MXPA98007833A - Device for the removal of hair and / or paraatrofy pilo follicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention describes a device for hair removal and / or for atrophying hair follicles, comprising an operating console and a mobile terminal unit, consisting of a body that contains inside a pointer that focuses light, which is designed for projecting a guide beam, and, in response to a command signal, a destructive / atrophying beam of light, which have a small cross section. Optical recovery means, which are designed to recover the images of the epidermis touched by the rays, and to reproduce them in an enlarged form on a monitor that can be seen by the operator. Control means, to control the emission of the destructive / atrophying light beam. A light source, and a nozzle, which injects ai

Description

DEVICE FOR THE DISPOSAL OF HAIR AND / OR TO ATROIFY PILLOW FOLLICLES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for hair removal and / or atrophy hair follicles. At present various devices are known to obtain the elimination of superfluous and / or unwanted hair for aesthetic purposes or for skin transplants, as are various devices to obtain the atrophy of the hair follicles, to inhibit or retard the re-growth of the hair follicles. hair. Some of these devices substantially comprise an operative console, combined with a terminal unit that emits electromagnetic and / or luminous energy, for example laser beams, which is connected by means of cables to the operational console, in which the terminal unit can be placed manually by the operator in the vicinity of the epidermal surface, to be able to radiate the latter in a diffuse and local way. To use the devices with diffuse irradiation, the operator must first of all apply and regularly spread over the epidermis area to be treated a substance / composition that has a high absorption of light to a particular frequency band (laser) and, subsequently, it must bring the aforementioned irradiation unit to the vicinity of the area concerned, and illuminate it diffusely with the light of the specific frequency band mentioned above (laser), to impart energy to the substance / composition that absorbs energy it is disposed on the epidermis, which in turn, being heated and / or reacting, removes the hairs and / or atrophies the hair follicles. These particular devices have a number of disadvantages. A first disadvantage is derived from the fact that the area to be treated is subject to diffuse laser radiation, which damages not only the hair follicles, but also the part of the epidermis that surrounds the hair / hair follicles . A second disadvantage, which correlates to the problem described above, stems from the fact that it is not possible to carry out an intensive hair removal treatment and / or to atrophy the hair follicles, because it is necessary to moderate the intensity (energy) of the hair follicles. irradiation rays, to limit the damage caused by the irradiation spread on the skin.

A third disadvantage stems from the fact that it is necessary to spread the substance / composition that absorbs energy on the skin very carefully and regularly, to prevent a so-called "leopard spot" treatment, in which some areas are treated excessively, while that others are treated insufficiently. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages described above. The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a. device for hair removal and / or to atrophy hair follicles. The object of the present invention is thus a device for hair removal and / or for atrophying hair follicles, comprising an operative console and a mobile terminal unit, connected to the operative console, which is designed to be placed in the vicinity of the epidermis, in which the device is characterized in that the terminal unit has a body with an inner chamber communicating with the outside by means of an opening; wherein a pointer focusing light is disposed within the chamber, which is designed to project a guide beam with a small cross-section, and, in response to a command signal, a destructive / atrophying beam of light with a small cross section, which is coaxial to the guide ray, and both are directed outwardly through the opening, and against the epidermis, if the latter is placed against the opening; because in the camera, optical recovery means are arranged, which are designed to recover, through the aperture, the images that exist in front of the aperture, and the image of the epidermis touched by the guide beam and the ray of light destroyer / atrophying, if the epidermis is placed against the opening; because the optical recovery means are connected to a monitor, which can be seen by the operator, the monitor reproduces in an enlarged form the images recovered by the optical recovery means; and because control means are provided, to govern the emission of the destructive / atrophying light beam. The following results are obtained through the use of such a device: the light beam that is emitted by the terminal unit touches, and acts upon, only the hairs and / or the hair follicles that are to be treated, without affecting the surrounding epidermis; and, additionally, the operator can place the terminal unit rapidly, without errors, and in rapid succession, to carry out the treatment on the individual hair / hair follicles to be treated. A first advantage that is obtained by means of the present invention consists substantially in that by carrying out the proposed treatment in individual hairs / follicles, that is, avoiding diffuse irradiation of the epidermis, the latter is less damaged, since the Cells of the epidermis surrounding the hairs / follicles are not irradiated, and thus are not damaged. A second advantage that is obtained by means of the present invention is that, observing the point of incidence of the guide beam on the epidermis, firstly to the naked eye, and subsequently on the enlargement screen, the operator can point the terminal unit quickly , easily, surely, and with micrometric accuracy, thus guaranteeing a perfect centering of the destructive / atrophying beam of light that will then be emitted. A third advantage of the present invention is that, after carrying out the treatment, the operator can check if it has been successful, and if considered necessary, can treat once again the already treated hair / follicle.

The additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred practical embodiment, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which three modes of the unit, also provided purely by way of description, are described. of non-limiting examples, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the device that is the subject of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the terminal unit according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the terminal unit according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the terminal unit according to the present invention. With reference to Figure 1, the device according to the present invention comprises: an operative console, which is indicated as 1 as a whole; a terminal unit, which is indicated as 2 as a whole, which is separated from the operating console 1, but is connected to the latter by means of cables 3; and a steering pedal 4, which is also connected to the console 1 by means of a cable 17. The operating console 1 comprises a monitor 5, and adjacent to the latter, a control panel that is divided into sectors 6, 7, 8 and 9, for the control of the device. The monitor 5 can also be designed in such a way that it is separated from the control panel. The sector indicated as 6 is designed for the control of a destructive / atrophying beam of light, and in this example a laser beam, which is described in more detail below, and comprises a switch 6a, a time regulator (timer programmer). time) with an indicator 6b and a current regulator (energy) with an indicator 6c. The sector indicated as 7 is designed for the control of a guide beam, which is described in more detail below, and comprises a switch 7a, and a current regulator with an indicator 7b. The sector indicated as 8 is designed for the control of a light source, which is described in more detail below, and comprises a switch 8a, and a current regulator with an indicator 8b.

The sector indicated as 9 is designed for the control of an air flow, which is described in more detail below, and comprises a switch 9a, and a pneumatic flow regulator with a 9b indicator. According to a first embodiment of unit 2, see Figure 2, the unit consists of a hollow body 10 with an elongated shape, which is designed to form an inner chamber 10b, which in its lower part communicates with the outside by means of an opening 11, the outer edge of which is. designed to be placed against the epidermis 12 that is going to be treated. The upper part of the hollow body 10 has a cover 13, through which the cables 3 pass. Within the terminal unit 2, four elements are arranged, and more specifically a pointer 14 that focuses the light, by. example a pointer which focuses the laser, which faces the opening 11, and can project a guide beam 15 with a small cross-section, and, in response to a command signal, a destructive / atrophying beam of light 16, which also it has a small cross section, the rays are uni-directional and coaxial to each other, directly outwards through the opening 11; optical recovery means, which consist of a micro-camera 18, which is connected to the monitor 5, faces the aperture 11, and is designed to directly form through the aperture 11 the portion of the epidermis 12 touched by the ray of guide 15 and the immediate surrounding area, and then reproduce in enlarged form on the monitor 5 the recovered images; a light source 19, which is designed to illuminate the epidermis 12 through the opening 11, when it is resting on the epidermis; Y. finally, a nozzle 20, which is connected to known pneumatic means, not illustrated or described, and, in response to a control signal or continuously, can direct a flow of compressed air towards the opening 11, and thus against the epidermal surface 12 when you are leaning on it. The guide ray 15 and. the destructive / atrophying ray 16 have the same cross section, or different cross sections, which are selected in relation to the treatment to be carried out, and, again by way of non-limiting example, preferably a circular cross-section, with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

On its terminal part, the opening 11 has a terminal sleeve 21, which is secured in a detachable manner to the lower part of the unit 2, in such a way that the sleeve can be replaced if required, for example for a different patient . The control or steering pedal 4 is a control pushbutton of a known type. When the device is energized, that is, when it is ready to be used, the pointer 14 which focuses the light projects the guide beam 15 continuously through the aperture 11, the micro-camera 18 recovers the images appearing in front of it. from the opening 11, the light source 19 illuminates what is in front of the opening 11, the nozzle 20 injects air through the opening, and the pedal 4 is enabled. In this operative situation, when the push button pedal 4 is pressed, by means of known electrical and / or electronic devices, which are not described or illustrated herein, the guide beam 15 is deactivated, and there is an activation of the light beam 16 destroyer / atrophying, the intensity of which is predetermined by means of the regulator 6c, for a time that is predetermined by means of the regulator 6c, to then re-project the guide beam 15.

After having regulated the device by means of the sectors 6, 7, 8 and 9 mentioned above, the operator grabs unit 2 with one hand, and places one foot on the push button pedal 4, without pressing it. Then, observing with the naked eye a hair 22 and / or a hair follicle 23 to be treated, the operator brings the unit 2 rapidly towards the epidermal surface, maintaining the point of incidence of the guide beam 15 above and centered, relative to the hair / follicle 22/23 that is going to be treated. When the opening 11 of the unit reaches the epidermal surface 12, observing the monitor 5, the operator can see in a considerably enlarged form the epidermal surface touched by the guide beam 15, and if required, can make small movements of the unit , to obtain a perfect centering of the guide beam 15- relative to the hair / follicle 22/23. At this point, when the centering has been consolidated, pressing the pedal 4, the operator emits the destructive / atrophying light beam 16, which, due to its small cross section, perfectly touches the individual hair / follicle 22/23 which was centered by the guide ray 15, thus preventing irradiation of the epidermis surrounding the hair / hair follicle 22/23. The destructive / atrophying light beam 16 emitted in this manner destroys / atrophies the hair / hair follicle 22/23, and the smoke that is generated by the micro-burn is immediately expelled by the continuous air flow generated by the mouthpiece 20, thus allowing an immediate clear view on the monitor 5 of the treated epidermis 12. As it performs a "washing" function, which is directed towards the treated epidermis area, the air flow also performs a function of relieving the pain / discomfort suffered by the patient, rapidly cooling the micro-burned area of the epidermis. If required, instead of acting continuously, the flow may also be enabled to inject air only after the destructive / atrophying beam of light 16 has been emitted. At this point, observing the monitor 5, the operator can determine if the treatment has been successful, and if required, can press the push button 4 pedal again, and emit an additional destroyer / stun ray 16 light on the hair / hair follicle 22/23 already treated.

When the operator considers that the treatment has been completed on a specific hair / hair follicle, unit 2 should be moved to a new position, and to perform this operation there are two alternatives, that is, if the new hair / hair follicle is close to the previously treated, the operator will move the terminal unit 2 without elevating it from the epidermis, seeing the monitor 5; whereas if the new hair / hair follicle that is going to be treated is far from the treaty previously, for example outside the field captured by the monitor 5, the operator will remove / raise the opening 11 of the epidermis 12, to start again the process described above. Figure 3 illustrates purely by way of non-limiting example a second practical embodiment of the unit, in this case indicated as 102, consisting of a hollow body 110 with an elongated shape, which is designed to form an inner chamber 110b, the which, in its lower part, communicates with the outside by means of an opening 111, which is designed to be placed against the epidermis 12 to be treated. Within the terminal unit 102, four elements are arranged, i.e. a pointer 114 which focuses the light, for example a pointer focusing a laser, which is similar to that previously described, arranged adjacent to the aperture 111, which is designed to project a guide beam 115, and, in response to a command signal, a beam of light 116 destructive / atrophying; a micro-camera 118, which faces the opening 111, and has its own optical axis arranged parallel to the vertical axis perpendicular to the support plane of the opening 111 itself; a light source 119, and a nozzle for an air flow 120. Under the pointer 118 which focuses the light is arranged a mirror 150 of a known type, which. is designed to reflect the guide beam 115 and the light beam 116 towards and against a dichroic optical plate 151, the plate is disposed between the micro-telecamera 118 and the aperture 111. Due to its own characteristics, the dichroic optical plate 151 it is permeable to the wavelengths that are useful for the micro-camera 118, but not to the guide beam 115 and to the destructive / atrophying light beam 116, to obtain the reflection of the guide beam 115 and the destroyer beam 116 / atrophying towards the opening 111, and simultaneously allowing the micro-telecamera 118 to recover the image of the epidermis 12 which is disposed against the opening 111, when the latter are placed against each other. By this means, the recoveries performed by the micro-telecamera 118 are better than those of the first mode, since the optical axis of the micro-telecamera 118 is parallel to, and in this specific case, also coaxial to the guide beam 115. and to the destructive / atrophying light beam 116 which are directed against the skin 12. As in the previous case, the operator first of all will quickly take the unit 102 towards it. hair / hair follicle 122/123 to be treated, observing with the naked eye the point of incidence of the guide beam 115 on the epidermis, and then carrying out the correct and micrometric centering of the guide ray 115 relative to the hair / follicle hair 122/123 to be treated, watching monitor 5, which reproduces the enlarged image of the epidermis disposed against the aperture 111, and finally, will emit the light beam 116 destructive / timed stunner for hair removal / atrophy of the hair follicle 122/123. Figure 4 illustrates purely by way of non-limiting example a third practical embodiment of the unit, in this case indicated as 202, consisting of a hollow body 210 with an elongated shape, which is designed to form an interior chamber 210b, the which, in its lower part, communicates with the outside by means of an opening 211, which is designed to be placed against the epidermis 12 to be treated. Four elements are disposed within the terminal unit 202, i.e., a pointer 214 that focuses light, which is similar to that previously described, and can project a guide beam 215 with a small cross section and, in response to a signal command, a light beam 216. destroyer / atrophying, which also has a small cross section, the rays are coaxial to each other, outward, through the opening 211; a light source 219, which projects a beam of light through the opening 211, and thus against the epidermis 12 when resting on it; a nozzle 220, which is connected to known pneumatic means, not illustrated or described; and can direct a flow of compressed air in response to a command signal, or continuously to the opening 211, and thus against the epidermal surface 12 when resting on it; and finally, an optical fiber 218, the free end of which, when arranged within the unit 202, on which the lenses, not shown, are arranged, forms through the opening 211 the portion of epidermis 12 facing, and in particular the area of epidermis touching guidewire 215, and the immediate surrounding area. At the other end of the same optical fiber 218 is connected a video camera, of a known type and not illustrated, which is arranged for example inside the operating console 1, which is connected to the monitor 5. As in the preceding cases, the operator first of all will take the unit 202 quickly to the hair / hair follicle 222/223 that it will be. treaty, observing with the naked eye the point of incidence of the guide ray 215 on the epidermis, and then center the guide beam 215 directly and micrometrically relative to the hair / hair follicle 222/223 that is going to be treated, watching the monitor, which reproduces the enlarged image of the epidermis disposed against the opening 211, and finally, it will emit the light beam 216 destructive / timed stunner, for the hair removal / atrophy of the hair follicle 222/223. The present invention can be used to burn superfluous hairs, as well as to atrophy hair follicles, and in the latter case, the hairs may still be present, or they may be extracted before treatment. Furthermore, the present invention can be used on an uncovered epidermis, that is, an epidermis that is clean and untreated, or on a prepared epidermis, on which has been previously applied for example any substance / composition that can be improved and / or facilitate and / or optimize and / or optimize and / or intensify the treatment. Finally, again with reference to the present invention, it should be emphasized that the light of the destructive / atrophying light beam 16, 116, 216 can be of different types, ie white, infra red, polarized (laser), or any other type. The description of the device for hair removal and / or atrophy of hair follicles is provided purely by way of example not limiting, and thus, it is apparent that all modifications and variants suggested by the practice and by its use can be made to it. or use, still within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (14)

1. Device for the removal of hairs and / or to atrophy hair follicles, comprising an operative console and a mobile terminal unit connected to the operative console, designed to be located in the vicinity of the epidermis, characterized in that the terminal unit comprises a body that it has an internal chamber that communicates with the outside by means of an opening; because a pointer which focuses the light, which is designed to project a guide beam having a small cross section, and, in response to a command signal, a destructive / atrophying beam of light which is arranged within the camera, is arranged. it has a small cross section, and is coaxial to the guide beam; both rays are directed towards the exterior via the opening, and against the epidermis, if the latter leans against the opening; because optical recovery means are arranged within the camera, which are designed to recover through the aperture the images appearing in front of the aperture, and the image of the epidermis touched by the guide beam and the ray of light destructor / atrophying, if the epidermis rests against the opening; because the optical recovery means are connected to a monitor that can be seen by the operator, and that reproduces in an enlarged form the images recovered by the optical recovery means; and because control or government means are provided to govern the emission of the destructive / atrophying light beam.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the destructive / atrophying light beam is a laser beam.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pointer that focuses the light faces the opening and projects the guide beam and the ray of light 15 destroyer / atrophying directly towards the opening and against the epidermis, if the latter leans against the opening itself; and because the optical recovery means face the opening, and recover directly, through the opening, the images that , 20 appear in front of the opening itself, and the image of the epidermis touched by the guide beam and by the destructive / atrophying beam of light, if the epidermis rests against the opening.

4. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pointer that focuses the light projects a guide beam and, in response to a command signal, a destructive / atrophying light beam, which are unidirectional and coaxial one to the other, towards a reflecting mirror; because the reflecting mirror reflects the guide beam and the destructive / atrophying beam of light towards a dichroic optical plate; because the dichroic optical plate is of a type that reflects the guide beam and the destructive / atrophying ray of light, and is permeable to. wavelengths that are useful for the optical recovery means; because the dichroic optical plate is disposed between the aperture and the optical recovery means, and reflects the guide beam and the destructive / atrophying beam of light towards the aperture and against the epidermis, if the latter leans against the aperture itself; and because the means of. optical recovery faces the opening with its own optical axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide beam and the laser beam, and retrieves, via the dichroic optical plate, the images that appear in front of the aperture, and the image of the epidermis touched by the guide beam and the destructive / atrophying beam of light, if the epidermis rests against the opening.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the optical axis of the optical recovery means is coaxial relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide beam and of the destructive / atrophying light beam.

6. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the optical recovery means comprise a micro-camera that is connected to a monitor that reproduces in an enlarged form the recovered images.

7. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the optical recovery means comprise an optical fiber, the free end of which, which admits the image, is arranged inside the unit, and the other end of the fiber The optic ends outside the unit, and is connected to an external camera, which in turn is connected to the monitor, which reproduces in an enlarged form the recovered images.

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for controlling or controlling the destructive / atrophying light beam comprise a push-button pedal.

9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for the regulation of the intensity and / or energy of the destructive / atrophying light beam.

10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for the regulation of the duration of the destructive / atrophying light beam.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a light source is also provided inside the unit, which can illuminate the epidermis through the opening when the latter is disposed in the vicinity of the opening.

12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a nozzle is also provided inside the unit, which can inject compressed air into and through the opening.

13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the part of the outer end of the opening has a removable / replaceable sleeve.

14. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is substantially as described and illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes described above.