CA1261404A - Method and apparatus for photoepilation - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for photoepilation

Info

Publication number
CA1261404A
CA1261404A CA000463965A CA463965A CA1261404A CA 1261404 A CA1261404 A CA 1261404A CA 000463965 A CA000463965 A CA 000463965A CA 463965 A CA463965 A CA 463965A CA 1261404 A CA1261404 A CA 1261404A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
period
switch
light energy
circuit
control circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000463965A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Carol B. Rohr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BLOCK (CAROL) Ltd
Original Assignee
BLOCK (CAROL) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BLOCK (CAROL) Ltd filed Critical BLOCK (CAROL) Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1261404A publication Critical patent/CA1261404A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B18/20Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
    • A61B18/203Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser applying laser energy to the outside of the body
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B18/20Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B2017/00017Electrical control of surgical instruments
    • A61B2017/00137Details of operation mode
    • A61B2017/00154Details of operation mode pulsed
    • A61B2017/00172Pulse trains, bursts, intermittent continuous operation
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B2018/00315Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
    • A61B2018/00452Skin
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B2018/00315Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
    • A61B2018/00452Skin
    • A61B2018/00476Hair follicles
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B2018/1807Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using light other than laser radiation

Abstract

ABSTRACT
In a method of photoepilation of a plurality of hair bodies of at least on type from a patient, the certain quantity of light energy sufficient to effect lifelessness in each of a particular type of hairs is provided to the tip of a hand held probe each time a switch is closed, independent of the duration of the switch closure. A foot switch is actuated to provide a series of timed and spaced pulses of light energy for a period selectable by rotating a wiper of a variable resistor-capacitor circuit. The sum of the energies of the pulses over the selected period equals the certain quantity of light energy.
Alternatively, four foot switches can be provided, one of which can be depressed to provide one of four fixed periods of light pulses. Commonly, the certain quantity of light energy is first determined for the hair type and then that certain quantity is used for all the hairs of that type to be removed.

Description

This invention relates to epilation primarily for cosmetic and medical purposes, and specifically relates to an improved method of performing photoepilation and an apparatus for performing the method.
Photoepilation is the removal of hair using light energy and is a known, commercislly available process. It is performed to obtain cosmetically more pleasing 3kin by removal of unsightly hair from locations such as the face, legs, arms and back.
It is performed by an electrologist or operator seated opposite a patient and specifically opposite an exposed area of the patient's skin on which the epilation is to be performed. The operator uses a magnification means such as wearing e~tended loupe eye glasses to sight on the hair follicles, and in one hand holds a light probe while in the other h~nd holds a pair of tweezers, for removQl of the hairs from the follicles after application of the light probe.
The light probe is the termination of a fle~ible optical means, such as a bundle of optical fi~ers, that carry light energy to the hair follicle from a discharge lamp contained in ~ hou3ing of a photoepilation device. the device includes the probe, the housing and 8 foot switch, which the operator depresses to control the number of light pulses to be provided by the device.
- Performing the photoepilation is demanding of the operator's mental and physical faculties. The operator focuses his or her eyes on one hair and its follicle by looking through the extended loupe eye glasses, moves his or her head to the proper ~distance from the hair to obtain a sufficient magnification and/or clear focus and then holds his or her head still to maintain the desired sight of the follicle. The oper&tor then moves the tip of the probe, which sources the light energy, to the hair follicle and positions it for applying properly the light energy to the hair follicle. The operator then depresses his or her fo~t on the foot pedal to close the switch therein and energize the photoepilation device, providing the light energy in timed and spaced pulses. The number of pulses, or the time (which is proportional to the number of pulses) is counted by the operator either out loud or privately to apply the proper quantity of light energy to the hair follicle to effect lifelessness therein. When the proper quantity of energy has been applied to the hair to kill the hair body or root, the operator lifts his or her foot from the foot pedal to stop production of the light energy, and removes the hair from the follicle with the tweezers held in his or her other hand. The 7560~

) d operator then moves to the next hair to be removed and repeats this entire demanding procedure.
The quantity of light energy produced by the device is regulated or dependant entirely and solely upon the len~th of time that the operator depresses the foot pedal of the switch assembly.
The electrologist, thus, to remove one hair, must have excellent motor s~ills to coordinate simultaneous movement of his or her head and eyes, both hands and one foot. Further, this procedure is tiring because of the physical and mental demands placed upon the electrologist to perform for extended periods.
It is desirable to alleviate ht least one of the demands made of the electrologist.
The invention involves pro~idin~ a certain quantity of light energy at the tip of a probe sufficient to effect lifelessness in Q hair body upon the closure of a pair of switch contacts, independent of the duration of the closure of said switch cont~cts.
Thus the invention provides a method of photoepilation of a plurality of hair bodies of at least one type from a patient, comprising:
A. providin~ an apparatus having a flash lamp that sources light energy to the tip of a probe, and a control circuit for causing the lamp to flash to obtain sequential, like, timed and spaced, incremental pulses of light energy, the control circuit including a manually actuatable switch assembly for energizing the control circuit for a selectable period, and the length of the period being independent of the length of time of actuation of the switch assembly;
B. selecting a certain period corresponding to the proper quantity of light energy in the form of timed and spaced pulses to be sourced at said tip to effect lifelessness in said particular type of hair body;
C. placing said tip properly in the vicinity of a hair to be removed;
D. actuating said switch assembly for a length of time independent of said period; and E. repeating said steps C and D for said plurality of hair bodies;
F. so that once the certain period is selected, said proper quantity of light energy automatically is provided to said probe tip independent of the length of time that said switch assembly is actuated.

In another agpect, the invention includes an apparatus for performiag photoepilation, comprising:
a flash lamp source of light energy;
optical cable means, terminating at a tip of a hand held probe, for conducting light encrgy from said sourc0 to said tip;
control circuit means, when energized, causing the source to flash and provide sequentisl, like, timed and spaced, incremental pulses of light energy, said control circuit means including a manually actuatable switch assembly for energizing the control circuit means for a selectable period, the length of the period being independent of the length of time of actuation of the switch assembly, and a selected period being of such durQtion that the sum of the energies of the incremental pulses of light are proper to effect lifelessness in a hair body.
The preferred embodiments of this invention now will be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings accompanyin~ this specification in which:
Figure 1 depicts a scene in which an electrologist is performing a photoepilation procedure upon the hairs on the back of a patient;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;
Figure 3 is Q front side view of anotber embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and Figure 4 is a block diagram of an other embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.
In Figure 1, an electrologist or operator 10 is removin~ hair from the back 12 of a patient 14 usine a pro~imately located photoepilation apparatus indicated generally by the reference character 16. Apparatus 16 comprises a probe 18 held in the right hand of electrologist 10 and an optical cable 20 connecting the probe 18 to the apparatus 16. Optical cable 20 comprises fle~ible optical transmission means such as optical fibers. Apparatus 16 further includes a foot switch assembly 22 connected thereto by an electrical cable 24. Assembly 15 is operatively located under the right foot of the electrologist. The electrologist 10 comfortably is seated opposite the bare back 12 of the seated patient 14. The electrologist 10 wears e~tended loupe carrying eyeglasses 26 in order to see better the hair follicles on the ~560-1 patient's back 12 and holds a psir of tweezers 28 in his left hand for removing lifeless hairs.
Typically all of the hairs or hair bodies to be remoYed from one region of a person's skin, such as face, arms, back, legs, are of one to three types, and the light energy thut must be applied to each hair of one type to effect lifelessness therein is constant. Thus, once Q particular quantity of light enerey to effect lifelessness is established for a hair type, that quantity need only be repeatedly supplied to each hair root to perform the photoepilation.
In Figures 3 and 4, apparatus 16 includes a bo~-like housing or container 30 providing a face plate 32 on which are located a PERIOD AD3UST knob 34 and a HODE CONTROL knob 36. Interior of container 30, a pulsed light source 38, including a flash lamp, produces or sources light energy throueh the optical cable 20 to probe 18. The light energy is output from the tip 40 of the probe. The foot switch assembly 22, having one pair of normally open contacts 42 is connected to the apparatus by electric~l cable 24. A control circuit 41, comprising mode selector circuit 44, timer circuit 46 and variable RC
circuit 48, operate generally to produce timed and spaced pulses of light energy in source 38, and thereby to probe tip 40. ~ode selector circuit 44 determines whether the flash lamp will be operated in one of three modes:
manually, for a period of time commencing and ending respectively with the closing and opening of contacts 42 by wiper or foot pedal 50; for a variable period commencing with the closing of contacts 42 by foot pedal 50 and estending for a duration determined by the setting of the variable RC circuit by ~nob 34 through shaft 52; and continuously for a period of time commencing with the closine of contacts 42 by foot pedal 50 and ending with a second closing of contacts 42 by foot pedal 50. In all cases, contacts 42 are closed by electrolo~ist 10 depressing his or her foot on foot pedal 50 and are opened by the technologist raising his or her foot from the foot pedal. Rotation of kn~b 36 through shaft 54 effects selection of the desired mode.
In the manual and continuous modes, closing of contacts 42 is conducted to mode control circuit 44 by wires 56 from cable 24. In the variable period mode, c~ble 24 directly carries the signal indicating closing of contacts 42 to variable RC circuit 48 and timer circuit 46. Timer 46 then produces a signal on wire 58 to selector 44 that has a period corresponding to that ~ 3i~
indicated by knob 34. In ~ll three c~ses, mode selector circuit 44 includes a circuit to energize light source 38 and obtain regular timed and spaced pulses of light therefrom. The timing and spacing of the pulses is fixed to obtain equal but incremental quantities from ench pulse of light energy. The only ~ariable afforded by the control circuit 41 thus is the number of pulses or incremental quantities of light energy source to probe tip 40. The control circuit 41 does not count the number of pulses but provides them for a selected period.
In operation, the electrologist selects the variable period mode by rotating knob 36 and selects a certain period corresponding to the quantity of light energy, in the form of the timed and spaced pulses, required to be sourced at the tip 40 to effect lifelessness i~ a particular type of hair body. Selection occurs by rotation of knob 34 to vary the resistance or capacitance of clrcuit 48. The electrologist then adjusts his or her head to sight on one hair follicle, properly places the probe tip 40 in the vicinity of the follicle and depresses the foot pedal wiper 50 once. The control circuit then automatically, and independently of the length of time that the contacts 42 are closed, causes 6 series of timed and spaced ~ulses of light -~ energy, for the selected period, to be sourced to the probe tip 40, and therefrom to the hair body to effect lifelessness therein. The electrologist then removes the lieeless hair body from the follicle, and moves to the next follicle, repeating the described procedure.
The method and apparatus of the invention thus relieve the electrologist from the ~anual counting of time or pulses to effect the lifelessness with the li~ht e~ergy. The termination of the selected period is seen by the electrologist by the lack of light pulses being supplied to the follicle from the probe tip. Operation in the manual and continuous mode is similar to that described in the previous paragraph but requiring a different actuation of the foot pedal 50 for each respective mode.
In Figure 2, a second embodiment of the photoepilation apparatus of the invention is indicated generally by reference character 60. The same reference characters indicate the same elements in Figures 2, 3 and 4.
Apparatus 60 comprises container 30, optical cable 20, probe 18, probe tip 40 and pulsed light source 38 previously described. A control circuit 62 includes a timer circuit 64, four resistor-capacitor networks RCl-RC4, 7560-~

respectively, 66-72, a switch assembly 74 and an electricsl cable 76.
Assembly 74 provides four, normally open pairs of contacts or switches 78-84.
Switches 78-84 are mounted on a panel for operation by the electrologist's foot and may be, for e~ample, push button switches. Four pairs of wires 86 connect the contacts of each switch to its respective resistor-capacitor circuit, these wire pairs forming cable 76. In turn, each resistor-capacitor circuit 66-72 is connected to timer circuit 64 by four separate wires 88.
Timer circuit 64 is connected to li~ht source 38 by wire 90.
Control circuit 62 provides four fixed and individually selectsble periods of production of the light ener~y pulses from light source 3~ corresponding to the four switches 78-84. Switch 84 provides a period of fifteen (15) minutes, switch 82 provides a period of ten (10) seconds, switch 80 provides a period of thirty (30~ seconds and switch 50 provides a period of fifty S50) seconds.
Actuating any one switch 78-84 energizes the corresponding resistor-capacitor circuit and causes timer circuit 6b to produce pulsin~
signAls on wire 90 for the selected period. The pulsing signals on wire 90 cause the flash lamp in light source 38 to flash at regular timed and spaced intervals for the period, providing equal energy light energy pulses at probe tip 40.
The photoepilation procedure performance with apparatus 60 is similar to the procedure performance with apparatus 16, e~cept there is no setting of a mode or period. Instead, selecting a certain period occurs by selecting the desired foot actuated push button switch, which then is depressed to source the required guantsty of light energy at the probe tip. Sourcing the light energy pulses is independent of the length of time that the selected switch is actuated.
Selection of the period or energy necessary to effect lifelessness in a particular type of hair is by experiment or otherwise as desired.
~nown timing circuits, including monostable multivibrators, can provide the period signals in an apparatus 60. One circuit may provide each fixed period or one circuit may provide all four fixed periods. A known timing circuit, such as a monostable multivibrator can provide the single variable period circuit in apparatus 16. In either case, a circuit such as a monostable multivibrator or one shot, provides a timing signal having a period independent of the switch closure or actuation time. This frees the electrologist from the requirement of having to re~ulate or control, by counting, the light energy applied to each hair body.
Different control and timing circu;ts, and switch arrQngements and locations can be employed.
Thus, the invention involves providing a proper or certian quantity of light energy at the tip of a probe sufficient to effect lifelessness in a hair body upon the closure of a pair of switch contacts, independent of the duration of the closure of the switch contacts. The quantity of light ener~y is provided in the form of incremental flashes or pulses of light energy, each of which having a lieht energy quantity equal to the others, but less than the proper quantity. The pulses are provided in like, timed ~nd spaced relation to one another so that providîng a series of the pulses for a selected duration period provides the proper quantity of light energy. In effect, the sum of the energies of the light pulses provided in the selected period equals the proper quantity of lieht energy to effect the lifelessness.
The demands upon the electrologist are alleviated by the electrolo~ist selecting the period by setting the period duration to obtain the proper quantity of light energy to effect the lifelessness in a particular type of hair located on such as a face, an arm or a back. Then for each hair of the type, the electrologist need only actuate a switch once to obtain the proper quantity of light ener~y. The duration of the actuation of the switch need not be precisely regulated by the electrologist because the duration of the selected period is independent of the duration of switch closure.
The apparatus of the invention comprises a flash lamp and control circuit assembly, a hand held probe connected to the flash lamp by a bundle of fle~ible, optical fibers and a foot switch assembly electrically connscted to the control circuit by a cable. The control cir~uit is operable, in reaction to actuation of the foot switch, to flash the lamp in timed and spaced pulses of equal light energy.
The foot switch assembly comprises a plurality of switches, one switch for each of a plurality of fi~ed periods. Selecting the certain period then comprises placing the operator's foot above the switch correspondin~ to the quantity of li~ht energy required to effect the lifelessness in the type of hair to be removed from the subject patient. Alternatively, the control circuit includes a variable timer for selecting the certain period and the ~ 3f~

foot swit~h assembly comprises one switch for commencing tbe period.
Selecting the period thus comprises ~oving the wiper of a variable resistor or capacitor to a particular setting.

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE
IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for performing photoepilation, comprising:
a flash lamp source of light energy;
optical cable means, terminating at a tip of a hand held probe, for conducting light energy from said source to said tip;
control circuit means connected to said source which, when energized, generates pulses of electrical energy which are transmitted to said source, causing the source to flash and provide sequential, like, timed and spaced, incremental pulses of light energy, said control circuit means including a manually actuatable switch assembly for energizing the control circuit means for a selectable period, the length of the period being independent of the length of time of actuation of the switch assembly, said selectable period being of such duration that the sum of the energies of the incremental pulses of light are proper to effect lifelessness in a hair body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said control circuit means include a timer circuit and a connected variable resistor-capacitor circuit, the timer circuit providing a period signal having a duration corresponding to the set variation of the resistor-capacitor circuit, the switch assembly including one switch with normally open contracts, which when closed commence the period signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said control circuit means include a mode selector circuit used to select at least the period signal of said timer circuit to determine said selectable period.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said control circuit includes at least one timer circuit connected to a plurality of fixed resistor-capacitor circuits, when selected, each fixed resistor-capacitor circuit causing the timer circuit to produce a period signal of respective fixed duration, the switch assembly including one switch connected to only one fixed resistor-capacitor circuit, so that one fixed duration period signal results from actuating one switch.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which there are four switches, four fixed resistor-capacitor circuits and one timer circuit.
CA000463965A 1983-09-26 1984-09-25 Method and apparatus for photoepilation Expired CA1261404A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US535,857 1983-09-26
US06/535,857 US4608978A (en) 1983-09-26 1983-09-26 Method and apparatus for photoepiltion

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1261404A true CA1261404A (en) 1989-09-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000463965A Expired CA1261404A (en) 1983-09-26 1984-09-25 Method and apparatus for photoepilation

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4608978A (en)
EP (1) EP0142671B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6092701A (en)
AT (1) ATE52408T1 (en)
CA (1) CA1261404A (en)
DE (1) DE3482160D1 (en)

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US4608978A (en) 1986-09-02
ATE52408T1 (en) 1990-05-15
EP0142671A1 (en) 1985-05-29
EP0142671B1 (en) 1990-05-09

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