US5595568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Permanent hair removal using optical pulses
Assignee: General Hospital Corp
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Filing: 1995-02-01
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Granted: 1997-01-21
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Expires: 2015-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for simultaneously removing multiple hair follicles from a skin region of a patient. The method includes the step of illuminating the hair follicles with a large-area, optical radiation field by way of a transparent contact device proximal to the skin region. This allows portions of the hair follicles to be heated and then removed, while the surrounding skin region is left relatively free of injury.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Rox Anderson
- 👤 Melanie Grossman
- 👤 William Farinelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00752; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22085; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61B2090/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of simultaneously removing multiple hairs, each of which is in a corresponding follicle, from a skin region of a patient, said method comprising illuminating the hairs and follicles with a large-area optical radiation field delivered by a transparent device in contact with the skin region, wherein said illuminating heats the hairs and follicles so that the hairs are removed while leaving the skin region substantially free of injury.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of simultaneously removing multiple hairs, each of which is in a corresponding follicle, from a skin region of a patient, said method comprising illuminating the hairs and follicles with a large-area optical radiation field delivered by a transparent device in contact with the skin region, wherein said illuminating heats the hairs and follicles so that the hairs are removed while leaving the skin region substantially free of injury.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a substance is applied to the skin region prior to illuminating the region to facilitate the transfer of optical radiation to the hairs end follicles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the skin region has an epidermis layer which is in contact with said device, and wherein the device, when in contact with the, epidermis layer is cooled to a temperature below that of the skin region in order to increase the damage threshold of the epidermis layer in the skin region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the optical radiation is pulsed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the optical radiation has a pulse duration of between 10 and 30 ms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the radiation pulse has an energy of between 10 and 1000 J/cm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the radiation pulse has an energy of between 30 and 50 J/cm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the optical radiation is one which is selectively absorbed by the follicles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the wavelength is between 680 and 1200 nm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength is between 800 and 900 nm or between 1000 and 1200 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the large-area radiation field has an area of between 0.5 and 1.2 cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the radiation field has an area of between 0.75 and 1 cm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including applying pressure to the device, whereby the skin region in contact therewith is deformed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A hair-removal device for simultaneously removing multiple hairs, each of which is in a corresponding follicle, from a skin region of a patient, comprising: means for generating optical radiation; and an irradiating unit including a contact device comprising a large-area, optically transparent apparatus having a surface shaped to contact said skin region, said contact device receiving radiation from said means for generating and then delivering the radiation to the skin region of the patient, including the hairs and follicles in said skin region, through said surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A hair-removal device for simultaneously removing multiple hairs, each of which is in a corresponding follicle, from a skin region of a patient, comprising: means for generating optical radiation; and an irradiating unit including a contact device comprising a large-area, optically transparent apparatus having a surface shaped to contact said skin region, said contact device receiving radiation from said means for generating and then delivering the radiation to the skin region of the patient, including the hairs and follicles in said skin region, through said surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The hair removal device of claim 14, wherein said surface is convex.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The hair-removal device of claim 15, wherein said contact device includes a lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hair removal device of claim 15 wherein said apparatus is applied to the skin region under pressure, whereby the skin region is deformed to bring at least most of said convex surface into contact with said skin region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hair-removal device of claim 14, wherein said optically transparent apparatus comprises material selected from the group consisting of sapphire, fused quartz, fused silica, polymeric materials, and glass.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hair-removal device of claim 18, wherein said optically transparent material has a refractive index substantially matched to that of the skin region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The hair-removal device of claim 19, wherein said material is sapphire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hair removal device of claim 14 including means for cooling the surface of the optically transparent apparatus in contact with said skin region to a temperature below that of the skin region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hair removal device of claim 21 wherein said means for cooling includes means for passing cooled water through said apparatus near said surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |