Hair removal system

(54) HAIR REMOVAL SYSTEM

(76) Inventor: Robert Tapper, 1935 Armacost Ave., Los Angeles, CA (US) 90025

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/464,591

(22) Filed: Dec. 16, 1999

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/696,721, filed on Aug. 14, 1996, now Pat. No. 6,094,594.

(51) Int. C I. A61M 31/00

(52) U.S. CI 604/501; 604/20; 606/43

(58) Field of Search 604/20, 501; 606/36,

606/43, 33, 131; 8/161, 94.17, 94.16; 514/947

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,194,736 7/1965 Braun et al. .

4,121,904 10/1978 Schamper .

4,325,367 4/1982 Tapper .

4,618,344 10/1986 Wells .

5,215,520 6/1993 Shroot et al. .

5,224,927 7/1993 Tapper .

5,897,857 * 4/1999 Hillebrand et al. .

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0 555 510 8/1993 (EP) . 2196820 3/1974 (FR) . WO 94/17776 8/1994 (WO) .

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Skin reactions. I. Mechanism ol Histamine Intophoresis From Aqueous Media, by Harold A. Abramson, M.D. &

Armine Alley, Archives ol Physical Therapy, X-Ray, Radium, Jun. 1937, pp. 327-332.

Transport Mechanisms In Iontophoresis by Pikal M.J., 1 page.

Increased Penetration ol Nonelectrolytes In Mouse Skin During Iontophorotic Water Transport (Iontohydrokinesis) by Louis P. Gangarosa, No-Hee Par, Carold A Wiggins and James M. Hill, vol. 212, 1 page.

Five Effects Which Occur In the Tissues When The Galvanic Current Is Applied by Clayton Williams, Medical Galvanism—Indications & Techniques, 2 pages. Iontophoretic Delivery ol Drugs: Fundamentals, Developments and Biomedical Applications by Ajay K. Banga and Yie W. Chien, 1 page.

Skin Permeability by H. Schaeler, A. Zesch & G. Stuttgen, Springer-Verlag, 1982, 2 pages.

Iontophoretic Transport ol Nonelectrolytes, 1980, 1 page. Iontophoretic Devices for Drug Delivery by Praveen Tyle, Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 3, Nov. 6, 1986, 1 page. Depilatories by Richard H. Barry, Ph.D., Chapter 18, Cosmetics: Science and Technology, Bassam & Sagarin, pp. 39-72.

Chemical Removal ol Hair by Allen J. Natow, MD, Cosmetology, Aug. 1986, pp. 91& 92.

The Direct Current and Ion Transler by Arthur L. Watkins, M.D., A Manual ol Electrotherapy, 3rd Edition, 2 pages.

(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—Mark Bockelman

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulwider Patton Lee &

Utecht, LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for selective long term and/or permanent hair removal from a biological subject by iontophoretic delivery ol a chemical depilatory agent and a substance for increasing skin permeability, e.g. sodium salicylate, deeply into a hair removal site for effecting varying degrees ol damage to hair roots.

15 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Removal of Hair By Electrophoresis of Lydasa In Saturated Solution of Sodium Chloride by T. Y. Gorshkova, Leningrad Cosmetic Clinic, 3 pages.

Treatment by Ion Transfer (Iontophoresis) by D. Abramowitsch, M.D. and B. Neoussikine, M.D., 1946, 2 pages. Hair Removal Techniques: Part Two by Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D., Cosmetic Dermatology, Nov. 1990, pp. 12-14. Cream Depilatory, Organics Chemicals Div. of W. R. Grace & Co., Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties, Feb. 1991, 1 page.

Physical Methods For The Management of Hirsutism by Richard F. Wagner, Jr., M.D., Cutis, vol. 45, May 1990, p. 319.

Effects of Proteolytic Enzymes Papain, Chymotrypsin and Trypsin on The Guinea Pig Skin, With Special Reference to The Hair Follicle by E. Protopapa, A. Tsigonia-Primikirodou & N. G. Stavrianeas, Epitheorese Klinkikes Farmakologias Kai Farmakokinetikes, International Edition 1994, pp. 84—88 plus 2 data entry pages.

Physical Therapy In Skin by Karlheinz Woeber-Bonn, In: Handbuch der Haut—and Geschlechtskrankheiten, Suppl. vol. 5, Part 2. Ed.: Jadassohn, J. Berlin-Gottingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1959, 14 pages.

* cited by examiner