Skin treating device comprising a protected radiation exit opening

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for the treatment of skin (7) by means of radiation. The device comprises a housing (3) accommodating a radiation source (9) and having an exit opening (15) for the radiation. The device has a control unit (37) which activates the radiation source only if the presence of the skin immediately in front of the exit opening is detected by a detector (43) that co-operates with the control unit. As a result, the radiation source cannot be activated if the exit opening is not covered. According to the invention, the detector (43) is suitable for measuring a biophysical property by means of which human skin can be characterized, and the control unit (37) comprises a comparator for comparing a value or condition of said property, which is measured by the detector, with a value or condition of the property characteristic of the human skin. As a result, the radiation source can be activated only if human skin is present immediately in front of the exit opening, and not, for example, if the exit opening is covered with a glass plate. Preferably, the detector is suitable for measuring a scattering and/or absorption coefficient of the skin for light having a predetermined wavelength. Alternatively, the detector is suitable for measuring a reflection coefficient of the skin for light having a predetermined wavelength. In a preferred embodiment, in which the detector is provided in a skin contact element (21) in which the exit opening (15) is provided, the detector also detects the presence of the skin against the skin contact member. The invention can be used, for example, in a hair removing device (1, 1′, 83) such as a laser epilator, a laser shaver or a flashlight epilator, but also in devices for the medical treatment of skin by means of radiation, such as photodermatology systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.