US5752948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hair removal method
Assignee: Thermolase Corp
•
Filing: 1995-06-19
•
Granted: 1998-05-19
•
Expires: 2015-06-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a process for the destruction of unwanted human hair. Hair ducts in a section of skin in which the unwanted hair are growing is contaminated with a contaminant having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light. The skin section is then illuminated with light at the frequency band of high absorption so as to impact sufficient energy to the contaminant so as to cause death to the hairs growing in the ducts. In a preferred embodiment the contaminant is a mixture of 1 micron graphite particles in mineral oil and each section is illuminated with about 5 laser pulses at 1.06 micron wavelength produced by a Nd:YAG laser, each pulse having an energy density of about 3 Joules/cm 2 and a pulse width of about 10 nanoseconds. In another preferred embodiment the hairs in the section of skin being treated are pulled out prior to application of the contaminant so as to provide more space for the contaminant in the hair duct. In still another preferred embodiment a portion of the hairs below the skin surface is removed with a depilatory. In still another preferred embodiment C 60 molecules, buckey balls, are the absorbing elements in the contaminant.
Inventors
- 👤 Nikolai Tankovich
- 👤 Richard G. Episcopo
- 👤 Lawrence Sverdrup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61K; A61K8/00; A61K8/18; A61K8/19; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0092; A61Q; A61Q7/00; A61Q7/02; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00761; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22085; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61K2800/00; A61K2800/80; A61K2800/81; A61M2037/0007; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/062; A61N5/067; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/70; Y10S977/773; Y10S977/775; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/841; Y10S977/902; Y10S977/932; Y10S977/949; Y10S977/95; Y10S977/951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A process for inhibiting growth of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light at said at least one frequency band, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of explosions in said contaminant so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause further explosions in said contaminant to further spread said contaminant toward the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said contaminant causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to cause long term inhibition of growth of at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A process for inhibiting growth of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light at said at least one frequency band, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of explosions in said contaminant so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause further explosions in said contaminant to further spread said contaminant toward the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said contaminant causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to cause long term inhibition of growth of at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said short pulses of light are provided by a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wave length of about 1.06 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said contaminant comprises about 15% to about 20% concentration by volume of small particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein a large portion of said small particles are small enough to penetrate said hair duct but larger than 1 micron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein a large portion of said small particles are small enough to penetrate said hair duct but larger than 0.5 micron.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein said pulses are repeated until substantially all of the small particles have been exploded into fragments and substantially all of the fragments remaining in the hair ducts are smaller than about 0.1 micron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 6 wherein said short pulses are continued until substantially all the fragments are smaller than 0.05 micron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein said particles are graphite particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein said contaminant is applied in such a manner as to leave a thin film of contaminant on the surface of the skin section prior to illumination, and the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to explode a substantial number of the particles in said thin film so as to define a footprint of said first pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein said short pulses define a pulse duration and the pulse duration measured at one half maximum power is no longer than about 50 nanoseconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 10 wherein said short pulses of light are provided by a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wave length of about 1.06 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 11 wherein said laser is in free running mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein said short pulses define a pulse duration and the pulse duration measured at one half maximum power is no longer than about 10 nanoseconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein the beam of said laser has an energy density of about 3 J/cm 2 and the energy of each pulse is about 1.5 J.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein the width of said pulses is from about 275 ns to about 200 μs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein the beam of said laser has a spot size of about 0.5 cm 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein said pulses repeat at a frequency of about 10 Hz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said short pulses of light are provided by a CO 2 laser operating at a wave length of about 10.6 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 18 wherein said pulses repeat at a frequency of about 8 Hz to about 30 Hz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 18 wherein the beam of said laser has a spot size of about 1 cm 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 18 wherein the beam of said laser is scanned over said skin section at a rate of about 20 to about 30 sec/10 cm 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 18 wherein the energy of each said pulses is about 1.5 J.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said contaminant comprises C 60 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 23 wherein a large portion of said small particles are small enough to penetrate said hair ducts but larger than 0.5 micron.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as in claim 23 wherein short pulses are repeated until substantially all of the small particles have been exploded into fragments and substantially all of fragments remaining in the hair ducts are smaller than 0.1 micron.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 25 wherein said short pulses are continued until substantially all the fragments are smaller than 0.05 microns.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as in claim 23 wherein said contaminant is applied in such a manner as to leave a thin film of contaminant on the surface of the skin section prior to illumination, and the first of said short pulses has sufficient energy to explode a substantial number of the particles in said thin film so as to define a footprint of said first pulse.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 23 wherein said short pulses define a pulse duration and the pulse duration measured at one half maximum power is no longer than about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 1 and further comprising the steps of removing a portion of said plurality of said hairs from within said hair ducts prior to applying said contaminant.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 and further comprising the step of extracting a plurality of said hairs prior to applying said contaminant.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
193 words
A process for the inhibiting growth of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant comprising a very large number of small graphite particles, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light which is readily absorbed in graphite, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said graphite particles to explode into two or more fragments so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said fragments to further explode into additional fragments to further spread said contaminant towards the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said particles and fragments causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to inhibit growth of at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
193 words
A process for the inhibiting growth of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant comprising a very large number of small graphite particles, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light which is readily absorbed in graphite, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said graphite particles to explode into two or more fragments so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said fragments to further explode into additional fragments to further spread said contaminant towards the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said particles and fragments causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to inhibit growth of at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
185 words
A process for the destruction of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant comprising small graphite particles, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light that is readily absorbed in graphite, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said graphite particles to explode into two or more fragments so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said fragments to further explode into additional fragments to further spread said contaminant towards the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said particles and fragments causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to destroy at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
185 words
A process for the destruction of a plurality of hairs growing in hair ducts on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant comprising small graphite particles, said application being performed in a manner so as to assure that at least a portion of said contaminant infiltrates into said hair ducts, (b) illuminating said skin section with a plurality of short pulses of light that is readily absorbed in graphite, the first of said short pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said graphite particles to explode into two or more fragments so as to spread said contaminant in said hair ducts and subsequent pulses having sufficient energy to cause a plurality of said fragments to further explode into additional fragments to further spread said contaminant towards the base of said hair ducts, said explosions and energy transferred to and from said particles and fragments causing damage to skin tissue surrounding the base of said hair ducts so as to destroy at least a portion of the hairs growing in said ducts.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 32 wherein said short pulses of light are provided by a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wave length of about 1.06 microns.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein a large portion of said small particles are small enough to penetrate said hair ducts but larger than 0.5 micron.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein said short pulses are repeated until substantially all of the small particles have been exploded into fragments and substantially all of the fragments remaining in the hair ducts are smaller than 0.1 micron.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein said contaminant is applied in such a manner as to leave a thin film of contaminant on the surface of the skin section prior to illumination and the first of said short pulses has sufficient energy to explode a substantial number of the particles in said thin film so as to define a footprint of said first pulse.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein said short pulses are continued until substantially all the fragments are smaller than 0.05 microns.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein said short pulses define a pulse duration and the pulse duration measured at one half maximum power is no longer than about 10 nanoseconds.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 33 wherein said laser is in free running mode.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 39 wherein said short pulses define a pulse duration and the pulse duration measured at one half maximum power is no longer than about 10 nanoseconds.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 39 wherein the beam of said laser has an energy density of about 3 J/cm 2 and the energy of each pulse is about 1.5 J.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 39 wherein the width of said pulses is from about 275 ns to about 200 μs.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 39 wherein the beam of said laser has a spot size of about 0.5 cm 2 .
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 39 wherein said pulses repeat at a frequency of about 10 Hz.
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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) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |