JP2012011062A - Hair growth-stimulating device using light - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hair growth-stimulating device using light which more efficiently irradiates the skin with light by detecting whether an appropriate irradiation is performed.SOLUTION: The hair growth-stimulating device using light includes an irradiation unit for irradiating the skin with near infrared light and a blood flow amount-measuring means for measuring the amount of blood flowing inside the skin that is irradiated with the near infrared light. According to this hair growth-stimulating device using light, the irradiation with near infrared light is carried out simultaneously with the measurement of the blood flow amount by taking advantage of the phenomenon that the irradiation with near infrared light causes an increase in blood flow amount inside the thus irradiated skin. Thus, it is detected that the irradiation region is appropriately irradiated with near infrared light.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photo-growth apparatus that irradiates light on the skin to promote the growth of body hair. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical hair growth device that can detect whether irradiation is appropriately performed at the stage of irradiating light to the skin.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for promoting the growth of body hair by causing mild inflammation on the skin is known. This technique causes inflammation with drugs and the like, but the use of such drugs often causes mild skin roughness and has problems such as pain and infection.

  In addition to this, a technique for growing hair by irradiating the skin with light having a wavelength of 890 nm is known (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). With regard to this technology, the applicant of the present application has confirmed through animal experiments, and as a result, it has been found that, as in the case of using a drug, the use of inflammation in the skin is utilized.

  However, it cannot be said that it is preferable for the human body to cause inflammation in the skin as in the technique of using a drug or the technique of Non-Patent Document 1. For this reason, hair growth devices that do not use drugs and do not use inflammation inside the skin have been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Journal of Korean Society Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons 2004 p. 1-p. 8

International Publication No. 2009/123196

  The hair-growth apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can obtain an excellent hair-growth effect by performing a necessary irradiation amount for a predetermined time at a place to be irradiated. However, in the conventional hair growth device, it is difficult to detect whether appropriate irradiation is performed at the stage of irradiating light.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical hair growth device that can efficiently irradiate light and promote hair growth by detecting whether appropriate irradiation is performed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the photohair-growing device of the first invention measures an irradiation unit that irradiates the skin with near-infrared light, and a blood flow volume inside the skin irradiated with the near-infrared light. And a blood flow rate measuring means.

  The optical hair growth device of the second invention is further provided with time measuring means for measuring the irradiation time in the irradiation section with respect to the photo hair growth device of the first invention, and the time measurement means is constituted by the blood flow measurement means. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the measured blood flow reached the target blood flow, the irradiation in the irradiation unit is stopped or a signal for urging the irradiation to stop is issued.

  The optical hair growth device of the third invention is characterized by further comprising a display means for displaying the blood flow measured by the blood flow measurement means with respect to the optical hair growth device of the first invention.

  The optical hair growth device of the fourth invention is characterized in that the wavelength of the near infrared light in the optical hair growth device of the first invention is a specific absorption wavelength of water.

  The optical hair growth device of the fifth invention is characterized in that the wavelength of the near infrared light in the photo hair growth device of the first invention is 950 nm or 1450 nm.

  According to the optical hair growth device of the present invention, the near-infrared light is applied to the irradiated part because the blood flow is measured together with the near-infrared irradiation by utilizing the characteristic that the blood flow inside the skin where the near-infrared irradiation is performed is increased. Can be detected appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently irradiate near-infrared rays on the irradiated part and promote hair growth.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the optical hair growth device which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the irradiation part in the optical hair growth device which concerns on said 1st embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the blood flow rate measuring means in the optical hair growth device which concerns on said 1st embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the optical hair growth device which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the irradiation part in the optical hair growth device which concerns on said 2nd embodiment. It is a graph which shows the relationship between near-infrared-light irradiation and a tissue blood flow rate in an Example.

  Hereinafter, an optical hair growth device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not restrict | limited only to the following embodiment. In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may be different from the actual ratios.

[First embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical hair growth device according to the present embodiment includes an irradiation unit 20 that emits near-infrared light on one side end surface of the housing 70 in the longitudinal direction. And the near-infrared light emitted from the said irradiation part 20 permeate | transmits the protective plate 80 as a transmission window installed so that the irradiation part 20 may be obstruct | occluded, and is irradiated outside.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the irradiation unit 20 includes a plurality of first light sources 21 and a plurality of second light sources 22, which are further mounted on a substrate 23. The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are light sources that emit near infrared light having a wavelength of 0.76 to 2.5 μm. Here, it is preferable that the wavelength of the light emitted from the first and second light sources is equal to the specific absorption wavelength of water. The specific absorption wavelength of water is defined as a wavelength that exhibits a stronger absorbance than other wavelengths when light is absorbed by water. The specific absorption wavelength of water is due to the O—H bond of water, and the specific absorption wavelengths of water particularly in the near infrared region are, for example, 950 nm, 1150 nm, 1450 nm, and 1790 nm.

  And it is preferable that the said irradiation part 20 emits a wavelength of 950 nm and / or 1450 nm among these specific absorption wavelengths of water. If it is the light of this wavelength, the hair-growth effect can be heightened without giving inflammation to skin. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a light source that emits light having a wavelength of 950 nm is used as the first light source 21, and a light source that emits light having a wavelength of 1450 nm is used as the second light source 22. As such a light source of the irradiation unit 20, it is preferable to use a light emitting diode as shown in FIGS. A short wavelength laser may be used instead of the light emitting diode. In addition, a filter for selecting a wavelength for a halogen lamp or a broadband laser may be provided between the irradiation unit 20 and the irradiation site (skin) to use only a necessary wavelength.

  Further, the substrate 23 in the irradiation unit 20 is connected to a power source 30. The power supply 30 supplies power for causing the first and second light sources in the irradiation unit 20 to emit light. As such a power supply 30, for example, a DC power supply having a constant output voltage such as a primary battery or a secondary battery can be used. Further, the power supply 30 may have a function of converting an AC voltage obtained from a commercial power supply into a DC voltage.

  Moreover, in the optical hair growth device of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a timer 40 (timer) is provided between the irradiation unit 20 and the power supply 30. The timer 40 measures the irradiation time in the irradiation unit 20 and cuts off the electric circuit between the power supply 30 and the irradiation unit 20 after a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) has elapsed. Thus, the timer 40 is used as a time control unit that causes the irradiation unit 20 to emit light continuously for a predetermined time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a pulse generation unit 50 and a switching unit 60 are provided between the irradiation unit 20 and the timer 40. The pulse generator 50 has a function of converting the output voltage of the power supply 30 into a pulse voltage. In the present embodiment, the cycle of the pulse voltage generated by the pulse generator 50 is set to 500 Hz, but is not limited to this cycle.

  The switching unit 60 switches the electric circuit between the power supply 30 and the substrate 23 between a first electric circuit 51 that passes through the pulse generator 50 and a second electric circuit 52 that does not pass through the pulse generator 50. In the first electric circuit 51, since the pulse generator 50 is inserted between the power source 30 and the substrate 23, a pulse voltage is applied to the irradiation unit 20, and the irradiation unit 20 emits light intermittently (pulse lighting). . In the second electric circuit 52, since the pulse generator 50 is not inserted between the power supply 30 and the substrate 23, a constant output voltage is applied to the irradiation unit 20, and the irradiation unit 20 emits light continuously ( Continuous lighting). That is, the switching unit 60 is configured to switch between pulse lighting and continuous lighting. The switching unit 60 has an operation unit (not shown) for manually switching between pulse lighting and continuous lighting, and the operation unit is installed on the outer surface of the housing 70, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 70 houses the irradiation unit 20, the power supply 30, the timer 40, the pulse generation unit 50, and the switching unit 60. A window hole 71 for emitting the light of the irradiation unit 20 to the outside is formed on one end face in the axial direction of the housing 70. The irradiation unit 20 is housed in the housing 70 with the first and second light sources facing the outside from the window hole 71. The housing 70 can be formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, and the diameter is 40 mm, for example.

  The protection plate 80 is formed in a disk shape from a light-transmitting material such as glass or a light-transmitting resin. The size of the protective plate 80 may be any size that can close the window hole 71. The protection plate 80 is fitted in the window hole 71 and protects the irradiation unit 20 from the outside. Further, a lens function may be added to the protective plate 80 as necessary.

  And in the optical hair growth device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the blood flow measuring probe 90 and the blood flow as blood flow measuring means for measuring the blood flow in the skin irradiated with near infrared light. A measurement unit 100 is provided. As a blood flow measuring means, a laser Doppler blood flow meter can be used.

  Here, the principle of the laser Doppler blood flow meter will be described. When laser light is irradiated into the skin tissue, the frequency of the laser light shifts when the irradiated laser light collides with an object (mainly red blood cells) that moves in the capillaries (Doppler effect). However, the frequency does not change. The laser beam is detected by a light receiver. Here, the ratio of the frequency-shifted light returning to the light receiver is proportional to the number of red blood cells, and the magnitude of the frequency shift is proportional to the blood flow velocity. Therefore, theoretically, the blood flow rate can be calculated from the product of the number of red blood cells and the blood flow velocity. The laser Doppler blood flow meter is an application of this principle. The frequency modulation of the modulated light corresponds to the velocity of blood, and the intensity of light corresponds to the amount of flowing blood. Become blood volume. From this, it is possible to measure changes in blood flow by measuring tissue blood volume over time. In addition, the wavelength of the laser used with the said laser Doppler blood flowmeter can use the thing of about 650-800 nm, specifically, 670 and 780 nm.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the blood flow measuring probe 90 as the blood flow measuring means is provided as a part of the protective plate 80 so as to be adjacent to the irradiation unit 20. Further, the surface of the blood flow measurement probe 90 is flush with the surface of the protective plate 80 so as to come into contact with the skin irradiated with near infrared light. As shown in FIG. 2, the blood flow measurement probe 90 includes an irradiation optical fiber 91 that irradiates the skin tissue with laser light, and a light receiving optical fiber 92 that receives light scattered from the tissue. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the blood flow measuring unit 100 includes a laser diode 101 that emits laser light and a laser drive circuit 102 that drives the laser diode 101. Further, the blood flow measuring unit 100 includes a photodiode 103 that receives scattered light from the light receiving optical fiber 92, an amplifier 104 that amplifies a signal received by the photodiode, and an A / D converter 105 that performs A / D conversion on the amplified signal. And a computing unit 106 for obtaining a blood flow value.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the blood flow measuring unit 100 is connected to a blood flow monitor (display unit) 110 that displays the blood flow measured by the blood flow measuring unit. As the blood flow monitor 110, a liquid crystal monitor or the like can be used. Further, the blood flow measuring unit 100 is also connected to the timer 40.

  The usage method of the optical hair grower 10 of this embodiment which has such a structure is demonstrated. First, the power switch (not shown) of the optical hair growth device 10 is turned on to be usable. Next, the protective plate 80 provided on the one side end face of the photohair grower 10 is disposed so as to come into contact with the skin that is the irradiation site of the irradiation subject. In this state, an irradiation switch (not shown) is turned on to turn on the light irradiation, whereby near infrared light is emitted from the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 and irradiated through the protective plate 80. Near-infrared light is irradiated to the skin of the subject. And the growth of body hair can be accelerated | stimulated by the said near-infrared light being absorbed into the light absorption component which exists in the skin inside.

  As a result of intensive studies by the inventor, when near infrared light is emitted from the first light source 21 and the second light source 22, the blood flow volume is increased inside the skin irradiated with the near infrared light. I found out that Therefore, it is possible to detect that near-infrared light is appropriately applied to the irradiated region by measuring the increase in blood flow with the blood flow measuring means incorporated in the optical hair growth device 10.

  Specifically, as described above, when the protective plate 80 is in contact with the skin, the blood flow measurement probe 90 that is flush with the surface of the protective plate 80 is also in contact with the skin. In this state, the irradiation switch is turned on to start light irradiation, and blood flow measurement is also started using the blood flow measuring means. The blood flow measurement means irradiates laser light from the irradiation optical fiber 91 to an adjacent portion of the skin surface irradiated with near infrared light, and receives light scattered from the inside of the skin by the light receiving optical fiber 92. Thereafter, the photodiode 103, the amplifier 104, the A / D converter 105, and the computing unit 106 calculate the blood flow volume at a site adjacent to the skin surface irradiated with near infrared light.

  When the near-infrared light irradiation is appropriately performed on the skin, the blood flow volume inside the skin increases, so that the blood flow volume gradually increases immediately after the near-infrared light irradiation. Then, by displaying the actual blood flow on the blood flow monitor 110, the user can confirm that the near-infrared light is appropriately irradiated. In addition, as described above, an optical hair growth device using a specific absorption wavelength of water is difficult to obtain a feeling of use in the past because there is no stimulation by near infrared light irradiation. However, in the optical hair growth device of the present embodiment, blood flow is measured together with near-infrared light irradiation, and as a result, changes in blood flow can be confirmed, so that a feeling of use can be obtained.

  Furthermore, as a result of intensive studies by the present inventor, the blood flow volume at which a hair growth effect is obtained has also been found. Therefore, it is possible to effectively grow hair by continuing irradiation until the blood flow volume is reached.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, in the optical hair growth device of this embodiment, the blood flow measuring unit 100 is also connected to the timer 40. Therefore, the blood flow rate measuring unit 100 stores a target blood flow rate at which a hair-growth effect is obtained, and after a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed since the blood flow measurement value reached the target blood flow rate, On the other hand, the signal which interrupts | blocks the electrical circuit between the power supply 30 and the irradiation part 20 may be emitted, and you may make it stop the irradiation in the said irradiation part.

  In the conventional optical hair growth device, since the irradiation time is simply controlled using only a timer, the irradiation is performed more than necessary, which may give the user a sense of restraint. Moreover, when controlling only with the timer, since the irradiation was stopped in a state where it was not sufficiently irradiated when the optical hair-growth device was not properly fixed at the place to be irradiated, there was a case where the hair-growth effect was insufficient. Furthermore, there is a possibility that there is an individual difference in the irradiation time at which a sufficient hair-growth effect can be obtained. In that case, the control with a simple timer may be less than the irradiation amount necessary for obtaining the effect. However, in the optical hair growth device 10 according to the present embodiment, the irradiation is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed after the blood flow measured by the blood flow measuring means reaches the target blood flow, and therefore the user is excessively restrained. It is possible to secure a necessary irradiation amount without giving a feeling.

  As described above, according to the photohair growth device according to the present embodiment, the blood flow measurement is performed together with the near infrared irradiation, using the characteristic that the blood flow inside the skin where the near infrared irradiation is performed is increased. It is possible to detect that the near-infrared light is appropriately applied to the part. Furthermore, since the blood flow rate can be grasped, it is possible to give the user a feeling of use and confirm the hair-growth effect by irradiation. In addition, since the necessary irradiation time is also known, the necessary irradiation amount can be ensured without giving the user an excessive sense of restraint.

  Note that, as described above, the optical hair growth device 10 of the present embodiment stops the irradiation in the irradiation unit 20 by the timer 40 after a predetermined time has elapsed after the measured value of the blood flow reaches the target blood flow. However, the timer 40 is not used, and after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blood flow reaches the target blood flow, a signal that prompts the stop of the irradiation is issued, and for example, a display that prompts the blood flow monitor 110 to stop the irradiation is displayed. May be. Further, a sound may be emitted so as to prompt the stop of irradiation. At this time, the user himself turns off the irradiation switch to stop the light irradiation.

  As described above, in the optical hair growth device of this embodiment, a contact type laser Doppler blood flow meter is used, but a non-contact type laser Doppler blood flow meter may be used. The blood flow measuring means is not limited to the laser Doppler blood flow meter, and an ultrasonic blood flow meter may be used.

  Moreover, in the optical hair grower 10 of this embodiment, although it was set as the structure which light-emits both the 1st light source 21 and the 2nd light source 22 simultaneously, it is a control part (not shown) between the board | substrate 23 and the switching part 60. ) To alternately irradiate the first light source 21 and the second light source 22. In particular, it is preferable to switch the wavelength of the irradiated near infrared light according to the age of the subject irradiated with the near infrared light. For example, near-infrared light with a wavelength of 950 nm is irradiated for people under 50 years old, and near-infrared light with 1450 nm is irradiated for people of all ages to further improve the hair-growth effect. Can do. This is because 1450 nm near-infrared light absorbs more water than 950 nm near-infrared light, and elderly people with less water can use 1450 nm near-infrared light to achieve a hair-growth effect. It is considered a thing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the optical hair growth device of the present embodiment, the first light sources 21 and the second light sources 22 are arranged so as to be alternately arranged. However, the arrangement is not limited to this, and for each wavelength. They may be collected or arranged randomly regardless of the wavelength. Further, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 do not have to be arranged at equal intervals, and the number can be arbitrarily set.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the optical hair growth device which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as 1st embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical hair growth device 11 according to this embodiment is provided with a blood flow measuring probe 90 as a blood flow measuring means at the center of the protective plate 80. In addition, it is the same as that of 1st embodiment that the surface of the blood flow rate measurement probe 90 is flush with the surface of the protection plate 80 so as to contact the skin irradiated with near infrared light.

  In the optical hair growth device 10 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are arranged together and arranged on the upper side, and the blood flow measuring probe 90 is arranged on the lower side. . Even with such an arrangement, it is possible to measure the blood flow volume inside the skin surface irradiated with near-infrared light. However, as in the present embodiment, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are arranged concentrically, and the blood flow measuring probe 90 is arranged at the center thereof, thereby measuring a more accurate blood flow. be able to. That is, as described above, since the blood flow volume is increased around the irradiated area of the skin by being irradiated with near infrared light, the blood flow measuring probe 90 is arranged accurately at the center of the irradiated area. The blood flow can be measured.

  In the photohair growth device 11 of this embodiment, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are arranged concentrically. However, the arrangement is not limited to this arrangement, and the vertical and horizontal directions are the same as in the first embodiment. May be arranged at equal intervals. Further, the blood flow measurement probe 90 does not have to be arranged at the center of the protective plate 80, but may be arranged between the light sources.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention still in detail, this invention is not limited to these Examples.

  In order to confirm the blood flow rate measurement effect of the photohair growth device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following evaluation test was performed. First, a Blu / C mouse was prepared, and this back was shaved with a clipper. At this time, it was confirmed that the hair cycle of the mouse was at rest. Next, the mouse was subjected to anesthesia treatment and brought into a resting state. At this time, as anesthesia treatment, a gas anesthesia method using isoflurane was used. And the optical hair growth device was installed in the vicinity of the irradiation part of the said mouse | mouth made into the resting state so that a blood flow rate measurement probe may contact. In addition, the light emitting diode which emits near-infrared light of 1450 nm was used as a light source in an optical hair growth device.

  Next, the blood flow measurement of the said irradiation part in a mouse | mouth was started in the state which does not perform near-infrared light irradiation, and the blood flow measurement was performed for 30 minutes in the non-irradiation state. And after the said blood-flow measurement was complete | finished, near-infrared light was irradiated, continuing the blood-flow measurement. The irradiation time at this time was 20 minutes. Thereafter, irradiation with near-infrared light was stopped, and only blood flow measurement was continued for about 1 hour. The measurement results are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a graph in which the vertical axis represents tissue blood flow and the horizontal axis represents blood flow measurement time. As shown in FIG. 6, the tissue blood flow is about 1.5 for 30 minutes after the start of measurement without irradiation with near infrared light. Then, as a result of performing 20 minutes of near-infrared light irradiation shown to the code | symbol A of FIG. 6, tissue blood flow volume increases gradually, and it will be in the state where tissue blood flow volume exceeds 2 at the time of 50 minutes which completed light irradiation. It was. Furthermore, even after the light irradiation was completed, the tissue blood flow was not greatly reduced, and the blood flow at the end of the light irradiation was almost maintained.

  As described above, the near-infrared light irradiation that can be expected to have a hair-growth effect increases the blood flow volume at the irradiation site, and thus it is possible to easily detect whether or not appropriate irradiation is performed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with some embodiment and an Example, this invention is not limited to these, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical hair growth device 20 Irradiation part 30 Power supply 40 Timer 50 Pulse generation part 60 Switching part 70 Housing 80 Protection board 90 Blood flow measurement probe 100 Blood flow measurement part 110 Blood flow monitor

Claims (5)

An irradiation unit that irradiates the skin with near-infrared light; and
Blood flow measuring means for measuring blood flow in the skin irradiated with near infrared light;
An optical hair-growth apparatus comprising: Comprising a time measuring means for measuring the irradiation time in the irradiation section;
The time measuring means stops the irradiation in the irradiation unit or issues a signal for urging the irradiation to stop after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blood flow measured by the blood flow measuring means reaches the target blood flow. The optical hair-growth device according to claim 1.   The optical hair growth device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising display means for displaying the blood flow measured by the blood flow measuring means.   The optical hair growth device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wavelength of the near-infrared light is a specific absorption wavelength of water.   The optical hair growth device according to claim 4, wherein the wavelength of the near infrared light is 950 nm or 1450 nm.

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