the one or more capacitors <NUM> and the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM> or otherwise determine that the distance is below a threshold distance that corresponds to contact between the antiseptic applicator <NUM> and the patient's skin <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, for example, at time t<NUM> the clinician may have the antiseptic applicator <NUM> located away from the patient <NUM>, and the CSIC <NUM> may measure an applicator capacitance value of C<NUM>. At t<NUM>, with reference to <FIG>, the clinician may move the one or more capacitors <NUM> closer to the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM> by, for example, placing the sponge <NUM> of the antiseptic applicator <NUM> against the skin <NUM> of the patient to begin the sterilization process. Consequently, CSIC <NUM> of <FIG> may measure an applicator capacitance value of C<NUM> at some point between t<NUM> and t<NUM>. At t<NUM>, with reference to <FIG>, the clinician may end the sterilization by moving the antiseptic applicator <NUM> away from the skin <NUM> of the patient, and the CSIC <NUM> may measure the decrease in applicator capacitance back to C<NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, in certain implementations, the CSIC <NUM> may be electrically coupled to the accelerometer <NUM> to detect the motion of the antiseptic applicator <NUM>. For example, the accelerometer <NUM> may detect a "back-and-forth" scrubbing motion of the antiseptic applicator <NUM>. In another example, the accelerometer <NUM> may detect a circular scrubbing motion of the antiseptic applicator <NUM>. Other possible motions, such as shaking, may also be detected by the accelerometer <NUM>.

In some implementations, the microprocessor <NUM> may collect data from the accelerometer <NUM> and/or the CSIC <NUM> to determine the sufficiency of the sterilization process. For example, the microprocessor <NUM> may rely on the accelerometer data to determine and/or signal if the clinician engaged in back-and-forth scrubbing during the sterilization process. In another example, the microprocessor <NUM> may utilize data from the CSIC <NUM> to determine and/or signal if the clinician cleaned the skin <NUM> of the patient for a sufficient period of time. In yet another example, the microprocessor <NUM> may analyze data from the accelerometer <NUM> and the CSIC <NUM> to determine and/or signal if the clinician performed circular scrubbing for a certain duration while the sponge <NUM> of the antiseptic applicator <NUM> remained in contact with the skin <NUM>. In another example, the microprocessor <NUM> may determine and/or signal, using data from the accelerometer <NUM> and the CSIC <NUM>, if the clinician performed both back-and-forth and circular scrubbing. Other analyses and/or signals are also possible.

In example embodiments, the integrated circuit <NUM> may be coupled to the circuit components <NUM> and/or receive electrical power from the power source <NUM>. The integrated circuit <NUM> may be electrically connected to the communication circuit <NUM>, for example. During normal operation, the integrated circuit <NUM> may send data from the microprocessor <NUM>, the accelerometer <NUM>, and/or the CSIC <NUM> to the communication circuit <NUM> to be transmitted to an external device, such as a smart telephone, tablet, computer or other suitable devices via Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Wi-Fi, or any other communication technology. The data may include whether or not the clinician applied the antiseptic applicator <NUM> to the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, an amount of time the clinician applied the antiseptic applicator <NUM> to the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM>, whether or not the clinician properly scrubbed the skin <NUM> of the patient <NUM> during the sterilization process, an failure relating to the integrated circuit <NUM>, the microprocessor <NUM>, the accelerometer <NUM>, or the CSIC <NUM>, or any combination thereof. Other data relevant to the operation of the antiseptic applicators may also be transmitted via the communication unit <NUM>. The transmitted data may be monitored for safety and/or compliance purposes. For example, a supervisor may rely on the data to monitor whether the clinician properly cleaned the skin of a patient.

Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In an aspect of the present disclosure, features are directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. In some embodiments the integrated circuit <NUM> may be implemented as a part of a computer system, or may include various aspects a computer system, such as the example computer system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Computer system <NUM> includes one or more processors, such as processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is coupled to a communication infrastructure <NUM> (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software aspects are described in terms of this example computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement aspects hereof using other computer systems and/or architectures.

Computer system <NUM> may include a display interface <NUM> that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure <NUM> (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit <NUM>. Computer system <NUM> may include a main memory <NUM>, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory <NUM>. The secondary memory <NUM> may include, for example, a hard disk drive <NUM> and/or a removable storage drive <NUM>, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive <NUM> may read from and/or write to a removable storage unit <NUM> in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit <NUM>, represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which may be read by and written to removable storage drive <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit <NUM> may include a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

Alternative aspects of the present invention may include secondary memory <NUM> and may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system <NUM>. Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit <NUM> and an interface <NUM>. Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units <NUM> and interfaces <NUM>, which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit <NUM> to computer system <NUM>.

Computer system <NUM> may also include a communications interface <NUM>. Communications interface <NUM> may allow software and data to be transferred among computer system <NUM> and external devices. Examples of communications interface <NUM> may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface <NUM> may be in the form of signals <NUM>, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface <NUM>. These signals <NUM> may be provided to communications interface <NUM> via a communications path (e.g., channel) <NUM>. This path <NUM> may carry signals <NUM> and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link, Wi-Fi link, Wi-Fi direct link, NFC, and/or other communications channels. As used herein, the terms "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium" refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive <NUM>, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive <NUM>, and/or signals <NUM>. These computer program products may provide software to the computer system <NUM>. Aspects of the present invention are directed to such computer program products.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) may be stored in main memory <NUM> and/or secondary memory <NUM>. Computer programs may also be received via communications interface <NUM>. Such computer programs, when executed, may enable the computer system <NUM> to perform the features in accordance with aspects of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, may enable the processor <NUM> to perform the features in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs may represent controllers of the computer system <NUM>.

Where aspects of the present invention may be implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system <NUM> using removable storage drive <NUM>, hard drive <NUM>, or communications interface <NUM>. The control logic (software), when executed by the processor <NUM>, may cause the processor <NUM> to perform the functions described herein. In another aspect of the present invention, the system may be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or microcontrollers. Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

In yet another variation, aspects of the present invention may be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

<FIG> shows a communication system <NUM> usable in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The communication system <NUM> includes one or more accessors <NUM>, <NUM> (also referred to interchangeably herein as one or more "users") and one or more terminals <NUM>, <NUM>. In one aspect, data for use in accordance with the present invention is, for example, input and/or accessed by accessors <NUM>, <NUM> via terminals <NUM>, <NUM>, such as personal computers (PCs), minicomputers, mainframe computers, microcomputers, telephonic devices, or wireless devices, such as personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), smart phones, or other hand-held wireless devices coupled to a server <NUM>, such as a PC, minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, or other device having a processor and a repository for data and/or connection to a repository for data, via, for example, a network <NUM>, such as the Internet or an intranet, and couplings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The couplings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiberoptic links. In another variation, the method and system in accordance with aspects of the present invention operate in a stand-alone environment, such as on a single terminal.

In some implementations, the integrated circuit <NUM> may be coupled, such as by electrical connection to one or more LEDs. With reference to <FIG>, one of the LEDs may be turned on (<NUM>) in response to contacts between the antiseptic applicator and the skin of the patient detected (<NUM>) by the CSIC <NUM>. Next, another one of the LEDs may be turned on (<NUM>) in response to the elapsed time being equal to or greater than the predetermined duration of time (<NUM>). Alternatively, one of the LEDs may be turned on (<NUM>) in response to both proper contacts detected by the CSIC and proper scrubbing motion detected (<NUM>) the accelerometer. Next, another one of the LEDs may be turned on (<NUM>) in response to the elapsed time being equal to or greater than the predetermined duration of time (<NUM>). Other programming patterns for the one or more LEDs are possible.

Claim 1:
A medical device (<NUM>) for sterilizing a body of a patient, comprising:
an applicator body (<NUM>) that stores antiseptic solution;
an antiseptic dispenser that dispenses the antiseptic solution;
a capacitor (<NUM>) that abuts a surface of the antiseptic dispenser;
measurement means for determining a capacitance between the capacitor and the body of the patient; characterized in that the medical device further comprises:
a color-changing element (<NUM>) configured to indicate a duration of exposure to air; and
a timer (<NUM>) configured to record an amount of time when the capacitance is approximately equal to or greater than a threshold capacitance.