Method and apparatus for electromagnetic treatment of the skin, including hair depilation

• US 20030069567A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumenis Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lumenis Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eckhouse, Shimon, Bachrach, Hillel
• Granted Patent: US 7,108,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00172 Pulse trains, bursts, intermittent continuous operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00756 Port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00458 Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for electromagnetic skin treatment, including the removal of hair. Devices include pulsed light sources such as flashlamps for providing electromagnetic treatment of the skin, including hair removal. The devices and methods provide for the removal of large numbers of hairs at the same time, rather than on a hair by hair basis.

Claims

1. A medical treatment device for application of light to the skin, comprising:

a light source for creating a spatially dispersed field of light;

a power source for providing power to said light source; and

an optically transparent medium for contact with the skin to transmit said light to said skin.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a transparent plate.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a gel.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a transparent plate, and further comprises a gel beneath said transparent plate.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one element for directing light from said spatially dispersed field of light.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said element is a reflector.

7. A medical system for improving the appearance of the skin, comprising:

a light source for generating optical radiation;

a contact device, said contact device comprising a first transparent medium for placement in contact with the skin for transmission of said optical radiation; and

,

a second optically transparent medium for placement between said contact device and the skin, to transmit optical radiation from said contact device to the skin.

8. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source generates a spatially dispersed field of light.

9. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source comprises a flashlamp.

10. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source produces incoherent light.

11. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source produces pulses of light.

12. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source produces pulses of incoherent light.

13. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first transparent medium comprises glass.

14. A medical system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second optically transparent medium comprises a gel.

15. A medical system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second optically transparent medium comprises a gel.

16. A medical system for application of light to the skin, comprising:

an apapratus for producing a spatially dispersed field of light;

at least one element for directing said spatially dispersed field of light; and

,

a transparent contact device in contact with the skin, for transmission of said light to the skin.

17. A medical systems as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an optically transparent material for placement between said transparent contact device and the skin to transmit said light from said transparent contact device to the skin.

18. A medical system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a power source for providing power to said apparatus.

19. A medical system for application of light to the skin, comprising:

an apparatus for producing a spatially dispersed field of light;

at least one element for directing said light;

a transparent contact device comprising an optically transparent material for placement in contact with the skin for transmission of said light to the skin; and

,

a transparent medium for placement between said contact device and the skin.

20. A medical system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transparent medium comprises a gel.

21. A medical system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said apparatus can produce an energy density of 30-100 J/cm^2.

22. A medical system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said apparatus can produce pulsed light.

23. A method for medical application of light to the skin, comprising:

providing a light source for generating optical radiation;

providing a contact device, said contact device comprising a first optically transparent medium;

placing said contact device on the skin; and

,

transmitting optical radiation from said light source to said contact device to the skin.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second optically transparent medium; and

,

placing said second optically transparent medium between said contact device and the skin;

wherein said step of transmitting optical radiation from said contact device to the skin comprises transmission of optical radiation from said contact device to second optically transparent medium and transmission of optical radiation from said second optically transparent medium to the skin.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said light is applied for hair depilation.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said light is applied for hair depilation.

27. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said light is applied to improve the appearance of the appearance of the skin.

28. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said light is applied to improve the appearance of the skin.