JP3566853B2 - Laser hair removal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser hair removal device that performs hair removal by concentrating laser light emitted from a plurality of laser diodes provided in a probe on the tip of the probe.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Hair grows through the hair factor keratin, a type of protein supplied by the sebaceous glands in the middle of the hair papilla and pores.
Laser hair removal concentrates laser light in the infrared region with a long wavelength on the hair papilla and sebaceous glands, promotes the denaturation and decomposition of these keratins by the action of heat, and suppresses hair growth.
[0003]
As a laser device used for laser hair removal, a laser diode (semiconductor laser) having features such as small size, light weight, high efficiency, operation at low voltage, low unit price, and long life is generally used.
However, the stable operation and the life of the laser diode greatly depend on the operating temperature. For example, when the operating temperature is 40 ° C. and 50 ° C., the failure rate after 10,000 hours differs by 5 to 6 times. Out.
As described above, when the case temperature of the laser diode module exceeds 40 ° C., the stable operation and the life are greatly affected, and heat radiation and cooling of the device are indispensable conditions for stable long-term operation. .
[0004]
On the other hand, if the skin surface is sucked by the tip of the probe of the laser hair removal device, there is an effect that the pores are opened and the hair papilla and sebaceous glands at the back are brought closer to the skin surface.
In addition, if a concave portion such as a side or a V-line of a leg is sucked at the tip of the probe, hair removal of the portion is facilitated.
[0005]
However, in this case, since the skin softness differs depending on gender, age, individual difference, and body part, there is a problem that the height of the skin that swells at the time of suction differs, and the position of the skin irradiated with the laser beam shifts.
[0006]
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to effectively cool a probe necessary for stable operation of a laser diode.
A second object is to enhance the hair removal effect by sucking the skin surface to be irradiated with the laser.
It is a third object of the present invention to eliminate the problem that the position of the skin irradiated with the laser beam during suction is shifted.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention is configured as follows.
[0008]
That is, according to the invention of claim 1, a metal pedestal is provided at a front portion of the probe,
Attach multiple laser diodes to this pedestal,
In front of the pedestal, a skin contact surface to be brought into contact with the skin is provided,
The laser light emitted from the laser diode is concentrated at the center of the opening formed on the skin contact surface,
The inside and outside of the probe are communicated by the vent hole and the opening of the skin contact surface drilled in the pedestal,
Peep the open end of the air tube introduced inside the probe behind the pedestal,
Air switching means is provided between the air tube and the compressor,
Also, timer means for operating the laser diode intermittently is provided,
By associating the timer means with the air switching means, when the laser diode is not operating when the laser diode is not operated, air is blown into the probe from the air tube, and exhausted through the ventilation hole of the pedestal and the opening of the skin contact surface. It is a laser hair removal device.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a laser hair removal apparatus embodying the present invention.
In the laser hair removal device, the probe 1 and the control box 2 are connected via the cord 3.
[0011]
The control box 2 incorporates a compressor 21 of the probe 1 and a control circuit 22 for turning on / off the power supply of the laser diode LD with a timer. An operation panel 23 is provided on the front, and the probe 1 is connected to the probe 1 via the cord 3 on the back. A power plug 25 is connected via a power cord 24.
[0012]
The operation panel 23 turns on / off the power of the control box 2, sets a treatment time of 5 to 60 minutes, and sets a laser irradiation time of 1 to 9 seconds.
Furthermore, treatment modes such as laser irradiation only, laser irradiation and suction, laser irradiation and blowing, and laser irradiation, suction and blowing are set.
[0013]
The cord 3 includes an air tube 31 connecting the probe 1 and the compressor 21 and a cable 32 connecting the probe 1 and the control circuit 22 of the laser diode LD.
[0014]
2 and 3 show a front view and a longitudinal sectional view of a probe embodying the present invention.
The probe 1 has a skin case 12 which is smaller in diameter than the case 11 and is to be brought into contact with the skin surface, is integrally attached to the end of the cylindrical case 11, and the skin case at the end of the skin case 12 is opened to open the skin case a. Provide.
[0015]
A suction tube 13 that meshes with the base of the skin application tube 12 via a screw screw (not shown) and has an open end is attached to the outer periphery of the skin application tube 12.
The contact portion between the skin application tube 12 and the suction tube 13 is sealed with an O-ring 14 attached to the tip of the skin application tube 12.
The suction cylinder 13 functions as a spacer between the skin contact opening a and the skin, and adjusts the height to the skin by turning a screw screw.
Further, it is formed of a transparent material so that the skin surface irradiated with the laser beam can be directly viewed from the outside.
[0016]
An outer ventilation hole b and four lens holes c are formed on the same circumference as the axis of the distal end surface of the case 11 at the base of the skin contact tube 12, and a spherical lens 15 having substantially the same diameter is fitted into each lens hole c. Combine.
[0017]
A pedestal 16 which is inscribed in the case 11 is provided inside the distal end surface of the case 11 at the base of the skin application tube 12, and the inner ventilation hole d and the four laser holes are respectively provided on the same circumference as the axis of the pedestal 16. e, and a laser diode LD is mounted in each laser hole e.
The optical axes of the four laser diodes LD are perpendicular to the conical surface of the pedestal 16 and inclined with respect to the axes, and intersect at one point in front of the skin contact a via the ball lens 15.
[0018]
The wavelength of the laser diode LD is about 780 nm, which has a high thermal effect of promoting keratin degeneration and decomposition, and the output is about 100 to 200 mW at which there is no risk of causing skin damage.
[0019]
The pedestal 16 is cast from aluminum or an alloy thereof having good heat conduction efficiency, and is provided with several dummy through holes to enhance the heat radiation efficiency.
[0020]
An air tube 31 connected to the compressor 21 is introduced into the case 11, and the open end of the air tube 31 is viewed from behind the pedestal 16.
Further, a cable 32 for connecting the laser diode LD to the control circuit 22 is introduced.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows a piping diagram between the compressor 21 and the air tube 31.
The pipes connect the base ends of a pair of branch pipes 31a and 31b to the intake port 21a and the exhaust port 21b, respectively, and connect one ends of the distal ends of the branch pipes 31a and 31b to open / close valves V1 and V3 as air switching means, respectively. And the other end is opened via on-off valves V2 and V4, respectively.
[0022]
The piping is configured as described above. As shown in FIG. 5, when sucking the probe 1, the on-off valves V1, V4 are opened and the valves V2, V3 are closed.
Conversely, when blowing out the probe 1, the on-off valves V1 and V4 are closed and V2 and V3 are opened.
[0023]
In an apparatus that only blows out the probe 1, a straight pipe without an open / close valve is provided instead of the branch pipe 31a, one end of the branch pipe 31b is connected to the air tube 31 via the open / close valve V3, and the other end is opened / closed. Release via V4.
Similarly, in an apparatus that only sucks the probe 1, a straight pipe without an on-off valve is provided in place of the branch pipe 31b, and one end of the branch pipe 31a is connected to the air tube 31 via the on-off valve V1, and the other end is connected. Is released via the on-off valve V2.
[0024]
Suction and blowing of the probe 1 are performed at a cycle of 1 to 9 seconds and 3 seconds, respectively. Laser irradiation is performed during suction, and pause is performed during blowing.
As described above, since the laser irradiation is stopped when the probe 1 is blown out, the cooling efficiency in the probe 1 is improved.
[0025]
The laser hair removal apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, and when performing a treatment, the tip of the probe 1 is brought close to the skin surface, sucked, and irradiated with laser light for 1 to 9 seconds. Thereafter, laser irradiation is stopped for 3 seconds, and air is blown from the tip of the probe 1. When the air is blown out, the probe 1 that has been sucked is separated from the skin. During this time, the probe 1 is moved to the position of the next pore.
The above operation is repeated for the set time.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the laser hair removal device of the present invention is provided with air switching means between the air tube and the compressor, and timer means for intermittently operating the laser diode, and in cooperation with this timer means and air switching means, When the laser diode is not operated, the air is blown into the probe from the air tube when the laser is stopped, and the air is exhausted through the ventilation hole of the pedestal and the opening on the skin contact surface.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately cool the laser diode LD by exhausting air through the ventilation hole of the pedestal, and to suppress overheating of the skin by blowing air from the opening on the skin contact surface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser hair removal device embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a probe of the laser hair removal device embodying the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a piping diagram of a compressor of the laser hair removal apparatus embodying the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a time chart of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe 11 Case 12 Skin contact tube 13 Suction tube 14 O-ring 15 Ball lens 16 Pedestal 2 Control box 21 Compressor 22 Control circuit 23 Operation panel 24 Power cord 25 Power plug 3 Cord 31 Air tube 32 Cable

Claims (1)

Provide a metal pedestal at the front of the probe,
Attach multiple laser diodes to this pedestal,
In front of the pedestal, a skin contact surface to be brought into contact with the skin is provided,
The laser light emitted from the laser diode is concentrated at the center of the opening formed on the skin contact surface,
The inside and outside of the probe are communicated by the vent hole and the opening of the skin contact surface drilled in the pedestal,
Peep the open end of the air tube introduced inside the probe behind the pedestal,
Air switching means is provided between the air tube and the compressor,
Also, timer means for operating the laser diode intermittently is provided,
By associating the timer means with the air switching means, when the laser diode is not operating when the laser diode is not operated, air is blown into the probe from the air tube, and exhausted through the ventilation hole of the pedestal and the opening of the skin contact surface. Laser hair removal device .

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