Hair removal apparatus for personal use and the method of using same

• US 9,301,588 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syneron Medical Limited (Syneron Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Syneron Medical Limited (Syneron Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckhouse, Shimon, Kutscher, Tuvia Dror
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNESS, NATHAN JAY
• Application Number:
  US14/070,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 26/00 Hair-singeing apparatus; Apparatus for removing superfluous hair, e.g. tweezers removing hair using electrosurgical instruments A61B18/04, A61B18/18
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 26/0023 with rotating clamping elements A45D26/0042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/42 providing for straightening the hair to be cut, e.g. by means of bristles; providing for tensioning the skin, e.g. by means of rollers, ledges skin-stretchers for shaving per se A45D27/38
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/46 providing for illuminating the area to be shaved or clipped
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/48 Heating means

Abstract

Hair or partial hair removal system and hair growth deterrent that includes mechanical process for cutting, plucking or shaving hair follicles, along with pre and/or post skin treatment techniques. The skin treatment techniques can include the application of energy to the skin surface before, after and/or during the application of the mechanical process. Such techniques include the application of heat and/or energy from illumination sources and/or RF emitters. Further skin treatment techniques include the application of solutions before, after and/or during the mechanical process and/or the application of heat and/or energy. Overall, the system operates to treat an area of skin to facilitate the removal of all or a portion of hair, retard further growth, and recovery of skin surface.

Claims

1. A method for treating a skin segment for the removal of hair from the skin segment, wherein the skin segment has a particular contour, said method comprising:

applying to skin an applicator having an exchangeable hair removal mechanism located between two detachable illumination cartridges, the detachable illumination cartridges being detachable from an applicator casing and configured to follow the contour of the skin segment being treated, a pair of RF electrodes configured to heat the skin segment, and an impedance sensing mechanism;

sensing change in the impedance of the skin segment between the pair of RF electrodes and activating electric and electronic circuits of the applicator;

translating the applicator in a scanning motion from one location of the skin segment to another location of the skin segment;

applying the exchangeable hair removal mechanism to hair within the skin segment to remove the hair; and

applying RF energy to the skin segment to heat tissue of the skin segment, thereby weakening and destroying residual hair follicles and hair shafts;

wherein applying the exchangeable hair removal mechanism to remove hair comprises pulling at least one hair shaft and an area of skin surrounding the at least one hair shaft to form a goose bump like protrusion and goose bump like peak; and

cutting the at least one hair shaft substantially close to the goose bump like peak; and

wherein at least one motion sensor is operative to;

activate at least one illumination source according to the applicator displacement direction, and de-activate at least one of the illumination cartridges according to the applicator displacement direction such that a trailing illumination cartridge is activated relative to the applicator displacement direction.

2. A treatment method of a skin segment to effectuate hair removal, said method comprising:

applying to the skin an exchangeable mechanical hair removal mechanism located between two detachable illumination cartridges, the illumination cartridges being detachable from an applicator casing and configured to follow the contour of a surface of a skin segment to be treated, wherein the presence of finite impendence sensed between RF electrodes activates;

the application of RF energy to the skin segment to heat the skin segment; and

illuminating the skin segment with at least one detachable illumination cartridge; and

wherein

the exchangeable mechanical hair removal mechanism a) pulls at least one hair shaft and skin surrounding the at least one hair shaft to form a goose bump like protrusion having a goose bump like peak and b) cuts the at least one hair shaft substantially close to the goose bump like peak;

and wherein a comb type protective plate positioned between the exchangeable mechanical hair removal mechanism and the goose bump like protrusion protects the goose bump like protrusion and surrounding skin from damage by the exchangeable mechanical hair removal mechanism and wherein at least one motion sensor is operative to activate one of the illumination cartridges and de-activate the other illumination cartridge according to the applicator displacement direction.