Method and apparatus for the stimulation of hair growth

• US 6,936,044 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: Light BioScience LLC
• Inventors: McDaniel, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Farah, A.
• Application Number:
  US09/986,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 606 9- 13, 606/16, 606 32- 34, 606/127, 606/128, 606/41, 606131-134, 606/187, 607 88- 91, 128/898
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/81 Preparation or application process involves irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0004 Homeopathy; Vitalisation; Resonance; Dynamisation, e.g. esoteric applications; Oxygenation of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/02 characterised by special physical form
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/16 Emollients or protectives, e.g. against radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 7/00 Preparations for affecting hair growth

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing hair growth stimulation using light energy, topical compositions, and combinations thereof. By using photomodulation resulting from cellular responses to exposure to specific wavelengths of light, optionally in conjunction with topical compositions and procedures for enhancing the penetration of such compositions, hair follicles are activated to produce hair growth.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating hair growth, comprising:

exposing a hair growth structure to a source of narrowband multichromatic electromagnetic radiation having a dominant emissive wavelength of from about 390 nm to about 1600 nm, without having applied a drug, cosmeceutical, and/or chromophore to the hair growth structure;

photostimulating the hair growth structure by maintaining the exposure of the hair growth structure to the source of narrowband multichromatic electromagnetic radiation for a clinically effective duration and at a clinically effective light intensity to stimulate hair growth without causing skin ablation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said source of narrowband multichromatic electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a laser diode, a mechanically filtered fluorescent light source, a mechanically filtered incandescent or filamentous light source, and combinations thereof.