JP2960756B2 - Light irradiation probe for photo epilation with local irradiation - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention concentrates light for hair removal from a light irradiation body through a flexible light guide to a tip portion to permanently remove hair from the skin. In addition, the present invention relates to a light irradiation probe for light hair removal capable of locally irradiating a hair removal part.

[Conventional technology]

In order to permanently remove hair, it is necessary to destroy tissues such as hair follicles and papilla, which are factors of hair roots. For that purpose, various methods have been proposed. For example, a high-frequency hair removal method for directly introducing high-frequency power to the hair root portion, and a photo-hair removal method for directly irradiating light to a portion where hair removal is desired to destroy the tissue of the hair root portion have been proposed. The latter method includes, for example, a light permanent hair removal device previously invented by the present applicant (see JP-A-2-140105).

The problem with both hair removal methods is that the energy applied to destroy the tissue at the root of the hair places a considerable strain on the skin. For example, in the case of a high frequency, since the electromagnetic wave penetrates deeply, the electromagnetic wave may reach a tissue other than the area where the hair is to be removed, and may destroy the area around the tissue, which may have a harmful effect on the human body. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which electromagnetic waves are locally introduced into hair follicles so that the electromagnetic waves do not diffuse around the roots. A conductor probe (a thin metal conductor, usually called a conductor) made of a conductive material is used to introduce the electromagnetic wave.

High frequency hair removal using this fine wire requires very advanced handling techniques and deep experience. For example, to concentrate the electromagnetic wave output on the hair follicles, especially on the dermal papilla, depends on the strength of the output, the application time, the insertion depth of the conductor, or the skill of the person performing the technique of inserting along the pores. . In addition, careless treatment may cause tissue destruction not only at the hair root but only around the hair root, resulting in injuries and pain.

As the photo epilation method, the above-described apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-140105 is generally used. However, this probe also irradiates light to a considerably wide area of the skin, and also has a certain burden on the person who has epilation. Is added. In this case, since the probe is formed of a bundle of optical fibers, irradiation unevenness corresponding to the diameter of each fiber occurs. This means that permanent hair removal is only partially performed, and it is necessary to restart the hair removal process that has been performed. However, with photo epilation,
Since the diffusion range of the electromagnetic wave (light) is relatively small as compared with the high frequency, it is considered that it is originally suitable for local hair removal treatment, and the hair removal effect can be further enhanced.

[Problem of the Invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation probe which can securely and permanently remove hair from the skin in a localized manner in view of the above-mentioned various disadvantages of the prior art.

[Means to solve the problem]

According to the present invention, in order to permanently remove hair on the skin by the present invention, the hair for irradiation is concentrated on the distal end portion from the light irradiation main body via the flexible light guide path (1) to locally irradiate the hair removal location. And a holder (3) fixed to an end of the flexible light guide (1), and a protection chip (4) detachably connected to the holder. The inside of the protection chip (4) is provided. And a second light guide (5) having a fine diameter, which is optically connected to the light guide (1) and communicates with the sharp tip of the protective chip (4). The problem is solved by the light irradiation probe (10) in which the end face of (5) is flush with the opening face of the tip at the same level or protrudes outward.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, light is emitted only from a limited area at the tip of the probe. The probe itself is small, making it easy to select a local irradiation position.

〔Example〕

 The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross section of a light irradiation probe according to the present invention. Although the light source and the exposure processing apparatus are not shown, for example, appropriately processed light is introduced into the tip of the probe 10 via a flexible light guide from the main body of the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-140105. . The flexible light guide comprises a light guide 1 and a protective coating 2 surrounding the outer periphery of the light guide 1. The light guide path 1 is composed of a bundle of glass (quartz) or plastic optical fibers.
This light guide path 1 is introduced into a central hole of a cylindrical holder 3. On the opposite side of the holder 3, there is a screw hole 8 at the base of which a conical protection tip 4 protruding to the tip of the probe 10 can be screwed. A light guide path 5 having a shorter diameter than the light guide path 1 of the conductive conductor extends. The light guide path 5 is also formed of a bundle of optical fibers made of glass (quartz) or plastic.

Optical coupling between the light guide path 1 of the flexible conductor and the light guide path 5 of the protection chip 4 is performed as follows. The opposing surfaces of both light guide paths 1 and 4 are aligned well (usually, both are cut and polished while being bundled), and are also aligned and fixed to the corresponding end surfaces of the holder 3 and the protection chip 4 respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the holder 3 and the protection chip 4 are screwed to each other via an O-ring 6 made of ordinary rubber (made of nitrile or Viton) so as to leave a connection space 7 where a slight gap is left. In order to improve the light transmission in the connection space 7 and reduce the scattering loss, a transparent mineral oil, silicone oil or the like may be filled.

The protective cover 2 is made of a flexible synthetic resin or rubber, and the holder 3 and the protective chip 4 are made of hard plastic or a suitably painted light metal, preferably aluminum or an alloy thereof. The geometric dimensions of the light irradiation probe according to the present invention need to be as small as possible in order to irradiate light with aiming at each hair root. A possible typical value of the leading light guide path 5 is a bundle of several optical fibers each having a diameter of 0.05 mm and an outer diameter of about 0.3 mm. Further, the outer diameter of the tip of the protection chip 4 is preferably set to about 1 to 2 mmφ. In addition, when the distance from the tip including the protection chip 4 and the holder 3 is set to about 20 to 35 mm, the probe operation at the time of light irradiation becomes easy.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a light irradiation probe 10 in which the tip of the protection chip 4 is curved. This probe is also the first
It is almost the same as the figure in terms of the dimensions of the tip,
However, in order to see the pores at the tip more reliably during operation,
The tip of the light irradiation probe 10 is curved. The degree of this curvature can be selected at an appropriate angle according to the skin site or the shape type of the skin or hair. As shown in FIG. 2, the angle of curvature can be selected to be about 120 °, or can be selected to be about 90 ° as necessary.

The individual configuration of the irradiation probe 10 shown in FIG. 2 is different from that of FIG. These will be described. 1, the light guide path 5, that is, the bundle of optical fibers, protrudes slightly from the tip of the protective chip 4, for example, by a length of about 1 mm. It is particularly effective to irradiate this projecting part after inserting it into the root of one hair. in this case,
The tip of the probe must be sterilized for each treatment. In addition, a plastic convex lens 7 ′ is inserted into a connection portion between the first light guide 1 and the second light guide 5.
This lens is used for collecting and transmitting light from the light guide 1 to the light guide 5 as much as possible. Of course, in order to improve the contact between the lens 7 'and the two light guide paths 1, 5, it is particularly advantageous if the end faces of the two light guide paths are polished to the surface of the lens 7'. For contact between the two, put a lens 7 'at the center of a circular rubber plate 6' made of the same material as the O-ring,
It is pinched and adhered by the screw 8.

A method for using the light irradiation probe according to the present invention will be described. The power supply body and its operation have already been described in detail in JP-A-2-140105, and the details of the treatment have been described there.

(1) Irradiate the light for preheating with, for example, an infrared lamp, or apply an electrostatic potential or an ultrasonic wave,
Activates the roots of the skin.

(2) Next, rub mineral oil, olive oil, etc. into the treatment area.

(3) Next, the epidermis is activated by the method of (1) (in the case of light, the temperature is set to 42 ° C. or higher).

(4) Then, the light irradiation probe according to the present invention is applied to each of the hairs to be depilated, and the hair follicle or the tissue of the dermal papilla is concentrated to dryness.

(5) Repeat this treatment.

(6) Finally, cool the skin with a skin cooling device (for example, a Peltier element, a coolant, a cooling towel, etc.) and calm down.

In addition, other methods can be adopted according to the personality of the skin. For example, (1) Same as (1) above.

(2) After applying the depilatory wax, remove the hair.

(3) Same as (3) above.

(4) The light irradiation probe according to the present invention is applied to each of the roots of the depilated hair to intensively dry the hair follicle or dermal papilla tissue.

(5) and (6) are the same as the corresponding processing described above.

An important point of the above two treatments is that the skin is activated in advance, pores are sufficiently opened, mineral oil penetrates into the hair papilla and hair follicles (see Fig. 3), and local irradiation of light is performed in that state. Is to completely dry the tissue of the hair papilla and hair follicle of one hair. In particular, the latter treatment is advantageous because the tip of the probe can be inserted into the hair root portion, and permanent hair removal can be completely performed.

〔The invention's effect〕

The advantages of using the light irradiation probe according to the present invention are as follows.

(1) Since the tip of the probe is thin, the hair can be permanently removed one by one, and the hair that is not desired to be removed will not be removed together.

(2) No load is placed on the skin other than hair loss.

(3) Since there is no uneven irradiation, reliable permanent hair removal is possible.

(4) Since the irradiation can be locally concentrated, high-density light can be introduced, and the tissues such as hair follicles can be more completely dried. Secure permanent hair removal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an irradiation probe of a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an irradiation probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the tissue of the skin and the irradiation probe. Reference numerals in the drawing: 1,5 ... light guide path, 2 ... protective coating, 3 ... holder, 4 ... protective chip, 10 ... probe.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61N 5/06 A61B 17/36-17/41 A45D 26/00 G02B 6/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hair removal device which can concentrate hair removal light from a light irradiating body through a flexible light guide path (1) at a distal end portion to permanently irradiate hair at a hair removal location in order to permanently remove hair on the skin. In the light irradiation probe (10), the flexible light guide (1)
And a protection chip (4) detachably connected to the holder, and the light guide path (1) passes through the inside of the protection chip (4).
A second light guide (5) having a fine diameter and optically connected to the sharp tip of the protection chip (4), and an end face of the second light guide (5) having an opening at the tip. A light irradiation probe characterized in that it is aligned at the same level on a surface or protrudes outside. 2. The light irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein said light guide path is formed of an optical fiber. 3. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the second light guide and the protective chip including the light guide are curved at the tip with respect to the axis of the holder. Or 2
The light irradiation probe as described in the above.