Epilation system
US5632741A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00476
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In order to permanently remove hair growing in subcutaneous (below the skin's surface) tissue and to do so permanently, the hair and its root structure is epilated (vaporized) in an ablation cavity of essentially the same size and shape as the volume occupied by the root structure which includes follicle, the follicle bulb and the dermal papilla. Optical energy is used which is of a wavelength and fluence sufficient to cause epilation in the cavity without relying upon selective photothermolysis thereby limiting damage to tissue outside of the hair root structure. To find and restrict the optical energy to the epilation cavity, an optical system, which may be constituted of a single lens, having a numerical aperture of F/5-5.8 is used. The beam is generated by a laser which may be operated in a pulse mode and contained in a hand piece having the optical system at the end thereof. In order to facilitate epilation, a medium such as a cold compress or a freezing agent, may be applied before application of the laser energy in order to cause the root structure and the hair to move to a location generally perpendicular to the surface of the skin. During application of the laser energy, t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.