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

• US 6,514,243 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumenis Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lumenis Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bachrach, Hillel, Eckhouse, Shimon
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/505,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/3, 606/9, 606/10, 606/11, 606/12, 606/13, 606/17, 606/18, 606/19, 607/88, 607/90
• 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 method for applying electromagnetic radiation to the skin, the method comprising:

generating electromagnetic radiation having a plurality of wavelengths ranging over the visible section of the electromagnetic spectrum and over at least parts of the ultra-violet and infra-red sections of the electromagnetic spectrum;

filtering a substantial part of said plurality of wavelengths in the ultra-violet section of the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby producing filtered electromagnetic radiation ranging over a substantial part of the visible and at least part of the infra-red sections of said generated electromagnetic radiation; and

applying said filtered electromagnetic radiation to the skin.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying a gel to the skin.