COHERENT IMAGING FIBER BASED HAIR REMOVAL DEVICE

• US 20090099559A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Original Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Inventors: Dhadwal, Harbans S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,576 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 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles

Abstract

A photoepilation device including a compact hand piece applicator and a portable electronics module for use in a non-medical setting. The hand piece, which contains no electrical signals, allows the user to focus on individual hair follicles by observing a magnified image provided on a semiconductor display. The image from the hand piece is transported to a remote CCD through a coherent imaging fiber, which also delivers the therapeutic energy pulse from a remotely located source to the localized target. Destruction of pluripotential follicular stems cells found in the hair bulb and bulge regions is possible via a single low power laser diode. Control of pulse width and spot size attains a range of fluence levels up to 85 J·cm⁻².

Claims

1. A portable device for photo-inducing damage to cellular structures for hair removal, the device comprising:

a hand piece provided with a coherent imaging fiber bundle, a plurality of optical switches, a plurality of multimode optical fibers, capillary tubing for transporting coolant and an imaging lens; and

an umbilical cord connecting to the hand piece.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the coherent imaging fiber bundle, together with an imaging lens, delivers optical energy, with high fluence, to a targeted hair follicle.

3. The portable device of claim 2, wherein the coherent imaging fiber bundle also transports an image of the targeted hair follicle.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the coherent imaging fiber bundle includes a centrally located multimode fiber for delivery of optical energy, with high fluence, to a single hair follicle.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the coherent imaging fiber bundle includes an outer ring comprising a plurality of multimode fibers for delivering optical energy at a plurality of different wavelengths.

6. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical switches includes a plurality of multimode fibers for initiating a sequence of optical pulses from a laser diode source to a target area.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the coherent imaging fiber bundle, together with an imaging lens, captures a magnified image of a target area.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical switches includes a plurality of multimode fibers for initiating storage or displayed images.

9. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the capillary tubing transports chilled air to cool an area of a targeted hair follicle.

10. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a control module that includes:

a beam splitter for separating the transmitting and receiving optical signals traveling through the coherent imaging fiber bundle;

an imaging sensor, together with an imaging lens, for generating the digital image;

a display to show a real time image of a target area;

a laser diode source imaged on to the coherent imaging fiber bundle via a lens and an optical shutter;

an optical switch;

a plurality of white light emitting diodes connecting multimode fibers which transport background illumination to the hand piece; and

a source of chilled air.

11. A portable device for projecting two-dimensional spatial patterns to a treatment area, the device comprising:

a hand piece that includes a coherent imaging fiber bundle, a plurality of optical switches, a plurality of multimode optical fibers, capillary tubing for transporting coolant and an imaging lens;

an umbilical cord connecting to the hand piece; and

an optical system for generating the two-dimensional spatial pattern and projecting the pattern onto an end-face of fibers of the coherent imaging fiber bundle.

12. The portable device of claim 11, wherein a focused laser spot is scanned across an predefined area of the coherent imaging fiber bundle via two deflecting mirrors.

13. The portable device of claim 12, wherein the predefined area is smaller than 1 square millimeter.

14. The portable device of claim 11, wherein an arbitrarily shaped object is imaged onto the end-face of the fibers.

15. An automated device for treating large target areas, the device comprising:

a robotic platform;

a miniaturized treatment hand piece; and

an umbilical cord connecting the hand piece to a control module.

16. The automated device of claim 15, wherein fasteners attach the treatment surface of the robotic platform.

17. The automated device of claim 15, wherein the hand piece is secured into a housing of the robotic platform.

18. The automated device of claim 17, wherein three motorized slides position the housing in any arbitrary location above the treatment surface.