AU2011319475A1

AU2011319475A1 - Method for monitoring the operation of an apparatus for treatment by means of the emission of light flashes

Info

Publication number: AU2011319475A1
Application number: AU2011319475A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Yves Martin; Georges Safraoui
Original assignee: Eurofeedback SA
Current assignee: Eurofeedback SA
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2011-10-21
Publication date: 2013-05-23
Also published as: BR112013009585A2; EP2629692A1; FR2966339B1; FR2966339A1; WO2012052975A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the operation of an apparatus (2) for treatment by means of the emission of light flashes, the apparatus comprising a base station and a handpiece connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life of no less than Ν flashes, preferably no less than 500,000 flashes, wherein according to said method, a server generates an authorisation for the apparatus to emit a number n of flashes that is no higher than N, the validity of the authorisation preferably being limited in time, or to emit an indefinite number of flashes with the validity being limited in time, the apparatus having a monitoring circuit (15, 18) configured for setting the emission of the flashes such that it corresponds to the validity of the authorisation.

Description

WO 2012/052975 PCT/IB2011/054723 Method for monitoring the operation .f af emission of light flashes 5 The present invention relates to items of apparatus for treatment by emission of light flashes, comprising a base station and a handpiece connected to the base station, notably those called Pulsed Polychromatic Lamp or IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and those with laser radiation. Skin treatments of an esthetic nature, such as photoepilation or 10 photorejuvenation, are increasingly carried out by the professionals by means of such items of apparatus which have been very greatly democratized for some years and have taken a very important place in medical and esthetic surgeries. In the case of IPL, the handpiece comprises at least one flash lamp and the base station an electric generator for powering the handpiece with the voltage and current 15 necessary to produce the flashes. The flash lamp comprises a quartz tube filled with a rare gas, usually xenon. During the emission of a flash, this tube is subjected to relatively severe mechanical and thermal stresses and the handpiece usually has a service life that is conditional upon that of the flash lamp. 20 The known items of apparatus are furnished with a meter which is incremented on each emission of a flash and the handpiece is replaced when the number of flashes reaches a predefined limit. The Applicant has proposed, in application EP 1 749 494, to record information relating to the operating history of the lamp. 25 It is known from application US 2004/0068255 to send from a remote information system to a computer information such as a software update, a number of prepaid sessions or information making it possible to prevent unauthorized usage of the apparatus. Applications US 2007/0185553, WO 2006/031632 and US 2009/0131922 30 teach of controlling the emission of flashes by an apparatus. The handpieces are therefore currently considered to be consumable equipment, because most of them deliver between 10 000 and 100 000 flashes which WO 2012/052975 2 PCT/IB2011/054723 corresponds to a service life varying between one month and one year for a normal rate of use. The base station for its part has a service life of approximately ten years. Consequently it may happen that, for an apparatus, approximately one hundred handpieces are necessary throughout its use. 5 The overall cost of handpieces usually exceeds the cost of acquisition of the apparatus. With the existing solutions, replacement parts have to be sent and the costs of transport and administration have to be added to the cost of the equipment, this cost having to be borne in the end by the client. The object of the present invention is to further develop the items of apparatus 10 for treatment by the emission of light flashes, notably those of the above type. It achieves this by virtue of a method for controlling the operation of an apparatus for treatment by the emission of light flashes, the apparatus comprising a base station and a handpiece connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life greater than or equal to Nflashes, in which method a server generates for the apparatus an authorization, notably in 15 the form of a recharge code, for a number n of flashes less than or equal to Nflashes, the duration of validity of the authorization preferably being limited in time, or for an indefinite number of flashes, with a duration of validity limited in time, the apparatus having a control circuit configured to condition the emission of the flashes to the validity of the authorization. It is possible to have, for example, n being less than or equal to 20 Nflashe 10. Nflashes is for example greater than or equal to 500 000, better 750 000, still better 1 000 000. The duration of validity is for example greater than or equal to 1 week and less than or equal to 1 year. By virtue of the invention, it is possible to provide the user with a handpiece 25 with a very long service life, more costly, associated with a secure payment method, progressive according to the need expressed by the client, only the flashes that are paid for being able to be emitted. The direct purchase of a handpiece with a very long service life, which would be extremely costly, is avoided. In a variant, it is also possible to allow the user to use an unlimited number of flashes for a period limited in time, for example more 30 or less long depending on the price paid by the user. The authorization is transmitted to the apparatus in encrypted form and the decryption takes place within the apparatus, notably the handpiece.

WO 2012/052975 3 PCT/IB2011/054723 The fact that the decryption of the authorization takes place within the handpiece makes it possible, when an update is necessary on the apparatus, to change only the handpicce and requires no intervention on the apparatus, which intervention would be costly and complex. 5 Moreover, since an apparatus is usually fitted with several types of handpiece, to be chosen according to the desired treatment, each handpiece can, in this case, have its own authorization of use. A change in the configuration of the apparatus is then no longer necessary. The invention makes it possible to give the user a user license corresponding to 10 the number of flashes paid for, preferably with a usage expiry date. The apparatus can be recharged with a number of prepaid flashes, preferably automatically, without manual input, for example by means of any terminal, notably connected to the internet and/or by the insertion into the apparatus of a removable memory. An apparatus code, which is unique and preferably renewed on each request, 15 can be generated by the apparatus on each recharge request addressed to the server. This unique code is decrypted and analyzed by the server which comprises, or is in relation with, a license management center. In return, and after verification of the payment, the server delivers a recharge code, which is also unique, in order to recharge the apparatus, the recharge code being able to contain a number of flashes to be emitted and a usage 20 expiry date. The recharge code may also limit the operation of the apparatus to certain types of treatments, for example epilatory or vascular treatments, or even authorize several numbers of flashes that differ depending on the treatments. This may make it possible, for example, to propose different tariffs depending on the applications. Optionally, the operation of the machine may be conditional upon its periodic 25 connection to the server in order to transmit thereto the history of use of the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus keeps in memory an apparatus code generated so as to accept a corresponding recharge code for a predefined period. Thus, if the apparatus is accidentally switched off, the apparatus does not reject the recharge code even if it has, meanwhile, generated a new apparatus code following, for example, a user error or a 30 disconnection. The control circuit may thus comprise a connector placed in the handpiece in order to receive a removable memory, notably in the form of a USB key, SD or mini SD WO 2012/052975 4 PCT/IB2011/054723 memory card, and the authorization may be loaded into the memory, notably in the form of a recharge code. The authorization may notably be loaded into the memory when the latter is disconnected from the apparatus. 5 The memory may also contain data associated with the emission of the flashes, notably a history of usage of the apparatus, preferably relating to the power of the flashes emitted and/or the date of emission of the flashes. Therefore, when the apparatus code is transmitted to the server, these history-related data can be uploaded by the server if the user or the person in charge of the apparatus wishes it. 10 If necessary, advantage is taken of the connection to the server for carrying out an update of a software program used by the apparatus in its operation. A software update may therefore be transmitted with the authorization. The invention allows a manager responsible for a population of items of apparatus to obtain information on the user history of the various items of apparatus in the 15 population and the associated events. This may make it easier to detect a fraudulent use and to provide usage statistics regarding the population of items of apparatus. The apparatus may also be configured to be connected automatically to the server in order to obtain the recharge code, notably via a cell phone interface included in the apparatus. 20 The apparatus may be connected to the server via an intermediate system, notably a cell phone, a personal digital assistant or a personal computer. The apparatus, preferably the handpiece, may comprise an internal memory of encrypted content, containing an algorithm for authentication of the recharge code, notably a key for the decryption of the latter. The encrypted internal memory may also be used to 25 generate the apparatus code used during the recharge request. The handpiece may comprise components of better quality, that are more costly, but have a longer service life, for example optical ducts of pure silica rather than of optical glass. In order to prevent piracy, the communication between the apparatus or the 30 terminal and the server that delivers the authorization is preferably carried out with encryption.

WO 2012/052975 5 PCT/IB2011/054723 The recharging of the apparatus can be carried out for example by a manual input while having generated, with the aid of the apparatus, the recharge request apparatus code, then by calling the server in order to communicate the code thus generated by the apparatus and obtaining in return, after payment by bank card for example, the recharge 5 code corresponding to the number of flashes paid for. The apparatus code can be displayed for example on the apparatus or on the handpiece with the aid of a suitable display, for example a liquid crystal display. Any mode of communication can be used to obtain the recharge code, for example email or SMS. The display on the handpiece makes it possible to more easily modify a population of existing items of apparatus. 10 The apparatus may comprise a modem, which may be installed in the base station or in the handpiece, in order to emit an acoustic message to a telephone connected to the server and retrieve the recharge code in the same way. The communication can be carried out automatically by SMS by using a cell phone, in the same way as top-ups of units are purchased for cell phones. 15 Preferably, the control circuit comprises a connector placed in the handpiece or on the base station to receive a removable memory, notably a USB key or an SD or mini SD card and the recharge code can be loaded into this memory. An identifier of the apparatus, notably the apparatus code above, may be transmitted to the server to obtain the authorization, the identifier preferably being 20 contained in the removable memory. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when a recharge is needed, it is sufficient to disconnect the removable memory from the apparatus in order to connect it to the terminal, for example to the cell phone, which, by virtue of an appropriate software program reads the removable memory and can communicate securely and automatically 25 with the server and the license management center. After having specified and paid for the quantity of flashes desired, the recharge code is directly recorded in the removable memory which, once reconnected to the apparatus, allows it to operate again for the number of flashes that have been paid for. In this case, the personal telephone subscription of the user may be sufficient to implement the method. 30 If necessary, a GSM or similar cell phone system may be permanently installed in the apparatus and be used only for the direct radio communication with the server and the license management center. A location system may optionally be incorporated into the WO 2012/052975 6 PCT/IB2011/054723 apparatus to enhance the security of the system. Thus, when the GSM or similar system communicates with the server, the apparatus can be located. The server may comprise, or communicate with, a data base containing information relating to a population of items of apparatus. 5 The connection between the apparatus, whether it be the base station or the handpiece, on the one hand, and the terminal on the other hand, whether it be a cell phone or a laptop or desktop computer, can then be carried out via a wire or wireless link, for example WIFI, Bluetooth, infrared or other link. A further subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is an 10 apparatus for treatment by emission of light flashes, for implementing the method above, comprising a base station and a handpiece connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life greater than or equal to Nflashes, the apparatus comprising, or having access to, a clock giving the date and being arranged to determine, according to this date, the validity of an authorization, limited in time, conditioning the operation of the 15 apparatus. The authorization may notably allow the apparatus to emit n flashes, where n Nnashs/10. The handpiece may comprise a connector for receiving a removable memory and a control circuit arranged to read the removable memory and determine, depending on its content, whether or not the flashes may be emitted. A further subject of the invention is an apparatus for treatment by emission of 20 light flashes, comprising a base station and a handpiece connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life greater than or equal to Nflashes, the apparatus comprising a control circuit arranged to condition the emission of the flashes to the validity of an authorization, in order to deliver a usage history of the apparatus, allow a software update, deliver an apparatus code when a new authorization is necessary to continue emitting 25 flashes, and authenticate the new authorization according to the apparatus code thus emitted. Advantageously the handpiece comprises, as mentioned above, a connector for receiving a removable memory, the apparatus code and said authorization preferably being loaded into this removable memory. A software update and/or a usage history of the 30 apparatus may also be present in the removable memory.

WO 2012/052975 7 PCT/IB2011/054723 The invention may be better understood on reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the latter and on examining the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 represents an example of a system allowing the implementation 5 of the method according to the invention and, - Figure 2 represents an example of an apparatus for treatment by emitting light flashes, produced according to the invention. The method according to the invention is implemented between, on the one band, an apparatus 2 for treatment by emission of light flashes and, on the other hand, a 10 server 3 which incorporates, or is connected to, a license management center. This center is for example a computer or a computer or voice server running an algorithm for recognition of an apparatus code and for attributing in return, after verification of a payment, a recharge code sent to the apparatus, containing in encoded form at least a number of flashes to be emitted or an item of information representative of the latter, and optionally 15 additional limitations, for example a type of treatment authorized for the apparatus. In the example illustrated, the apparatus 2 comprises a connector arranged to receive a removable memory 3 which may be connected to a terminal 4, which is for example a cell phone, a smart phone or a laptop computer and which can interchange data with the server 3, for example via a GSM link, a 3G link or the internet. 20 In a variant embodiment, the removable memory 3 is replaced by a direct interchange of information between the terminal 4 and the apparatus 2, for example via a WIFI, Bluetooth, infrared or wire link. It may also have direct communication between the apparatus 2 and the server 3. The apparatus 2 is represented schematically in Figure 2. 25 It comprises a handpiece 6 connected to a base station 7 which comprises a generator 8, a cooling system 9 for cooling the flash lamp of the handpiece, and first information means 10 comprising for example a microcontroller. The handpiece 6 comprises an optical head 12 which includes the flash lamp and the necessary optics, notably a pure silica optical duct 30, and second informatic 30 means 14 comprising for example a microcontroller 15 and a certain number of peripheral components such as an encrypted memory 18, for example of the EEPROM type, a removable memory 20, for example in the form of an SD card or USB key, and a user WO 2012/052975 8 PCT/IB2011/054723 interface comprising for example a display 23 and a switch 24 for initiating the emission of the flashes. The encryption is for example of the 256-bit AES type. The memory 18 is for example that marketed by the ATMEL company under the reference CRYPTOMEMORY 256 K. 5 The memory 18 saves the number of flashes remaining and can also record the usage history of the handpiece. The history may be recorded in parallel in the encrypted memory 18 and in the removable memory 20. Thus, the history can be sent to the server. The first and second information means 10 and 15 interchange information, for example by means of a cable which connects the handpiece to the base station 7. The 10 handpiece may store all the treatment configurations and the usage history. Software updates can be carried out by means of the removable memory 20. The history may comprise the date of emission of the flashes and their power or the configuration of the apparatus when the flashes were emitted. On certain items of apparatus, several handpieces may be connected to the base 15 station at the same time. When the user presses the pushbutton 24, the base station receives from the handpiece an item of information identifying the handpiece and the microcontroller 10 may trigger the transmission of a pulse from the generator 8 to this handpiece. The base station 7 may comprise a user interface 26 which allows the user to 20 select a type of treatment. The corresponding items of information can be transmitted to the second informatic means, that is present on the handpiece, which can record them in the removable memory 20. Thus, when each flash is emitted, the handpiece 6 records in the removable memory 20 corresponding usage parameters such as the power of the flash and/or its date. 25 According to the invention, the handpiece has a very long service life, being produced so as to have a service life for example greater than or equal to 500 000 flashes. The emission of the flashes is conditional on the validity of a recharge code entered into the apparatus, either by a user with the aid of a key pad of the apparatus, or indirectly by inserting the removable memory into the apparatus, or by downloading. 30 In the example illustrated, the recharge code is downloaded into the removable memory 20 and a verification algorithm, present in the encrypted memory 18, makes it possible to validate the authenticity of each recharge code loaded into the apparatus and to WO 2012/052975 9 PCT/IB2011/054723 extract the number of flashes purchased, and, where appropriate, the limits associated with this number of flashes, for example the authorized treatment. Each recharge code preferably corresponds to an authorization for the apparatus to operate for a certain number of flashes that can be emitted for a period limited 5 in time. The apparatus comprises an internal clock which allows the apparatus to check that the period of validity of the recharge code has not expired. In order to recharge the apparatus, the user may, in the example illustrated, take out the removable memory 20 and insert it into the terminal 4 which interchanges data with the server 3. After validation of a payment, the server 3 transmits to the terminal 4 a new 10 recharge code. The removable memory 20 preferably has already been loaded automatically with an apparatus code, which is unique for each recharge request, generated with the aid of the encrypted memory and verified by the server 3. As a variant, the apparatus code is displayed on a display of the handpiece, at 15 the request of the user, and the user manually enters this code, for example on the keyboard of a telephone or of the terminal communicating with the server 3. The code may also be communicated on a voice server. The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. It is possible notably to modify the apparatus and replace the removable memory with an 20 interface allowing the apparatus to communicate via a wired or unwired link with the terminal 4 or the server 3. The expression "comprising a/an" must be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least a/an/one", unless the contrary is specified.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of an apparatus (2) for treatment by emission of light flashes, the apparatus comprising a base station and a handpiece 5 connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life greater than or equal to Nflashes, where preferably Nflashes is greater than or equal to 500 000, in which method a server (3) generates for the apparatus an authorization for a number n of flashes less than or equal to N, the duration of validity of the authorization preferably being limited in time, or for an indefinite number of flashes with a duration of validity limited in time, the 10 apparatus having a control circuit (15, 18) configured to condition the emission of the flashes to the validity of the authorization, the handpiece (6) comprising an internal memory (18) of encrypted content, notably an encrypted EEPROM, and containing an algorithm for authentication of the authorization.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the control circuit comprising a 15 connector placed in the handpiece in order to receive a removable memory (20), notably in the form of a USB key, of an SD or mini SD memory card, and the authorization being loaded into the memory.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, the authorization being loaded into the memory (30) when the latter is disconnected from the apparatus. 20

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, the memory (20) also containing data associated with the emission of the flashes, notably a history of use of the apparatus, preferably relating to the power of the emitted flashes and/or to the date of emission of the flashes.

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus 25 (2) being configured to be automatically connected to the server in order to obtain the authorization, notably via a cell phone interface included in the apparatus.

6. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus being connected to the server via an intermediate terminal (4), notably a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer. 30

7. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, where n is less than or equal to N flashes/10. WO 2012/052975 11 PCT/IB2011/054723

8. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, an identifier of the apparatus being transmitted to the server in order to obtain the authorization, the identifier preferably being contained in the removable memory (20).

9. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the handpiece 5 (6) comprising a pure silica optical duct (30).

10. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the server (3) comprising, or communicating with, a data base containing information relating to a population of items of apparatus.

11. The method as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, the authorization 10 being transmitted to the apparatus in encrypted form and the decryption taking place within the apparatus, notably the handpiece.

12. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, the authorization being delivered for an unlimited number of flashes but with a duration of validity limited in time. 15

13. An apparatus for treatment by emission of light flashes, comprising a base station (7) and a handpiece (6) connected to the base station, the handpiece having a service life greater than or equal to Nflashes where Nn 3 ahes is preferably greater than or equal to 500 000, the apparatus comprising a control circuit arranged to condition the emission of the flashes to the validity of an authorization, in order to delivery a history of use of the 20 apparatus, allow a software update, and deliver an apparatus code when a new authorization is necessary to continue emitting flashes, and to authenticate the new authorization according to the apparatus code thus emitted the handpiece (6) comprising an internal memory (18) of encrypted content, notably an encrypted EEPROM, and containing an algorithm for authentication of the authorization. 25

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, the handpiece comprising a connector for receiving a removal memory (20), the apparatus code and said authorization being loaded into this removable memory.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, a software update and/or a history of use of the apparatus being present in the removable memory (20).