Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-28
2001-02-13
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
C606S027000, C219S223000, C219S226000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187001
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for hair removal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several types of devices for hair removal known in the art. One type includes mechanical devices used by a user to remove hairs by the user himself or herself. These include shavers and other mechanical devices. These mechanical devices are disadvantageous at least in two aspects, namely they remove the hairs for a relatively short time, and in most if not all cases they cause some degree of pain.
Other types of devices are directed to long term hair removal. Electrolysis devices are based on the use of “electric needles”. Such fine needles are inserted into the hair follicle and apply an electric current to each hair. The current heats the hair and causes its carbonization and also heats the tissue near the hair causing its coagulation and partial or full coagulation of the blood capillaries which supply blood to the hair follicle. While such devices can result in permanent hair removal, each hair must be treated individually, making hair removal by this method a tedious often painful, time consuming, and expensive.
Another class of devices are Photothermolysis devices which are usually operated by physicians in clinics. These devices are based either on lasers (e.g. Ruby lasers) such as the laser device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,192 to Zaias or an incoherent light source coupled with filters and elaborate electronics to provide pulses of various durations and wave lengths as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,368 and European Patent publications EP 0 788 814 and EP 0 736 308 to Eckhouse. The Eckhouse documents teach heating the hair directly by a high flux of visible radiation that is absorbed by the hair follicles. Various filters and/or pulse lengths are used depending on the depth of penetration desired and the color of the hair being removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention provides an improved apparatus for hair removal. Some of these embodiments of invention may be used by a user to remove hair from his or her own body.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cavity, is enclosed between a housing and a region of skin. A volume of air is enclosed within the cavity. The volume of air is heated by a fast heating source such as a flash lamp to provide a temperature high enough to kill any hair within the cavity. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a heat gradient, having a higher temperature at the end of the air volume adjacent the flash lamp and a lower temperature at the end of the air volume adjacent the skin, is formed. The parts of the hairs closer to the flash lamp are heated by the hot air resulting in removal of at least part of the hairs. Alternatively or additionally, the conduction of heat along the hair shafts heats the parts of the hairs sheathed within the hair follicles and the hair follicles which may further assist the hair removal by coagulating the capillary blood vessels supplying the hair follicles. This later heating preferably causes the hair to die, so that there is no regrowth.
In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the invention heating of the hairs and the region of skin underneath the apparatus is terminated at a selected time after flashing the flash lamp to prevent skin overheating. The termination of heating may be achieved by manually lifting the apparatus away from the skin or by automatically pumping air into the cavity at a selected time after the flashing of the flash lamp.
Additionally, the skin and portions of the hair within the follicles may be heated by broad band radiation emitted by the heat source (flash lamp). While this heating is not necessary for hair removal according to the invention, the irradiation may also assist in heating those parts of the hair shafts and the hair follicles and facilitate the heating of hair follicles to the coagulation temperature.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, means are provided for filtering the radiation to reduce the amount of low wavelength radiation from reaching the skin. Such low wavelength radiation is absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood and may destroy it.
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, apparatus for removing hairs from a region of skin, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having an opening therein, the housing forming a cavity enclosing a volume of air when the opening is placed in contact with the region of skin;
a switchable heat source disposed within the housing which rapidly heats the volume of air to a temperature sufficient to destroy the hair by conduction of heat along the length of the hair to a follicle thereof, and
a power source which controllably energizes the heat source.
Preferably, the heat source forms a temperature gradient between the source and the skin.
Preferably, the cavity is a sealed cavity.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat source also provides pulsed light that irradiate the region of skin, the light having an energy insufficient to destroy the hair.
Preferably, the pulsed light is a broad band pulsed light.
Preferably, the apparatus includes a filter disposed between the heat source and the opening which filters a preselected portion of the pulsed broad band light.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat source is a flash lamp or an arc discharge lamp. Preferably, the flash lamp comprises at least one glass xenon lamp. Preferably, the flash lamp comprises at least one quartz xenon flash lamp. Preferably, the at least one flash lamp comprises at least two lamps in series electrical connection. Preferably, the heat source is disposable.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing further comprises a sealing gasket attached to the housing along the circumference of the opening.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pump having a port communicating with the cavity. Preferably, the apparatus a controller that energizes the pump to reducing the air pressure within the air cavity to lift at least some of the hairs from the skin. Preferably, the controller causes energizing of the heat source after lifting at least some of the hair. Preferably the controller energizes the pump to exchange air within the cavity at a predetermined time after the heat source is energized.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one valve that allows exchange of air within the cavity when the pump is energized. Preferably, the at least one valve is at least one one-way valve which allows air to enter the cavity when the pump is activated to draw air from the cavity. Alternatively, the pump pumps air into the cavity at the predetermined time.
Preferably, the apparatus includes a hair aligning member situated at the opening which raises at least some of the hairs from the skin. Preferably, the hair aligning member is a flat comb-like member or a flat perforated member. Preferably, the hair aligning member is made of a material which substantially blocks light having a wavelength lower than about 400 nanometers and substantially passes light having a wavelength higher than about 450 nanometers.
Preferably, the apparatus includes a reflector that reflects light produced by the heat source toward the skin. Preferably, the reflector substantially absorbs light having a wavelength lower than 400 nanometers.
In some preferred embodiments of the invention the apparatus includes an extension, the extension having a first end attachable to the opening and a second end placeable on the region of skin, the extension has an aperture therethrough defining an area for removing hairs.
Preferably, the housing is made of a heat insulating material.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the power source is an electrical power source.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the apparatus fits into the palm of a hand.
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
Azar Zion
Shalev Pinchas
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Fenster & Company Patent Attorneys Ltd.
Radiancy Inc.
Yarnell Bryan K.
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