SKIN TREATMENT APPARATUS

• US 20140324135A1
• Filed: 11/23/2012
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CyDen Limited
• Original Assignee: CyDen Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Stuart Terry
• Granted Patent: US 9,814,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• 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 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00732 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00785 Reflected power
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

The apparatus includes a source of treatment radiation which is arranged to generate radiation at one of a plurality of radiation parameters (such as power levels), a control unit and a base unit. The control unit is arranged to removably dock with the base unit and includes a sensor which can sense one of a plurality of skin parameters, and an actuator for enabling a user to interface with the control unit. The control unit operates in a sensing mode, in which the control unit is undocked from the base unit to sense a parameter of skin to be treated (such as skin tone), and a control mode in which the control unit is docked to the docking unit and is arranged to select the power level of the radiation generated by the source.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A skin treatment apparatus, said apparatus comprising

(a) a source of skin treatment radiation which is configured to generate radiation having at least one variable radiation parameter,

(b) a control unit for controlling a magnitude of said at least one variable radiation parameter,

(c) a base unit to which said control unit can be selectively either docked or undocked, said control unit being removable when undocked,

(d) a sensor for sensing a measurable skin parameter, and

(e) an actuator for enabling a user to interface with said control unit, said control unit being configured to operate in respective sensing and control modes, wherein in said sensing mode said control unit is undocked from said base unit and said sensor can sense the measurable parameter of the skin, and

wherein in said control mode said control unit is docked to said base unit and arranged to control operation of said source of skin treatment radiation in dependence of said sensed skin parameter.

16. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control unit is configured to select the magnitude of said radiation parameter when operating in said control mode.

17. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said control unit is arranged to select a maximum permissible magnitude of radiation to be generated from said radiation source in dependence of said sensed skin parameter.

18. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said radiation source is arranged to generate radiation comprising a plurality of radiation parameter magnitudes, and said actuator is such that the permissible magnitude of the radiation can be selectably reduced from a maximum permissible magnitude when a user actuates said actuator and said control unit is docked to said base unit.

19. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said actuator is such that when sequentially actuated, said actuator selects progressively lower radiation parameter magnitudes.

20. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 19, which is arranged such that once the lowest radiation parameter magnitude has been selected, further actuation of said actuator resets said radiation parameter magnitude to the predetermined maximum permissible radiation parameter magnitude.

21. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control unit comprises a first memory for storing said sensed skin parameter.

22. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said base unit includes a second memory and said sensed skin parameter is downloadable from said control unit to said first memory when said control unit is docked to the base unit.

23. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control unit further comprises a plurality of indicators for indicating the magnitude of the parameter of the radiation to be generated by said radiation source.

24. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said radiation source is in a hand held unit, which is removably coupled to said base unit.

25. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a timing circuit for preventing generation of radiation from said radiation source in the event that said radiation source is not activated within a pre-determined time following the docking of said control unit to said base unit.

26. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said variable radiation parameter comprises radiation power which is output from said source.

27. The skin treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said measurable skin parameter comprises one or more of skin tone, skin thickness, and skin oiliness.