1. A system comprising:
a catheter assembly including one or more tubes for conveying fluids, and
a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly comprising an electrode coupled to the catheter assembly and a charge transfer controller circuit electrically connected to the electrode, the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly being configured to detect contact or close proximity by a person with the catheter assembly and generate an electrical signal responsive to such contact.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an annunciator configured to display a message following generation of the electrical signal by the charge transfer proximity sensor.
3. The system of claim 1, further including a hand sanitizer configured for generating a signal evidencing use of the hand sanitizer and a controller configured for processing the signals generated by the hand sanitizer and the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly, the controller being further configured to generate a signal signifying a non-compliant event when the electrical signal from the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly is not preceded by a signal from the hand sanitizer.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly is configured to detect a change in capacitance caused by the presence of a hand within twenty five centimeters or less of at least one portion of the catheter assembly.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrode is within a lumen of the catheter assembly.
6. The system of claim 5, further including a liquid within the lumen, the electrode contacting the liquid.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the catheter assembly includes a housing in fluid communication with the one or more tubes, the electrode comprising an elongate probe secured to the housing.
8. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the signal signifying the non-compliant event when the signal from the hand sanitizer does not precede the signal from the charge transfer proximity sensor assembly by a predetermined time.
9. A system comprising:
a fluid source;
a catheter assembly including one or more tubes for conveying fluid and in fluid communication with the liquid source, and
a controller electrically coupled to the catheter assembly, the controller being configured to detect a change in an electrical parameter resulting from a person’s contact with or close proximity to the catheter assembly and generate a signal upon detection of the change in the electrical parameter.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an annunciator responsive to the signal from the controller.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the catheter assembly includes an electrode in fluid communication with the liquid source, the controller and electrode comprising a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly.
12. The system of claim 10, further including an electrically conductive coil, at least one of the tubes of the catheter assembly passing through the electrically conductive coil, the coil being reactive to contact with the catheter tube and the controller being configured as a reactive controller electrically coupled to the coil.
13. The system of claim 10, further including a hand sanitizer configured for generating a signal evidencing use of the hand sanitizer and a primary controller configured for processing the signals generated by the hand sanitizer and the controller, the primary controller being further configured to generate a signal signifying a non-compliant event when the electrical signal from the controller is not preceded by a signal from the hand sanitizer.
14. The system of claim 10, further including means for detecting whether the catheter assembly is in motion.
15. A method comprising:
detecting whether a person is within a selected area by using a digital imaging device;
detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer evidencing use of the hand sanitizer while the person is within the selected area;
electronically detecting whether the person has made contact or near contact with a patient’s catheter assembly;
generating a signal representing non-compliance if contact or near contact with the catheter assembly is electronically detected without prior generation an electrical signal indicating use of the hand sanitizer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of electronically detecting whether the person has made contact with a patient’s catheter assembly is conducted using an electrode coupled to the catheter assembly and a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly electrically connected to the electrode.
17. A method comprising:
detecting contact or near contact with a patient’s catheter assembly by a person via a charge transfer proximity sensor assembly;
determining the hand hygiene status of the person, and
generating a signal signifying hygienic non-compliance or compliance based on the hand hygiene status of the person and the detected contact with the patient’s catheter assembly.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes determining whether an electronic signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes determining whether an electronic signal has been generated by a hand sanitizer at an appropriate distance proximate to the patient’s catheter assembly.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the hand hygiene status of the person further includes detecting the presence of alcohol vapor in the vicinity of the person’s hand.
21. The method of claim 17, further including displaying a message based on the generated signal.
22. A method comprising:
a fixed or removably secured electrode capable of detecting a change in an electrical parameter resulting from contact or near contact by a person with a patient’s catheter.
23. The method of claim 22, further including an annunciator responsive to detection of the change in the electrical parameter.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the catheter includes an electrode contacting the fluid, and the step of detecting a change in an electrical parameter is conducted by a charge transfer sensor assembly electrically connected to the electrode.
25. The method of claim 23, further including detecting a person in a selected area proximal to the catheter assembly and causing the annunciator to display a message following detection of the person.
26. The method of claim 23, further including detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by activation of a hand sanitizer and causing the annunciator to display a selected message if detection of a change in the electrical parameter precedes generation of the electrical signal by the hand sanitizer.
27. The method of claim 23, further including detecting whether an electrical signal has been generated by evidencing the use of a hand sanitizer and causing the annunciator to display a selected message if detection of a change in the electrical parameter precedes generation of the electrical signal by a means evidencing use of the hand sanitizer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle, wherein a microprocessor performs the following steps:
monitoring vehicle operating characteristics comprising analyzing vehicle load and road topology and analyzing at least one of weather conditions, traffic conditions, road conditions, tire pressure, vehicle maintenance history, and driver operating patterns;
modeling operation of said vehicle, said modeling utilizing said vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of said vehicle across an allowable speed range, wherein said allowable speed range comprises a maximum allowable speed corresponding to a maximum legal speed and a minimum allowable speed some speed interval less than said maximum legal speed;
determining a potential control speed within the allowable speed range on the basis of said energy consumption rates; and
generating a control output to said vehicle comprising setting a control speed based upon the potential control speed.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining said allowable speed range with at least one of a minimum allowable speed and a maximum allowable speed.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a desired speed within said allowable speed range; and
wherein setting said control speed based upon said potential control speed comprises:
selecting between said desired speed and said potential control speed by balancing an energy consumption differential between an energy consumption rate at said desired speed and an energy consumption rate at said potential control speed against a speed differential between said desired speed and said potential control speed.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a hybrid operating state defining selection of fuel power and battery power for said vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a transmission gear state for said vehicle.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a hybrid operating state defining selection of fuel power and battery power for said vehicle and a transmission gear state for said vehicle.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising projecting said energy consumption rates across said allowable speed range over a planned travel route.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating a speed change schedule on the basis of said projected energy consumption rates.
9. The method of claim 8, said method further comprising updating said speed change schedule in coordination with an adaptive cruise control module.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating a transmission shift strategy on the basis of said projected energy consumption rates.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating a hybrid powertrain energy consumption schedule on the basis of said projected energy consumption rates.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a hybrid powertrain battery charging schedule on the basis of said projected energy consumption rates.
13. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating travel route recommendations on the basis of said projected energy consumption rates.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
operating said vehicle under cruise control;
determining the potential control speed within said allowable speed range and a corresponding transmission gear state on the basis of said energy consumption rates;
selecting a cruise speed and a transmission gear state command based upon the potential control speed and the corresponding transmission gear state; and
controlling the vehicle based upon the cruise speed and the transmission gear state command.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising previewing potential future vehicle operating characteristics based on a planned travel route, wherein said selecting a cruise speed includes forming a speed control strategy and a transmission gear state strategy over said planned travel route.