Apparatus and method employing lasers for removal of hair

A laser apparatus for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles from the skin of a patient, comprising:

• a) at least first and second lasers for emitting at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy each having a pulse width in the range of 1/2 ms to 40 ms;
• being a parametrically defined pulse group;
• b) light transmission means connected to said at least first and second lasers for transmitting said at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy to the same spot on the skin of a patient through a common light transmission path for removing hair follicles;
• c) means for controlling said at least first and second lasers to emit said at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy sequentially, with a time delay of less than 100 milliseconds between the sequential pulses from said at least first and second lasers;
• and
• d) a handpiece for holding a section of said common light transmission path for focusing said at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy on a selected spot of the patient's skin to remove the plurality of hair follicles.

A method of removing hair from the skin of a patient using a laser apparatus having at least first and second lasers, a sequence control device and an optical delivery system, comprising the steps of:

• a) controlling said at least first and second lasers to sequentially emit at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy, respectively, each having a pulse width in the range of 1/2 ms to 40 ms;
• b) transmitting said at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy to the same spot on the skin of the patient through a common light transmission pathway;
• c) irradiating the same spot on the skin containing the hair with said at least first and second sequential pulses of coherent light energy transmitted through said common light transmission pathway from said at least first and second lasers;
• d) pulsing said first laser at a wavelength in the range of 550 to 1200 nm, at a power level in the range of 5 to 80 Joules/cm.sup.2, at a pulse duration in the range 1/2 to 40 milliseconds, having a pulse delay in the range of 5 to 100 milliseconds, and having a beam diameter on the treatment area in the range of 4 to 50 mm;
• and
• e) pulsing said second laser at a wavelength in the range of 550 to 1200 nm, at a power level in the range of 5 to 80 Joules/cM.sup.2, at a pulse duration in the range of 1/2 to 40 milliseconds, having a pulse delay in the range of 5 to 100 milliseconds, and having a beam diameter on the treatment area in the range of 4 to 50 mm.

A method of removing hair from the skin of a patient using a laser apparatus having at least first and second lasers, a sequence control device and an optical delivery system, comprising the steps of:

• a) controlling said at least first and second lasers to sequentially emit at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy, respectively, each having a pulse width in the range of 1/2 ms to 40 ms;
• b) transmitting said at least first and second pulses of coherent light energy to the same spot on the skin of the patient through a common light transmission pathway;
• c) irradiating the same spot on the skin containing the hair with said at least first and second sequential pulses of coherent light energy transmitted through said common light transmission pathway from said at least first and second lasers;
• and
• d) pulsing said first and second lasers to have a pulse delay between said first and second pulses less than the thermal relaxation time (TRT) of the patient's hair being treated to remove the patient's hair and in order to avoid burning of the patient's skin, said pulse delay between said first and second pulses being less than 100 ms.