Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-07-31
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
C606S011000, C128S848000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of hair depilation; in particular, the present invention relates to a method of hair depilation using an Nd:YAG laser which causes local heating at the hair bulb due to the absorption of the oxyhemoglobin contained in the capillaries. The treatment can be performed on a single hair or a group of hairs using the Nd:YAG laser.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, various methods for hair depilation using coherent light sources, such as lasers, are available. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,192 describes a method of depilation based on the absorption of heat by melanin present in the hair follicle. The heat is provided by a Q-switched ruby laser, operating at a wavelength of 694 nm. The subsequent heating is provided at a direction substantially vertical to the hair follicle opening. Due to the heat, the follicle is severely damaged, interrupting the normal vital cycle and therefore its re-growth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,803 uses a contaminant applied to the skin of a patient as a means for absorption of laser impulses of high peak intensity and very short duration. This causes irreversible damage to the hair bulb. For this purpose, a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with emission at 1.06 &mgr;m is used, exploiting the minimum absorption that both the skin and the melanin have at this wavelength. U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,924 discloses a method that focuses a beam of light to destroy the vascularized part of the follicle. The beam of light is directed at an angle with respect to the hair follicle opening such that the beam of light is directed at the hair root. The hair root is heated, thereby causing damage to the blood vessels in the hair root. This in turn causes damage to the hair, preventing its re-growth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to obtain a methodology for hair depilation and prevention of re-growth of hairs by use of a laser, such as an Nd:YAG laser.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain the irreversible damage of the hair follicle without interacting preferentially with the melanin, and therefore without damaging the derma that is crossed by the laser radiation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for hair depilation without the use of externally-supplied contaminants.
Another object of the present invention is to not use a beam of laser radiation that focalizes inside the derma, because the focalization in such an important area as the derma proves to be uncontrolled and can cause irritating side effects.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain depilation and prevention of hair re-growth on patients who correspond to high class phototypes and whose treatment shows considerable contra-indications with lasers that interact with melanin.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain a method of hair depilation involving treatment of a single hair or a group of hairs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4388924 (1983-06-01), Weissman et al.
patent: 5059192 (1991-10-01), Zaias
patent: 5423803 (1995-06-01), Tankovich et al.
patent: 5735844 (1998-04-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 6106514 (2000-08-01), O'Donnell, Jr.
Bernabei Gian Franco
Clementi Gabriele
Galli Mauro
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Foley & Lardner
Kearney R.
M & E Corporation of Delaware
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