US6228074B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple pulse photo-epilator
Assignee: Zian Medical LLC
•
Filing: 1998-10-15
•
Granted: 2001-05-08
•
Expires: 2018-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus to cause the cessation of hair growth on a specific area of the body. The area is exposed to a particular pattern of multiple wavelength light generated by flashlamps which are filled with krypton and xenon gas. These flashlamps are connected to separate power supplies to allow simultaneous, overlap, or consecutive firing. The method consists of directing the light by means of a hollow reflective light guide in contact with the skin to prevent the light from escaping. Controlling the intensity of light and the delay between pulses allows treatment to be adjusted to different skin and hair types. Skin damage is virtually eliminated by the length and characteristic shape of the individual pulse in conjunction with consecutive firing of the flashlamps which spreads the energy over a long period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Almeida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B2018/1807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for causing cessation of hair growth, from a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) shaving or trimming said hair in a specified skin section to be treated so that no hair growth is observable above the outer layer of said skin section; (b) placing a hollow reflective light guide against the skin forming an optical seal to contain a light source; (c) illuminating said skin section by directing said light source through a light filter and through said hollow light guide; (d) directing said light through said hollow light guide in a specific pulse geometry allowing a thermal relaxation time which prevents damage to said skin section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for causing cessation of hair growth, from a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) shaving or trimming said hair in a specified skin section to be treated so that no hair growth is observable above the outer layer of said skin section; (b) placing a hollow reflective light guide against the skin forming an optical seal to contain a light source; (c) illuminating said skin section by directing said light source through a light filter and through said hollow light guide; (d) directing said light through said hollow light guide in a specific pulse geometry allowing a thermal relaxation time which prevents damage to said skin section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said pulse geometry is effective on a broad size of hair folicles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said light exiting said hollow light guide has a wavelength greater than 610 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises four individual flashlamps which are fired simultaneously or consecutively with a delay between each said pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulses from the flashlamp are approximately 18 ms in duration with a capacitor and inductor value in the circuit to produce the geometric pulse shape described herein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said flashlamps are powered by electrical supply energy that is 160-400 joules for every cm2 of output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises: a power source; a plurality of flashlamps; a water cooling system; a control source for firing said flashlamps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said control source allows simultaneous, overlap and consecutive firing of the said flashlamps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said flashlamps consist of synthetically fused quartz doped with cerium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 7 wherein said flashlamps consist of Kr, Xe gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said light filter blocks wavelengths below 610 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said light spectral output pattern is generated in an output between 610 nm and 1,100 nm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4388924A
Cited
US5000752A
Cited
US5486172A
Cited
US5474549A
Cited
US5752949A
Cited
US5425728A
Cited
US5226907A
Cited
US5752948A
Cited
US5647866A
Cited
US5628744A
Cited
US5632741A
Cited
US5595568A
Cited
US5735844A
Cited
US5849029A
Cited
US5630811A
Cited
US5766214A
Cited
US5868732A
Cited
US6050990A
Cited
US5885274A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-07 | 2004-11-06 | 2005-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-07 | 2008-11-06 | 2009-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-07 | 2012-11-06 | 2013-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |