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US 5,879,346 AGranted
Hair removal by selective photothermolysis with an alexandrite laser
AssigneeESC Medical Systems Ltd.
InventorsAmir Waldman, Zvi Rozenberg, Ofer Braude, Michael Slatkine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hair removal by using an Alexandrite laser emitting energy between 0.2-40 joules per pulse to provide an energy fluence between 15 and 70 joules per centimeter square and having a pulse duration of between 100 microseconds and 10 milliseconds. A scanner may be used to direct the laser beam on the tissue. The skin in the area to be irradiated may be shaved prior to exposure to laser treatment and may be also covered by a protective substance serving as a heat sink.
Claims22
A laser surgery apparatus to remove hair, comprising:
- an Alexandrite laser that generates at least one pulsed laser beam that travels in a path and of sufficient energy and pulse duration to damage a hair follicle;
- a protective substance arranged in said path to help protect an external surface of the skin against overheating otherwise arising from the pulsed laser beam;
- and
- a transparent sheet arranged in said path and bearing non-transparent markings that are arranged to provide an indication of where the pulsed laser beam passes through said protective substance, whereby hair follicles that are in the path become damaged by the at least one pulsed laser beam.
1 more element
A laser surgery apparatus to remove hair, comprising:
- an Alexandrite laser that generates at least one pulsed laser beam that travels in a path and of sufficient energy and pulse duration to damage hair follicle;
- a protective substance arranged in said path to help protect an external surface of the skin against overheating otherwise arising from the pulsed laser beam;
- and
- a projector that projects markings that are arranged to provide an indication of where the pulsed laser beam passes through said protective substance onto the protective substance by shining light through a transparent sheet having markings.
1 more element
A laser surgery apparatus to remove hair, comprising:
- an Alexandrite laser that generates at least one pulsed laser beam that travels in a path and of sufficient energy and pulse duration to damage hair follicle;
- a protective substance arranged in said path to help protect an external surface of the skin against overheating otherwise arising from the pulsed laser beam;
- and
- an enclosure containing said protective substance, said enclosure being interposed in said path;
- wherein said enclosure includes a plurality of sheets of transparent material.
2 more elements
A method of laser surgery to remove hair, comprising:
- generating at least one pulsed laser beam that travels in a path from an Alexandrite laser and of sufficient energy and pulse duration to damage a hair follicle;
- interposing a protective substance in the path to help protect an external surface of the skin against overheating otherwise arising from the pulsed laser beam;
- and
- indicating with markings where the pulsed laser beam passes through the protective substance, whereby hair follicles that are in the path become damaged by the at least one pulsed laser beam.
1 more element
A method of hair removal, comprising the step of applying at least one Alexandrite laser pulse to at least one hair follicle, said Alexandrite laser pulse having sufficient pulse duration and radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy to damage said at least one hair follicle so that percentage hair growth diminishes and scarring of the surrounding skin is minimized
- wherein the step of applying provides an energy fluence on the tissue substantially in the range 25 to 50 J/cm.sup.2 that results in a percentage growth of hairs after 3 months that is in accordance with a relationship between percentage growth after 3 months and energy fluence, the relationship being characterized by a curve profile whose coordinates include:
- 30% growth of hairs after 3 months @ 50 J/cm.sup.2
- 50% growth of hair after 3 months @ 37 J/cm.sup.2
- 70% growth of hairs after 3 months @ 25 J/cm.sup.2.
1 more element
A method of hair removal, comprising the steps of:
- applying at least one Alexandrite laser pulse to at least one hair follicle, said Alexandrite laser pulse having sufficient pulse duration and radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy to damage said at least one hair follicle so that percentage hair growth diminishes and scarring of the surrounding skin is minimized;
- and
- shaving the hair before the step of applying so that the hair does not protrude from the skin to a position that would scatter radiant energy from the laser pulse upon impingement.
An apparatus for hair removal, comprising:
- a. an Alexandrite laser source for generating at least one alexandrite laser pulse having a sufficient pulse duration and radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy to damage at least one hair follicle so that percentage hair growth diminishes and scarring of the surrounding skin is minimized;
- and
- b. a laser beam director that directs said laser pulses to said at least one hair follicle,
- wherein said laser beam director is adapted to be aligned over said at least one hair follicle opening in tissue, said beam director having an aperture of sufficient area to surround said at least one hair follicle and overlie its papilla so that said at least one pulse of laser radiation is directed through said aperture to said at least one hair follicle.
1 more element
An apparatus for hair removal, comprising:
- a. an Alexandrite laser source for generating at least one alexandrite laser pulse having a sufficient pulse duration and radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy to damage at least one hair follicle so that percentage hair growth diminishes and scarring of the surrounding skin is minimized;
- b. a laser beam director that directs said laser pulses to said at least one hair follicle;
- and
- c. staining means for deploying any one of stain or stained lotion so as to absorb at least part of said at least one laser pulse.
1 more element
An apparatus for hair removal, comprising:
- a. an Alexandrite laser source for generating at least one alexandrite laser pulse having a sufficient pulse duration and radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy to damage at least one hair follicle so that percentage hair growth diminishes and scarring of the surrounding skin is minimized;
- and
- b. a laser beam director that directs said laser pulses to said at least one hair follicle,
- wherein said laser source is adapted to provide a level of energy fluence on the tissue substantially in the range of 25 to 50 J/cm.sup.2 that results in a percentage growth of hairs after 3 months that is in accordance with a relationship between percentage hair growth after 3 months and energy fluence, the relationship being characterized by a curve profile whose coordinates include:
- 30% growth of hairs after 3 months @ 50 J/cm.sup.2
- 50% growth of hairs after 3 months @ 37 J/cm.sup.2
- 70% growth of hairs after 3 months @ 25 J/cm.sup.2.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.