US5853407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for hair removal
Assignee: MEDICAL LASER SOLUTIONS LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-18
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Granted: 1998-12-29
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Expires: 2017-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A laser treatment method for removing unwanted human hair includes irradiating a treatment site with post-coherent light of selected wavelength and peak power level and post duration, and repeating the post-coherent laser irradiation on one or more subsequent occasions with selected light parameters. A therapeutic treatment device has a laser and associated support elements and has a dermatology handpiece with a distance gage, a conduit for applying pressure and/or cooling to the treatment site and, optionally, cooling elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Iain D. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A laser treatment method for the removal of unwanted hair from the skin of a human, said method comprising the steps of irradiating on a first occasion a treatment site comprising a chosen section of human skin containing at least one hair growing within a hair follicular structure with pulsed coherent light with wavelength in the range 650-1000 nm, said light having a peak power level in the range 1-500 Watts and a pulse duration of 1-99 milliseconds and said diameter of treatment beam being in the range 1-5 mm; allowing the skin to heal for a period of 1-3 months; irradiating the treatment site on each of a set of subsequent occasions with pulsed coherent light with a wavelength in the range 650-1000 nm, said light having a peak power level of 1-500 Watts and a pulse duration of 1-99 milliseconds and said diameter of treatment beam being in the range 1-5 mm; and pre-cooling the treatment site, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A laser treatment method for the removal of unwanted hair from the skin of a human, said method comprising the steps of irradiating on a first occasion a treatment site comprising a chosen section of human skin containing at least one hair growing within a hair follicular structure with pulsed coherent light with wavelength in the range 650-1000 nm, said light having a peak power level in the range 1-500 Watts and a pulse duration of 1-99 milliseconds and said diameter of treatment beam being in the range 1-5 mm; allowing the skin to heal for a period of 1-3 months; irradiating the treatment site on each of a set of subsequent occasions with pulsed coherent light with a wavelength in the range 650-1000 nm, said light having a peak power level of 1-500 Watts and a pulse duration of 1-99 milliseconds and said diameter of treatment beam being in the range 1-5 mm; and pre-cooling the treatment site, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser treatment method in claim 1, wherein pre-cooling the treatment site includes application of chilled water or gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser treatment method in claim 2, further comprising the step of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser treatment method in claim 2, further comprising the step of flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laser treatment method in claim 2, further comprising the steps of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized; and flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser treatment method of claim 1, wherein pre-cooling the treatment site includes direct thermoelectric cooling of a handheld laser device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser treatment method in claim 6, further comprising the step of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser treatment method in claim 6, further comprising the step of flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laser treatment method in claim 6, further comprising the steps of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized; and flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser treatment method of claim 1, wherein pre-cooling the treatment site includes application of chilled water or gas and direct thermoelectric cooling of a handheld laser device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser treatment method in claim 10, further comprising the step of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser treatment method in claim 10, further comprising the step of flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laser treatment method in claim 10, further comprising the steps of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized; and flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser treatment method in claim 1, further comprising the step of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser treatment method in claim 1, further comprising the step of flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laser treatment method in claim 1, further comprising the steps of aligning the hairs vertically, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized; and flattening local tissue structures by application of positive or negative pressure, thereby restricting local blood flow, such that damage to the skin tissue surrounding the hairs is minimized.
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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) | 2001-12-28 | 2002-06-29 | 2002-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-28 | 2006-06-29 | 2006-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-28 | 2010-06-29 | 2010-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |