US5871480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hair removal using photosensitizer and laser
Assignee: Thermolase Corp
•
Filing: 1997-07-25
•
Granted: 1999-02-16
•
Expires: 2017-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A device and process for the permanent removal of unwanted human hair. Hair on a section of skin is contaminated with a substance having high absorption of a frequency band of light. The skin is illuminated with light at this frequency band at sufficient intensity and duration to kill the follicles or the skin tissue feeding the hair. Specific embodiments to produce death of the follicles or the skin tissues feeding the hair by heating and by photochemical reaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Nikolai I. Tankovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:02
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D26/00; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0092; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/062; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00761; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22085; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61M2037/0007; A61N5/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A process for inhibiting growth of hairs growing in hair ducts in a section of human skin comprising the steps of: a. contaminating said hairs or tissue feeding said hairs with a photosensitizer having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light, which photosensitizer is applied topically to said skin section, b. illuminating said skin section with said light at said at least one frequency band within about 20 minutes to about 2 hours following said contaminating so as to cause a chemical reaction to destroy tissue maintaining life of hairs growing in at least a plurality of said hair ducts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A process for inhibiting growth of hairs growing in hair ducts in a section of human skin comprising the steps of: a. contaminating said hairs or tissue feeding said hairs with a photosensitizer having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light, which photosensitizer is applied topically to said skin section, b. illuminating said skin section with said light at said at least one frequency band within about 20 minutes to about 2 hours following said contaminating so as to cause a chemical reaction to destroy tissue maintaining life of hairs growing in at least a plurality of said hair ducts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process as in claim 1 wherein said photosensitizer is a solution of hematoporphyrin derivatives.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as in claim 2 wherein said frequency band of light is provided by an argon dye laser at 632 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process as in claim 3 wherein said solution is an approximately 20% solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for inhibiting growth of hairs growing in hair ducts in a section of human skin comprising the steps of: a. contaminating said hairs or tissue feeding said hairs with a photosensitizer having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light; b. illuminating said skin section with said light at said at least one frequency band within about 3 to about 6 hours following said contaminating so as to cause a chemical reaction to destroy tissue maintaining life of hairs growing in at least a plurality of said hair ducts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for inhibiting growth of hairs growing in hair ducts in a section of human skin comprising the steps of: a. contaminating said hairs or tissue feeding said hairs with a photosensitizer having a high absorption at at least one frequency band of light; b. illuminating said skin section with said light at said at least one frequency band within about 3 to about 6 hours following said contaminating so as to cause a chemical reaction to destroy tissue maintaining life of hairs growing in at least a plurality of said hair ducts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process as in claim 5 wherein the contaminant is applied by oral ingestion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process as in claim 6 wherein said photosensitizer is a solution of disodium fluorescein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as in claim 7 wherein said solution is at a concentration of about 2-5%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as in claim 8 wherein said frequency band of light is provided by a Nd:YAG laser frequency shifted to about 532 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process as in claim 8 wherein said frequency band of light is provided by a HeCd laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process as in claim 5 wherein the contaminant is applied intravenously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as in claim 1 or 5 wherein said at least one frequency band is not readily absorbed in skin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as in claim 1 or 5 wherein said frequency band of light is provided by a Er:Glass laser tripled to a wavelength of about 513 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process as in claim 1 or 5 wherein said frequency band of light is provided by a laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as in claim 14 wherein said laser produces light pulses having a pulse duration less than or equal to about 1 μs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as in claim 14 wherein said laser produces a beam size of about 1 cm 2 to about 5 cm 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as in claim 14 wherein said laser has a power level of about 5 J/cm 2 to about 15 J/cm 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3538919A
Cited
US3693623A
Cited
US3769963A
Cited
US3834391A
Cited
US3794028A
Cited
US3900034A
Cited
DE2515697A1
Cited
FR2267122A1
Cited
CA1041610A
Cited
WO1980002640A1
Cited
US4336809A
Cited
US4388924A
Cited
US4461294A
Cited
US4712543A
Cited
CA1208702A
Cited
DE3220962A1
Cited
US4617926A
Cited
US4813412A
Cited
US4608978A
Cited
WO1986002783A1
Cited
FR2590791A1
Cited
FR2595239A1
Cited
JPS63249577A
Cited
WO1990011653A1
Cited
WO1991004073A1
Cited
WO1991013653A1
Cited
US5059192A
Cited
US5425728A
Cited
WO1993021992A1
Cited
WO1993021842A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |