JP2020137736A - Depilatory apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a depilatory apparatus capable of enhancing the depilation effect.SOLUTION: A depilatory apparatus 10 includes: a body case 11 having a light irradiation window 17; and an LED substrate 16 built in the body case 11. Of three types of LED elements including a first LED element 21 having a center wavelength in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm, a second LED element 22 having a center wavelength in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1,000 nm, and a third LED element having a center wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm, at least two types of them are disposed on the LED substrate 16, allowing the two types of the LED elements to emit lights simultaneously and irradiate the skins.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an epilator that prevents the formation of body hair by irradiating the skin surface with light of a specific wavelength using a light emitting diode as a light source.

In the type of epilator that irradiates the skin with hair, the skin is irradiated with light to heat the dermal papilla, which makes it difficult for nutrients to reach the hair matrix cells and suppresses the formation of hair. ing. Patent Document 1 describes a photo-hair removal device that irradiates the skin with light and prevents light from leaking from the light irradiation port to the outside. As a light source of the photo-hair removal device, a laser is used. Diodes and flash lamps are used.

FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2 describes a body hair removing device including a body hair detecting device for detecting the position of the body hair. In this body hair removing device, the position of the body hair detected by the body hair detecting device is 650 nm. It is designed to irradiate a laser beam with a wavelength of ~ 1200 nm.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-289819 JP-A-2007-533391

As described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in a conventional optical epilator using a flash lamp or a laser beam as a light source, light having a wavelength of 500 to 1200 nm is emitted from the light source toward the hairy skin. I try to irradiate. When the skin was irradiated with light having a wavelength in such a range, the intensity of the light could not be increased. The reason is that irradiation with light containing such a wide range of wavelengths causes the temperature of the hair and the skin around it to rise excessively.

Various studies have been conducted to enable efficient removal of hair without increasing the temperature of the hairy skin.

The light absorption coefficient of melanin contained in the hair root exceeds 10 when irradiated with light having a center wavelength of less than 700 nm, and when the absorption coefficient exceeds 10, the extinction temperature of the melanin dye increases. Further, when the central wavelength is 1200 nm or more, the light absorption coefficient of water contained in the skin or the like exceeds 1. If the absorption coefficient of water exceeds 1, the temperature will be excessively increased. On the other hand, the absorption coefficient of hemoglobin oxide sharply decreases to 0.1 when the wavelength exceeds 600 nm, and becomes 0.5 or less even when the wavelength exceeds 700 nm.

As described above, in conventional epilators and hair removal devices, hair is removed by heating hair roots and destroying hair papilla cells and hair matrix cells. However, even if hair is removed, hair is still removed. It was inevitable that it would grow. It is considered that the reason is that even if the dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells are destroyed, the hair cannot be completely removed unless the basil region is destroyed. The basil region is located in the upper part of the hair follicle that encloses the hair root, and is the part where the hair follicle stem cell and the pigment stem cell are present. If these stem cells are not destroyed, it is considered that the hair roots are regenerated and the hair removal effect cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hair removal device capable of enhancing the hair removal effect.

The hair remover of the present invention includes a main body case provided with a light irradiation window, an LED substrate incorporated in the main body case, and a first LED element having a central wavelength in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm. , At least two types of LED elements out of three types of LED elements, a second LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm, and a third LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm. Is provided on the LED substrate, and two types of the LED elements are simultaneously made to emit light to irradiate the skin.

Since the skin is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 700 nm or more and less than 1000 nm, the heat generation temperature of the melanin pigment cannot be raised and the temperature of water cannot be raised, so that the hair can be treated without excessively heating the skin. It can be carried out. Since the skin is irradiated with at least two types of light having different central wavelengths, the hair root can be heated to destroy hair papilla cells and hair matrix cells, and further, the basil region can be destroyed, so that the hair root can be regenerated. Is suppressed and the hair removal effect is enhanced.

It is a front view which shows the tip part of the epilator which is one Embodiment. It is a top view of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit in an epilator. (A) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of one embodiment, (B) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of another embodiment, and (C) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of another embodiment. It is a lighting circuit diagram, and FIG. 3D is a lighting circuit diagram of an LED according to still another embodiment. (A) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to one embodiment, and (B) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment. (A) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment, and (B) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to still another embodiment. It is an absorption characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the wavelength of light and the absorption coefficient of melanin and the like corresponding to the wavelength.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the epilator 10 has a main body case 11, and operation handles 12 are provided on both left and right sides of the main body case 11. A front lid member 13 is attached to the front surface of the main body case 11, and a rear lid member 14 is attached to the rear surface of the main body case 11.

A heat radiation fin 15 is incorporated in the main body case 11, and a rectangular LED substrate 16 is attached to the heat radiation fin 15. A light irradiation window 17 made of a transparent member is attached to the front lid member 13, and the LED substrate 16 is visually observed from the outside through the light irradiation window 17. Rollers 18 are attached to both upper and lower sides of the front lid member 13 in FIG. 1, that is, both sides of the light irradiation window 17, by support members (not shown). The roller 18 is rotatably supported by a support member, comes into contact with the skin during the hair removal process, and is rotated by the movement of the main body case 11.

When removing the hair growing on the skin using the epilator 10, the operator holds the portion of the operation handle 12 in his hand and presses the roller 18 against the skin. As a result, the LED substrate 16 faces the skin through the transparent light irradiation window 17, and under this state, the epilator 10 is moved along the skin.

FIG. 7 is an absorption characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and the absorption coefficient of a substance such as melanin according to the wavelength. As shown in FIG. 7, the absorption coefficient of melanin contained in hair roots exceeds 10 when irradiated with light having a central wavelength of less than 700 nm. When the absorption coefficient exceeds 10, the exothermic temperature of the melanin dye becomes high, and when the center wavelength increases above 700 nm, the absorption coefficient of melanin decreases below 10. Using an element that emits light with a central wavelength of 750 nm, even if the skin is irradiated with light for a relatively long period of time, it is possible to destroy dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells without excessively increasing the temperature of the skin. it can. The destructive effect is best obtained with light having a wavelength of 750 nm, and any element that emits light having a central wavelength in the 700 nm range, that is, 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm can obtain the destructive effect.

Further, when the skin is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 1200 nm or more, the light absorption coefficient of water contained in the skin or the like exceeds 1. If the absorption coefficient of water exceeds 1, the temperature of the skin and the like will be excessively increased. On the other hand, the absorption coefficient of hemoglobin oxide sharply decreases to 0.1 when the wavelength exceeds 600 nm, and becomes 0.5 or less even when the wavelength exceeds 700 nm. Therefore, when the skin is not irradiated with light having a central wavelength of less than 700 nm and light having a central wavelength of 1200 nm or more, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the skin from being excessively increased.

Experiments have shown that irradiating hair roots with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm destroys the basil region. The basil region is located in the upper part of the hair follicle that encloses the hair root, and is the part where hair follicle stem cells and pigment stem cells are present.It was found that when the basil region is destroyed, the regeneration of the hair root is suppressed and the hair removal effect is enhanced. did. The basil destruction effect is best obtained with light having a center wavelength of 950 nm, and the destruction effect can be obtained if the device emits light having a center wavelength in the 900 nm range, that is, 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm.

Furthermore, light with a wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm has half the function of destroying the dermal papilla and half the function of destroying the basil region, and even if light in this range is irradiated, the temperature of the skin Both destructive effects can be obtained without excessively increasing.

The epilator 10 of the present invention made based on such knowledge irradiates hair roots with light having a plurality of types of central wavelengths.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of LED elements are provided on the LED substrate 16. The LED element has a first LED element 21 and a second LED element 22. The first LED element 21 emits light having a central wavelength of 750 nm, and the second LED element 22 emits light having a central wavelength of 950 nm. Therefore, when the hair root is irradiated with the light emitted from the LED element 21, the dermal papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed and the formation of hair can be prevented without raising the temperature of the skin.

On the other hand, when the hair root is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm emitted from the LED element 22, the basil region can be destroyed. The basil region is a portion where hair follicle stem cells and pigment stem cells are present, and when the basil region is destroyed, hair root regeneration is suppressed and the hair removal effect can be enhanced.

When illustrated, 13 elements of the LED elements 21 and 22 are arranged in a straight line along the long side of the LED substrate 16 at regular intervals to form a set of element groups. .. Two sets of element groups 21a composed of the first LED element 21 are provided on the LED substrate 16, and four sets of element groups 22a composed of the second LED element 22 are provided on the LED substrate 16. The number of the LED elements 21 and 22 provided on the LED substrate 16 is not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1, and may be any number.

As shown in FIG. 1, all the elements are arranged in a grid pattern on the LED substrate 16, but the LED elements are staggered by shifting the adjacent element groups along the long side of the LED substrate 16. It may be arranged, and the arrangement form of the LED element can be arbitrarily set. Further, the shape of the LED substrate 16 is not limited to the quadrilateral shape, and may be circular or oval.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation switch 23 is provided on one of the operation handles 12, and when the operation switch 23 is operated, all the LED elements 21 and 22 are turned on. An indicator 24 is attached to the upper surface of the main body case 11 as shown in FIG. 1 so that the operator can identify that the LED elements 21 and 22 are turned on. The indicator 24 has a light projecting portion formed of a transparent material, and an indicator element composed of an LED element that irradiates visible light is incorporated therein. Further, in order to cool the LED substrate 16, a cooling fan 25 is provided in the main body case 11.

Red with a wavelength of 620 to 750 nm is visible light and can be visually observed by humans, but light having a wavelength higher than that is invisible light and cannot be visually observed. Since the LED element for hair removal includes an element that emits invisible light, the indicator 24 indicates that the LED elements 21 and 22 are lit by operating the operation switch 23. .. As a result, the operator can recognize that the LED element containing the invisible light is lit and irradiates the light by observing the indicator 24 that turns on the visible light.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit in the epilator 10. The control circuit includes an LED lighting circuit 26 and an indicator lighting circuit 27. In these circuits, the operation switch 23 and the battery 28 are connected by a power supply circuit 29, and when the operation switch 23 is operated, the electric power from the battery 28 is supplied to each lighting circuit. Further, electric power is also supplied to the cooling fan 25. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery 28 is used as a power source, but a commercial power source may be used as a power source, and in the epilator 10 of that form, it is connected to a power supply unit that steps down and rectifies the commercial power source with an energizing cable. Will be done. However, a transformer and a rectifier may be incorporated inside the main body case.

FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram showing an LED lighting circuit 26 according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 4B to 4D are circuits showing an LED lighting circuit 26 according to another embodiment. It is a figure. The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4A includes a parallel circuit 31 in which a plurality of LED elements 21 that emit light having a center wavelength of 750 nm are connected in parallel, and a plurality of LED elements that emit light having a center wavelength of 950 nm. 22 has a series circuit 32 connected in series. In this way, the two types of LED elements have separate circuit configurations. The connection terminals 33a and 34a of the parallel circuit 31 and the connection terminals 33b and 34b of the series circuit 32 are connected to the power supply circuit 29 shown in FIG. 3, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4B has a series circuit 35 in which a plurality of LED elements 21 and a plurality of LED elements 22 are mixed and connected in series. In this way, by using the mixed type series circuit 35, two types of LED elements can be operated in one circuit. The connection terminals 33 and 34 of the series circuit 35 are connected to the power supply circuit 29, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4 (C) has a plurality of mixed-type series circuits 35 shown in FIG. 4 (B). Each series circuit 35 is connected to the common connection terminals 33 and 34, and is connected to each other in parallel.

In the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4 (D), each LED element constituting the series circuit 35 shown in FIG. 4 (C) is connected to the LED element of the other series circuit 35 by a bypass wire 36. Each series circuit 35 is connected to the common connection terminals 33 and 34, and is connected to each other in parallel. In the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4C, if any of the LED elements constituting the series circuit 35 is broken, the other LED elements of the series circuit 35 will not be lit. On the other hand, in the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4D, even if any of the LED elements is broken, the other LED elements can be lit by the bypass line 36.

When the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D is provided on the LED substrate 16 shown in FIG. 1, 26 LED elements 21 and 52 LED elements 22 are used. Are provided on the LED substrate 16 respectively. For example, in FIG. 1, when the six LED elements arranged along the short side of the LED substrate 16 are a series circuit 35 composed of the six elements, the 13 series circuits 35 are the LED substrate 16. It is provided along the long side. The LED elements adjacent to each other in the direction along the long side are of the same type, but the LED elements adjacent to each other in the direction along the long side may be different elements.

The LED lighting circuit 26 described above includes an LED element 21 that emits light having a central wavelength of 750 nm and an LED element 22 that emits light having a central wavelength of 950 nm, and the light of both central wavelengths simultaneously emits skin. Is irradiated to. When light having a central wavelength of 750 nm is irradiated from the LED element 21 toward the hair root from the skin, the hair papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed without raising the temperature of the skin. On the other hand, when the hair root is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm from the LED element 22, the basil region can be destroyed. When the basil region is destroyed, the regeneration of hair roots is suppressed and the hair removal effect can be enhanced.

As described above, the wavelength at which the hair papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed without raising the temperature of the skin is not limited to the center wavelength of 750 nm, but is in the 700 nm range, that is, the center in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm. The wavelength LED element can also be the first LED element. As for the destructive effect of the above-mentioned portion, light having a central wavelength of 750 nm is most preferable, but if the light is in the 700 nm range, the necessary destructive effect can be obtained.

On the other hand, the wavelength capable of destroying the basil region is not limited to 950 nm, and an LED element having a center wavelength in the 900 nm range, that is, 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm may be used as the second LED element. it can. The above-mentioned destructive effect of the basil region is most preferably light having a center wavelength of 950 nm, but the required destructive effect can be obtained if the light has a center wavelength in the 900 nm range.

Further, in addition to the LED elements 21 and 22 that irradiate the two types of wavelengths described above, a third LED element having a center wavelength of 850 nm may be provided on the LED substrate 16. As described above, the third LED element that irradiates light of this wavelength has half the function of destroying the dermal papilla and the function of destroying the basil region, and even if the light in this range is irradiated, the skin Both destructive effects can be obtained without excessively increasing the temperature. As a third LED element having a destructive function of both parts, if the center wavelength is 800 units, that is, light having a wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm, the light has a destructive function of both parts to some extent. However, it is preferable that the third LED element is used together with the first LED element 21 or the second LED element without using only the third LED element.

Therefore, of the three types of wavelength elements of the first LED element 21, the second LED element 22, and the third LED element, at least two types of LED elements are provided on the LED substrate 16 and at least two types are provided. The required hair removal effect was obtained by irradiating the skin with light of the same wavelength.

FIG. 5A is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to one embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 5 (A) is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 (C), and the indicator lighting circuit 27 has an indicator element 37 composed of an LED element that emits visible light. The connection terminals 38 and 39 are connected to the power supply circuit 29, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 5 (B) is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 (D), and the indicator lighting circuit 27 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 (A). When the operation switch 23 is operated, the indicator lighting circuit 27 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is supplied with electric power together with the LED lighting circuit 26, the indicator element 37 is lit, and visible light is emitted. .. As a result, the operator can detect that the LED elements 21 and 22 are emitting light by the lighting display of the indicator element 37.

FIG. 6A is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to still another embodiment.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with an indicator element 37. Each indicator element 37 is provided on the LED substrate 16 together with the LED elements 21 and 22. The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 (A) is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 (A), and the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 (B) is shown in FIG. 5 (B). It is the same as the one. Since the indicator elements 37 are provided in each series circuit 35, for example, when all the indicator elements 37 are arranged along the long side of the LED substrate 16 shown in FIG. 1, the indicator elements 37 are arranged on a straight line. Will be done. Therefore, when the LED substrate 16 is observed from the tip surface side of the epilator 10 through the transparent light irradiation window 17, it is confirmed that the LED elements 21 and 22 are emitting light by the indicator element 37 that lights visible light. it can.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when an indicator element 37 is provided in each series circuit 35, when any of the indicator elements 37 is not lit, any of the series circuits 35 provided with the indicator element 37. It shows that the LED element is broken. Therefore, in this embodiment, the indicator element 37 displays the lighting of the LED elements 21 and 22, and in the unlikely event that the LED element breaks, it displays a failure.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

10 Hair remover 11 Main body case 12 Operation handle 13 Front lid member 14 Rear lid member 15 Heat dissipation fin 16 LED board 17 Light irradiation window 18 Roller 21 First LED element 22 Second LED element 23 Operation switch 24 Indicator 25 Cooling fan 26 LED lighting circuit 27 Indicator lighting circuit 28 Battery 29 Power supply circuit 31 Parallel circuit 32, 35 Series circuit 36 Bypass line 37 Indicator element

The present invention relates to an epilator that prevents the formation of body hair by irradiating the skin surface with light of a specific wavelength using a light emitting diode as a light source.

In the type of epilator that irradiates the skin with hair, the skin is irradiated with light to heat the dermal papilla, which makes it difficult for nutrients to reach the hair matrix cells and suppresses the formation of hair. ing. Patent Document 1 describes a photo-hair removal device that irradiates the skin with light and prevents light from leaking from the light irradiation port to the outside. As a light source of the photo-hair removal device, a laser is used. Diodes and flash lamps are used.

FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2 describes a body hair removing device including a body hair detecting device for detecting the position of the body hair. In this body hair removing device, the position of the body hair detected by the body hair detecting device is 650 nm. It is designed to irradiate a laser beam with a wavelength of ~ 1200 nm.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-289819 JP-A-2007-533391

As described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in a conventional optical epilator using a flash lamp or a laser beam as a light source, light having a wavelength of 500 to 1200 nm is emitted from the light source toward the hairy skin. I try to irradiate. When the skin was irradiated with light having a wavelength in such a range, the intensity of the light could not be increased. The reason is that irradiation with light containing such a wide range of wavelengths causes the temperature of the hair and the skin around it to rise excessively.

Various studies have been conducted to enable efficient removal of hair without increasing the temperature of the hairy skin.

The light absorption coefficient of melanin contained in the hair root exceeds 10 when irradiated with light having a center wavelength of less than 700 nm, and when the absorption coefficient exceeds 10, the extinction temperature of the melanin dye increases. Further, when the central wavelength is 1200 nm or more, the light absorption coefficient of water contained in the skin or the like exceeds 1. If the absorption coefficient of water exceeds 1, the temperature will be excessively increased. On the other hand, the absorption coefficient of hemoglobin oxide sharply decreases to 0.1 when the wavelength exceeds 600 nm, and becomes 0.5 or less even when the wavelength exceeds 700 nm.

As described above, in conventional epilators and hair removal devices, hair is removed by heating hair roots and destroying hair papilla cells and hair matrix cells. However, even if hair is removed, hair is still removed. It was inevitable that it would grow. It is considered that the reason is that even if the dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells are destroyed, the hair cannot be completely removed unless the bulge region is destroyed. The bulge region is located on the upper part of the hair follicle that encloses the hair root, and is the part where the hair follicle stem cell and the pigment stem cell are present. If these stem cells are not destroyed, it is considered that the hair roots are regenerated and the hair removal effect cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hair removal device capable of enhancing the hair removal effect.

The hair remover of the present invention includes a main body case provided with a light irradiation window, an LED substrate incorporated in the main body case, and a first LED element having a central wavelength in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm. , At least two types of LED elements out of three types of LED elements, a second LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm, and a third LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm. Is provided on the LED substrate, and two types of the LED elements are simultaneously made to emit light to irradiate the skin.

Since the skin is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 700 nm or more and less than 1000 nm, the heat generation temperature of the melanin pigment cannot be raised and the temperature of water cannot be raised, so that the hair can be treated without excessively heating the skin. It can be carried out. Since the skin is irradiated with at least two types of light having different central wavelengths, the hair root can be heated to destroy the dermal papilla cells and the hair matrix cells, and further, the bulge region can be destroyed, so that the hair root can be regenerated. Is suppressed and the hair removal effect is enhanced.

It is a front view which shows the tip part of the epilator which is one Embodiment. It is a top view of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit in an epilator. (A) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of one embodiment, (B) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of another embodiment, and (C) is an LED lighting circuit diagram of another embodiment. It is a lighting circuit diagram, and FIG. 3D is a lighting circuit diagram of an LED according to still another embodiment. (A) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to one embodiment, and (B) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment. (A) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment, and (B) is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to still another embodiment. It is an absorption characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the wavelength of light and the absorption coefficient of melanin and the like corresponding to the wavelength.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the epilator 10 has a main body case 11, and operation handles 12 are provided on both left and right sides of the main body case 11. A front lid member 13 is attached to the front surface of the main body case 11, and a rear lid member 14 is attached to the rear surface of the main body case 11.

A heat radiation fin 15 is incorporated in the main body case 11, and a rectangular LED substrate 16 is attached to the heat radiation fin 15. A light irradiation window 17 made of a transparent member is attached to the front lid member 13, and the LED substrate 16 is visually observed from the outside through the light irradiation window 17. Rollers 18 are attached to both upper and lower sides of the front lid member 13 in FIG. 1, that is, both sides of the light irradiation window 17, by support members (not shown). The roller 18 is rotatably supported by a support member, comes into contact with the skin during the hair removal process, and is rotated by the movement of the main body case 11.

When removing the hair growing on the skin using the epilator 10, the operator holds the portion of the operation handle 12 in his hand and presses the roller 18 against the skin. As a result, the LED substrate 16 faces the skin through the transparent light irradiation window 17, and under this state, the epilator 10 is moved along the skin.

FIG. 7 is an absorption characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and the absorption coefficient of a substance such as melanin according to the wavelength. As shown in FIG. 7, the absorption coefficient of melanin contained in hair roots exceeds 10 when irradiated with light having a central wavelength of less than 700 nm. When the absorption coefficient exceeds 10, the exothermic temperature of the melanin dye becomes high, and when the center wavelength increases above 700 nm, the absorption coefficient of melanin decreases below 10. Using an element that emits light with a central wavelength of 750 nm, even if the skin is irradiated with light for a relatively long period of time, it is possible to destroy dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells without excessively increasing the temperature of the skin. it can. The destructive effect is best obtained with light having a wavelength of 750 nm, and any element that emits light having a central wavelength in the 700 nm range, that is, 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm can obtain the destructive effect.

Further, when the skin is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 1200 nm or more, the light absorption coefficient of water contained in the skin or the like exceeds 1. If the absorption coefficient of water exceeds 1, the temperature of the skin and the like will be excessively increased. On the other hand, the absorption coefficient of hemoglobin oxide sharply decreases to 0.1 when the wavelength exceeds 600 nm, and becomes 0.5 or less even when the wavelength exceeds 700 nm. Therefore, when the skin is not irradiated with light having a central wavelength of less than 700 nm and light having a central wavelength of 1200 nm or more, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the skin from being excessively increased.

Experiments have shown that bulge regions are destroyed when hair roots are irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm. Bulge area is located in the upper portion of the hair follicle surrounding the hair root is a portion hair follicle stem cells and melanocyte stem cells are present, to destroy the bulge region, it found to enhance the hair loss effects follicle regeneration is suppressed did. The bulge destruction effect is best obtained with light having a center wavelength of 950 nm, and the destruction effect can be obtained if the device emits light having a center wavelength in the 900 nm range, that is, in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm.

Furthermore, light with a central wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm has half the function of destroying the dermal papilla and half the function of destroying the bulge region, and even when irradiated with light in this range, the temperature of the skin Both destructive effects can be obtained without excessively increasing.

The epilator 10 of the present invention made based on such knowledge irradiates hair roots with light having a plurality of types of central wavelengths.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of LED elements are provided on the LED substrate 16. The LED element has a first LED element 21 and a second LED element 22. The first LED element 21 emits light having a central wavelength of 750 nm, and the second LED element 22 emits light having a central wavelength of 950 nm. Therefore, when the hair root is irradiated with the light emitted from the LED element 21, the dermal papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed and the formation of hair can be prevented without raising the temperature of the skin.

On the other hand, when the hair root is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm emitted from the LED element 22, the bulge region can be destroyed. The bulge region is a portion where hair follicle stem cells and pigment stem cells are present, and when the bulge region is destroyed, hair root regeneration is suppressed and the hair removal effect can be enhanced.

When illustrated, 13 elements of the LED elements 21 and 22 are arranged in a straight line along the long side of the LED substrate 16 at regular intervals to form a set of element groups. .. Two sets of element groups 21a composed of the first LED element 21 are provided on the LED substrate 16, and four sets of element groups 22a composed of the second LED element 22 are provided on the LED substrate 16. The number of the LED elements 21 and 22 provided on the LED substrate 16 is not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1, and may be any number.

As shown in FIG. 1, all the elements are arranged in a grid pattern on the LED substrate 16, but the LED elements are staggered by shifting the adjacent element groups along the long side of the LED substrate 16. It may be arranged, and the arrangement form of the LED element can be arbitrarily set. Further, the shape of the LED substrate 16 is not limited to the quadrilateral shape, and may be circular or oval.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation switch 23 is provided on one of the operation handles 12, and when the operation switch 23 is operated, all the LED elements 21 and 22 are turned on. An indicator 24 is attached to the upper surface of the main body case 11 as shown in FIG. 1 so that the operator can identify that the LED elements 21 and 22 are turned on. The indicator 24 has a light projecting portion formed of a transparent material, and an indicator element composed of an LED element that irradiates visible light is incorporated therein. Further, in order to cool the LED substrate 16, a cooling fan 25 is provided in the main body case 11.

Red with a wavelength of 620 to 750 nm is visible light and can be visually observed by humans, but light having a wavelength higher than that is invisible light and cannot be visually observed. Since the LED element for hair removal includes an element that emits invisible light, the indicator 24 indicates that the LED elements 21 and 22 are lit by operating the operation switch 23. .. As a result, the operator can recognize that the LED element containing the invisible light is lit and irradiates the light by observing the indicator 24 that turns on the visible light.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit in the epilator 10. The control circuit includes an LED lighting circuit 26 and an indicator lighting circuit 27. In these circuits, the operation switch 23 and the battery 28 are connected by a power supply circuit 29, and when the operation switch 23 is operated, the electric power from the battery 28 is supplied to each lighting circuit. Further, electric power is also supplied to the cooling fan 25. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery 28 is used as a power source, but a commercial power source may be used as a power source, and in the epilator 10 of that form, it is connected to a power supply unit that steps down and rectifies the commercial power source with an energizing cable. Will be done. However, a transformer and a rectifier may be incorporated inside the main body case.

FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram showing an LED lighting circuit 26 according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 4B to 4D are circuits showing an LED lighting circuit 26 according to another embodiment. It is a figure. The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4A includes a parallel circuit 31 in which a plurality of LED elements 21 that emit light having a center wavelength of 750 nm are connected in parallel, and a plurality of LED elements that emit light having a center wavelength of 950 nm. 22 has a series circuit 32 connected in series. In this way, the two types of LED elements have separate circuit configurations. The connection terminals 33a and 34a of the parallel circuit 31 and the connection terminals 33b and 34b of the series circuit 32 are connected to the power supply circuit 29 shown in FIG. 3, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4B has a series circuit 35 in which a plurality of LED elements 21 and a plurality of LED elements 22 are mixed and connected in series. In this way, by using the mixed type series circuit 35, two types of LED elements can be operated in one circuit. The connection terminals 33 and 34 of the series circuit 35 are connected to the power supply circuit 29, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4 (C) has a plurality of mixed-type series circuits 35 shown in FIG. 4 (B). Each series circuit 35 is connected to the common connection terminals 33 and 34, and is connected to each other in parallel.

In the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4 (D), each LED element constituting the series circuit 35 shown in FIG. 4 (C) is connected to the LED element of the other series circuit 35 by a bypass wire 36. Each series circuit 35 is connected to the common connection terminals 33 and 34, and is connected to each other in parallel. In the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4C, if any of the LED elements constituting the series circuit 35 is broken, the other LED elements of the series circuit 35 will not be lit. On the other hand, in the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4D, even if any of the LED elements is broken, the other LED elements can be lit by the bypass line 36.

When the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D is provided on the LED substrate 16 shown in FIG. 1, 26 LED elements 21 and 52 LED elements 22 are used. Are provided on the LED substrate 16 respectively. For example, in FIG. 1, when the six LED elements arranged along the short side of the LED substrate 16 are a series circuit 35 composed of the six elements, the 13 series circuits 35 are the LED substrate 16. It is provided along the long side. The LED elements adjacent to each other in the direction along the long side are of the same type, but the LED elements adjacent to each other in the direction along the long side may be different elements.

The LED lighting circuit 26 described above includes an LED element 21 that emits light having a central wavelength of 750 nm and an LED element 22 that emits light having a central wavelength of 950 nm, and the light of both central wavelengths simultaneously emits skin. Is irradiated to. When light having a central wavelength of 750 nm is irradiated from the LED element 21 toward the hair root from the skin, the hair papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed without raising the temperature of the skin. On the other hand, when the hair root is irradiated with light having a central wavelength of 950 nm from the LED element 22, the bulge region can be destroyed. When the bulge region is destroyed, the regeneration of hair roots is suppressed and the hair removal effect can be enhanced.

As described above, the wavelength at which the hair papilla cells and the hair matrix cells can be destroyed without raising the temperature of the skin is not limited to the center wavelength of 750 nm, but is in the 700 nm range, that is, the center in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm. The wavelength LED element can also be the first LED element. As for the destructive effect of the above-mentioned portion, light having a central wavelength of 750 nm is most preferable, but if the light is in the 700 nm range, the necessary destructive effect can be obtained.

On the other hand, the wavelength capable of destroying the bulge region is not limited to the central wavelength of 950 nm, and an LED element having a central wavelength in the 900 nm range, that is, in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm may be used as the second LED element. it can. The above-mentioned destructive effect of the bulge region is most preferably light having a center wavelength of 950 nm, but the required destructive effect can be obtained with light in the 900 nm range.

Further, in addition to the LED elements 21 and 22 that irradiate the two types of wavelengths described above, a third LED element having a center wavelength of 850 nm may be provided on the LED substrate 16. As described above, the third LED element that irradiates light of this wavelength has half the function of destroying the dermal papilla and half the function of destroying the bulge region, and even if the light in this range is irradiated, the skin Both destructive effects can be obtained without excessively increasing the temperature. As a third LED element having a destructive function of both parts, if the center wavelength is 800 units, that is, light having a wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm, the light has a destructive function of both parts to some extent. However, it is preferable that the third LED element is used together with the first LED element 21 or the second LED element without using only the third LED element.

Therefore, of the three types of wavelength elements of the first LED element 21, the second LED element 22, and the third LED element, at least two types of LED elements are provided on the LED substrate 16 and at least two types are provided. The required hair removal effect was obtained by irradiating the skin with light of the same wavelength.

FIG. 5A is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to one embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 5 (A) is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 (C), and the indicator lighting circuit 27 has an indicator element 37 composed of an LED element that emits visible light. The connection terminals 38 and 39 are connected to the power supply circuit 29, respectively.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 5 (B) is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 (D), and the indicator lighting circuit 27 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 (A). When the operation switch 23 is operated, the indicator lighting circuit 27 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is supplied with electric power together with the LED lighting circuit 26, the indicator element 37 is lit, and visible light is emitted. .. As a result, the operator can detect that the LED elements 21 and 22 are emitting light by the lighting display of the indicator element 37.

FIG. 6A is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to another embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a lighting circuit diagram of an indicator and an LED according to still another embodiment.

The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with an indicator element 37. Each indicator element 37 is provided on the LED substrate 16 together with the LED elements 21 and 22. The LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 (A) is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 (A), and the LED lighting circuit 26 shown in FIG. 6 (B) is shown in FIG. 5 (B). It is the same as the one. Since the indicator element 37 is provided in each series circuit 35, for example, when all the indicator elements 37 are arranged along the long side of the LED substrate 16 shown in FIG. 1, the indicator elements 37 are arranged on a straight line. Will be done. Therefore, when the LED substrate 16 is observed from the tip surface side of the epilator 10 through the transparent light irradiation window 17, it is confirmed that the LED elements 21 and 22 are emitting light by the indicator element 37 that lights visible light. it can.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when an indicator element 37 is provided in each series circuit 35, when any of the indicator elements 37 is not lit, any of the series circuits 35 provided with the indicator element 37. It shows that the LED element is broken. Therefore, in this embodiment, the indicator element 37 displays the lighting of the LED elements 21 and 22, and in the unlikely event that the LED element breaks, it displays a failure.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

10 Hair remover 11 Main body case 12 Operation handle 13 Front lid member 14 Rear lid member 15 Heat dissipation fin 16 LED board 17 Light irradiation window 18 Roller 21 First LED element 22 Second LED element 23 Operation switch 24 Indicator 25 Cooling fan 26 LED lighting circuit 27 Indicator lighting circuit 28 Battery 29 Power supply circuit 31 Parallel circuit 32, 35 Series circuit 36 Bypass line 37 Indicator element

Claims (7)

The main body case with a light irradiation window and
It has an LED substrate incorporated in the main body case.
A first LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm, a second LED element with a center wavelength in the range of 900 nm or more and less than 1000 nm, and a third LED with a center wavelength in the range of 800 nm or more and less than 900 nm. At least two types of LED elements out of the three types of LED elements with the elements are provided on the LED substrate.
An epilator that simultaneously emits light from two types of LED elements to irradiate the skin. In the epilator according to claim 1, the first LED element, the second LED element, and the third LED element are provided on the LED substrate, and three types of the LED elements are simultaneously caused to emit light on the skin. An epilator that irradiates. In the epilator according to claim 1 or 2, the center wavelength of the first LED element is 750 nm, the center wavelength of the second LED element is 950 nm, and the center wavelength of the third LED element is 850 nm. Is an epilator. The epilator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein rollers in contact with the skin are located on both sides of the light irradiation window and provided in the main body case. The epilator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the epilator includes an indicator that lights up with visible light that the LED element is irradiating light. The epilator according to claim 5, wherein the indicator is provided on the main body case. The epilator according to claim 5, wherein the indicator is provided on the LED substrate.

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