RU2417111C2 - Optical device for hair growth modulation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions refers to medical equipment, namely to optical devices for hair growth control. The device comprises a regulating light emitter, a measuring light emitter radiating in a target region of a human body at wave length 400 nm to 1000 nm, at wave length 200 nm to 400 nm respectively, a light receiver receiving measuring light reflected from the target region; a processor designed to process measuring light data received in the light receiver; and an irradiation counter that resolves radiating from the regulating light emitter on the basis of the processing data prepared by the processor and designed to control regulating light from the regulating light emitter according to said resolution. In the first version, the processor is configured to receive a cross-section curvature radius on said target region by means of a light section technique, and to derive the curvature radius, while the irradiation counter enables resolving not to emit regulating light from said regulating light emitter when the curvature radius relates to the curvature radius inherent to a person's eyeball. In the second version, the light emitter is configured to radiate measuring light which is polarised in a specific direction, and the receiver is able to receive the measuring light polarisation data. In the third version, the processor is configured to calculate the amount of light received onto the light receiver, and the counter resolves whether light shall be emitted from said regulating light emitter on the basis of the amount of measured light.

EFFECT: use of the group of inventions will allow higher safety in light emitting on the target region.

5 cl; 18 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to an optical device for modulating hair growth to stimulate or slow down hair growth by irradiation with light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair (including body hair and scalp hair) is known to have a hair development cycle during which hair changes in cycles consisting of a growth period, a regression period, and a dormant period. When light having an amount of light or light energy that does not cause changes in cell morphology that are observed in existing therapeutic lasers is emitted during the aforementioned dormant period, rapid hair growth during the growth period in the hair development cycle is confirmed. In this case, the absence of the occurrence of damage to the cell, as well as the absence of the occurrence of adverse side effects, such as burns, is also confirmed. In addition, when the hair is irradiated with light during the growth period in the hair development cycle, an effective retardation of hair growth is confirmed. In addition, although the reason why hair growth is stimulated or slowed down when the hair is irradiated with light at a level that does not cause changes in the morphology of the cell during the resting period or growth period is not clear, based on the results of analyzes at the RNA level, activation of exciting cytokines is assumed as a result of exposure to light, and the resulting stimulation or slowdown of hair growth is considered the result of this activation of exciting cytokines.

However, in stimulating or slowing down hair growth by irradiating light to modulate hair growth in human skin, as described above, it is only necessary to radiate light to a target area on the body that is to be irradiated with this light. However, the areas on the body to be irradiated differ among individuals, resulting in light emission to areas other than the target area to be irradiated. Since there are areas on the surface of the body where excessive light emission is not desirable, it is necessary to first confirm the irradiation of the area to be irradiated. Since irradiation of the eyes with light is extremely dangerous, it is important to avoid exposure to eyes with such light.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-177405 proposes a device for preventing exposure to light from eyeballs. This device uses a sensor that detects contact with the skin and is arranged so that light is emitted only when the sensor is in contact with the skin. However, in this type of device, it is necessary that the sensor is in continuous contact with the skin, thereby leading to a problem of insufficient freedom of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for modulating hair growth, allowing safe exposure to light.

The optical device for modulating hair growth, which is claimed in the present invention, is equipped with a modulating light emitter for emitting modulating light for modulating hair growth in a target portion of a human body, a measuring light emitter for emitting measuring light for measuring a human body in a target portion of a human body, a light receiver for receiving measuring light reflected from the target area, a processor for processing information about the measuring light received by the light receiver and the device determining exposure to decide whether to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter based on the processing result of the processor; where the irradiation detection device is configured to control the radiation of the modulating light from the modulating light emitter based on that decision. Thus, the device of the present invention is able to decide whether the target portion is suitable as the portion to be irradiated with modulating light by using the measuring light emitted in the direction of the target portion. Therefore, the device can be safely used without accidental exposure to modulating light to an inappropriate area, such as an eyeball.

The aforementioned processor may be configured to output the intended shape of the target portion. In this case, since the irradiation detection device is configured to decide not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter in the case where the intended shape matches the shape of a human eyeball, the eyeball is prevented from irradiating with modulating light.

In addition, the radiation detection device may also be configured to decide not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter in the case where the intended shape has a regularly repeating convex-concave shape. As a result, skin lesions can be recognized, thereby making it possible to exclude this area from the target area to be irradiated with modulating light.

In addition, the processor may be configured to obtain the cross sectional curvature of the target portion by the light section method and the curvature output. In this case, the irradiation detection device is configured to decide not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter when the curvature coincides with the curvature inherent in a human eyeball, thereby preventing the eyeball from being irradiated with modulating light.

In addition, the measurement light may be light polarized in a particular direction, and the light receiver may be configured to obtain polarization information of this measurement light. The shape of the target portion can be accurately determined from this polarization information, providing the opportunity for more appropriate control.

In addition, the processor may also be configured to calculate the amount of measurement light received by the light receiver. In this case, the radiation detecting device is configured to decide whether or not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter, based on the amount of measurement light.

The measurement light preferably has a wavelength in the range of 200 to 400 nm.

In addition, the light receiver may be configured such that a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and the irradiation determination device may be configured to decide not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter when the amount of light received by a predetermined or large number of light receiving elements less than or equal to the specified value. As a result of applying this embodiment, hazardous areas can be detected over a wide range, thereby improving the safety of the device.

Polarized measuring light can also be used when calculating the amount of measuring light at the light receiver.

In addition, in the present invention, in order to determine the area suitable for modulating light irradiation, the measuring light emitter may be configured to emit three types of red, green and blue (RGB) measuring light and the light receiver may be configured to measure the amount of light of each red, green and blue component of the measuring light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an optical hair growth modulation device that is claimed in a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above device; FIG.

figure 3 is an explanatory drawing showing a mask used in the above device;

4 is an explanatory drawing illustrating a methodology for evaluating an eyeball during image processing using the aforementioned device;

5 is a flowchart indicating the aforementioned technique for evaluating an eyeball;

6 is an explanatory drawing illustrating a methodology for assessing skin lesions during image processing using the aforementioned device;

7 is a flowchart indicating the aforementioned methodology for assessing skin lesions;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a measuring head in the above device;

Fig.9 is an explanatory drawing illustrating a methodology for evaluating a birthmark using the aforementioned device;

10 is a flowchart indicating the aforementioned methodology for estimating a birthmark;

11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an optical hair growth modulation device, which is claimed in a second embodiment of the present invention;

12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above device;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an optical hair growth modulation device, which is claimed in a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above device;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an optical hair growth modulation device, which is claimed in a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an optical hair growth modulation device that is claimed in a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

17 is a drawing for explaining the present invention, which shows the results of measuring the spectral reflectivity of a skin with different wavelengths of light using samples from three people;

Fig. 18 is a drawing for explaining the present invention, which illustrates the relationship between the wavelength of light and absorption of melanin only.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

Figure 1 shows an optical device for modulating hair growth, which is claimed in the first embodiment of the present invention. This device is equipped with a modulating light emitter 10, which emits modulating light to modulate hair growth in the target area of the human body. The modulating light emitter 10 is equipped with a light source in the form of a xenon flash lamp and outputs the modulating light in the form of pulsed light having a wavelength of, for example, from 400 to 600 nm, through a suitable filter. Thus, the modulating light emitter 10 is equipped with a control circuit and a filter for emitting the modulating light for a short time of 1 ms or less by driving a xenon flash lamp with a single pulse.

Modulating light emitted from the modulating light emitter 10 is required to be introduced into the skin, and when choosing its wavelength, the spectral reflectivity of the skin was measured at each wavelength of light using samples from three Japanese, as shown in FIG. Since the spectral reflectivity in the vicinity from 400 to 600 nm was reduced for all samples, light in this wavelength range was defined as having the property of being absorbed freely. This is due to the significant influence of melanin present in the skin. Fig. 18 indicates the spectral absorption properties of melanin only. Melanin itself absorbs 39% of the emitted light when the emitted light has a wavelength of 567 nm. Based on this, the use of light having a wavelength in the range of 400 to 600 nm, which is readily absorbed by the skin, for modulating light allows hair to be stimulated using light of low output power. In addition, ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of 400 nm or less, which is detrimental to the skin, is eliminated with a UV cut-off filter. In addition, the modulating light used in the present invention is not necessarily limited to the wavelength range described above, but it is preferable to use modulating light having a wavelength range, for example, from 400 to 1000 nm.

Modulating light emitted from a xenon flash lamp is emitted with illumination from 1,500,000 to 7,000,000 lux and a flash duration (pulse width at half the peak power value) from 100 to 700 μs. Since the amount of emitted light can be defined as the product of illumination and the duration of the flash, it is 150-4900 lux · s. In addition, the irradiation energy (J / cm ² ) is a product of the irradiation power (W) and the irradiation time (seconds), and by controlling the irradiation power (W) and the irradiation time (seconds) so that the irradiation energy K is equal, for example, 0.1 J / cm ^{2 the} occurrence of adverse side effects inherent to radiation can be reliably suppressed. In addition, when comparing the case of exposure to light once / day at intervals of several days and the case of repeated exposure to light once / day for about 5-10 consecutive days, the latter allows the use of a light source with a lower power.

Hair (including body hair and scalp) is known to have a hair development cycle during which hair changes in cycles consisting of a growth period, a regression period, and a dormant period. The authors of the present invention confirmed in experiments using mice that if light is emitted to the skin under the above irradiation conditions, hair growth is effectively slowed down without causing changes in cell morphology, as is the case with existing therapeutic lasers and the like, and without causing damage cells if light is emitted during the growth period in the hair development cycle. In addition, rapidly occurring hair growth during the growth period in the hair development cycle is confirmed if light is emitted during the rest period in the hair development cycle. In addition, the absence of adverse side effects, such as burns, has also been confirmed.

Although the reason why hair growth slows down when hair is irradiated with light at a level that does not cause changes in the cell morphology during the growth period is not clear, based on the results of analyzes at the RNA level, activation of excitatory cytokines as a result of exposure to light and a resulting growth retardation are assumed hair is considered the result of this activation of exciting cytokines.

In addition, the irradiation power was changed in accordance with the degree of change in the spectral reflectivity of the skin in the target area based on the spectral reflectivity of 500-600 nm, in which there were effects that caused changes in the hair development cycle. If the reflectance of a specific wavelength, which serves as a reference, is given as R0, the reflectance of the irradiated skin is given as R1, and the power of the light source for which activation of excitatory cytokines for skin with R0 has been achieved is given as P0, then the irradiation power P can be using the formula P = R1 / R0 × P0. Since the energy acting on the hair development cycle is constant, in the case of a high spectral reflectivity of the skin, the power should be increased, and the irradiation time should be reduced.

In addition, since the length of the growth period, regression period, and rest period in the hair development cycle varies according to the location of, for example, the scalp, light is emitted after it is first determined whether the hair development cycle is in the growth period for a location where It is advisable to slow down hair growth.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device of the present invention is provided with a measuring light emitter 20 that emits measuring light for checking a target portion where modulating light is to be emitted, and a light receiver 30 that receives measuring light reflected from the target portion. Although the device of the present invention is mainly adapted to be used without contact with the skin, it can also be used in contact with the skin.

The measuring light emitter 20 contains only a linear light source and its control circuit and is configured such that, for example, linearly distributed light having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm is used as the measuring light, and that light is output in the direction of the skin surface 9 of the human body at an angle of 45 °.

The light receiver 30 consists of a CCD camera, and its optical axis is located so as to be perpendicular to the skin surface 9 at an angle of 45 ° to the optical axis of the measuring light emitter 20, and converts the measuring light reflected from the skin surface into an electrical signal. Since the measuring light emitter 20 outputs linearly distributed light at an angle with respect to the skin surface 9, surface irregularities on the skin surface can be detected by reflected light received by the light receiver 30. In addition, since the measuring light emitter 20 and the light receiver 30 move along the skin surface, three-dimensional topographic data of the skin surface can be obtained.

This device is also equipped with a processor 40, which processes the electrical signals received from the light receiver 30. This processor 40 consists of an image memory 41 for generating images of the skin surface from the output of the light receiver 30 and storing these images, a height computing device 42 for calculating the height of each part of the skin surface from the images, a three-dimensional topographic data generator 43 for generating three-dimensional topographic data of the skin surface , a data memory 44 for storing three-dimensional topographic data and a measurement clock 45 for determining a measurement clock corresponding to the output data received from encoder 46 for measuring locations irradiated with measuring light. The processor 40 is configured to obtain three-dimensional topographic data of the target skin surface by performing the operation indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

However, if the measuring light is emitted to the skin surface 9 and the reflected light is measured, then there is both reflected light that is reflected from the skin surface 9 and reflected light that has passed through the skin. However, although the reflected light that is reflected on the skin surface 9 is light polarized in the same way as the measuring light, the light that has passed through the skin is affected by changes in the polarization angle caused by the internal tissue. Thus, in this embodiment, by using the light polarized in a certain direction by the polarizing filter 22 for the measuring light and installing the polarizing filter 32 having the same direction of polarization as the measuring light, it is allowed to enter the light receiver 30 in front of the light receiver 30 only by measuring light reflected on the skin surface 9, and as a result of this, the three-dimensional shape of the skin surface 9 can be accurately measured.

The decision whether to emit modulating light to the target portion from the modulating light emitter 10 is made based on whether the three-dimensional topographic data obtained by the method described above coincides with the predetermined shape in the irradiation determination device 50, and if such a result is obtained that it is allowed irradiation, the modulating light emitter 10 is driven and the modulating light is emitted to the target area.

The following is an example of processing performed by the irradiation determination device 50. In the case where the curved shape possessed by the eyeball is adopted as the aforementioned predetermined shape, a linear mask of size K × 1 is set, as shown in FIG. 3. Since the eyeball is spherical in shape, a tangent is determined, as shown in FIG. 4, from adjacent height data at each point for each of the K points in the mask, and then a direction P that is perpendicular to the tangent direction is determined. In the case of a circle, since the perpendicular direction determined from three points near the point of interest intersects the center of the circle and its radius R is equal to the radius of the eyeball, the coordinates of the applicant for the center position are calculated from the direction P and the radius R of each point. This processing is performed based on the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and as soon as a certain minimum number of applicants for the center position is calculated for the position considered as the center position, a curved shape similar to the eyeball is considered to exist. At the same time, the radiation detecting device 50 prevents the emission of modulating light by preventing the operation of the modulating light emitter 10.

In addition, given the need to avoid light emission in cases of protrusions on the skin caused by a rash, the device of the present invention is configured to prohibit the emission of modulating light in such cases. To achieve this goal, the irradiation determination device 50 generates data in which an averaging filter M × M is applied to three-dimensional topographic data obtained from the data memory 44. This averaging filter is designed to eliminate the curved shape of the skin, the M value varies according to the area, and the M value is set to be increased in the case of the cheek and more reduced in the case of the arm or leg than in the case of the cheek. The irradiation determination device 50 generates images in which three-dimensional data to which the aforementioned averaging filter is applied are subtracted from the original three-dimensional topographic data. If there are protrusions on the skin caused by the rash, the corresponding small protrusions are included in the data, as shown in Fig.6. The irradiation determination device 50 further binaryizes three-dimensional data in which small protrusions remain using a certain value in the height direction, and when areas having a height greater than or equal to a certain height are present in a predetermined amount or exceed it, the irradiation determination device 50 decides that small convex-concave shapes are present on the skin surface 9, and prohibits the emission of modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10. 7 shows a block diagram of an algorithm for this processing. In addition, since the K value in the drawings is equivalent to the frequency of convex-concave shapes, it can be determined from the size of the convex-concave shapes and the resolution of the measurement.

Since the presence or absence of some hair around the perimeter of the eyeball can also be confirmed using the same method as described above, no light is emitted if the hair is considered hair around the perimeter of the eyeball. Also, in the case of detecting the presence or absence of hair, this can also be done by receiving reflected light using a sensor with a distributed sensor element by emitting linearly distributed light in a direction parallel to the curved shape of the skin, instead of measuring a three-dimensional shape, as described previously, in which case the presence or absence of hair is easily determined. However, since the curved shape of the skin can cause a measurement error, using a measuring head in which the measuring light emitter 20 and the light receiver 30 are housed in the housing 8, as shown in FIG. 8, and pressing the housing 8 against the skin surface can reduce the effects of the curved shape skin.

In addition, with regard to birthmarks, it is preferable not to irradiate birthmarks with modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10. In this case, the irradiation determination device 50 detects a birthmark using the procedure indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 10 and then prohibits the emission of modulating light. Since birthmarks are present on the surface of the skin in the form of rounded protrusions, in the case of radiation of the measuring light from the measuring light emitter 20 to the angle described previously, a black shadow is formed. Namely, the shadow is highlighted by performing a binary conversion on the image obtained by the light receiver 30 by assigning a value of 1 to parts for which the brightness is less than or equal to some value, then the outlined rectangle 92 of the shadow 91 is determined, as indicated in FIG. .9, and a decision is made whether there is a circular shape in that range. A direction is recognized in which a region 93 is present that is not considered to have a value of 1 as a result of binary conversion of the range of the outlined rectangle 92, and if the direction is the long side of the outlined rectangle 92, the short side is assumed to be round in shape having a circle diameter L, whereas Otherwise, the long side is assumed to be round in shape having a circle diameter L.

Then, the direction of the tangent circle is determined in the same way as described previously, from two pixels next to the pixel of interest by constructing the contour of the binary image, and then determining the direction perpendicular to this tangent direction. Since the center of the circle is present in this perpendicular direction, voting is performed at these points with a distance equal to the radius of the assumed circle in this perpendicular direction, and after repeating the same processing on all points on the contour of the binary image, a coordinate having a certain number of votes or more, is considered the position of the center of the circle, the binary image is recognized as a shadow of a round object and a device 50 for determining teachings then prohibits light modulating light.

Although the aforementioned embodiment has explained the case of determining three-dimensional topographic data of the skin surface in the processor 40, the present invention is not necessarily limited to it, and more specifically, the processor 40 can be configured to determine the radius of curvature of the cross section of the target skin surface using the light section method. In this case, the irradiation determination device 50 is configured to decide not to emit modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10 if the specific curvature is the same as the curvature of a predetermined radius, for example, the curvature of a human eyeball.

In addition, in the case of using polarized light for the measuring light emitted from the measuring light emitter 20 and receiving the measuring light that is reflected from the skin by the light receiver 30 after passing through the polarizing filter 32, the irradiation determination device 50 may also refer to the quantity the received light when deciding whether the target area is an eyeball. Namely, although the direction of polarization of the incident light has the property of rotation, since there is tissue in the skin tissue oriented in a constant direction like a muscle, since the eyeball consists of a cornea, lens, etc., the direction of polarization of the light appearing outside the eye after reflection from the fundus does not change. Thus, if the angle of the polarizing filter 32 located in front of the light receiver 30 is assumed to be 90 ° perpendicular to the direction of polarization of the incident light, if the target area is skin, the amount of light can be partially obtained, even if the light is taken in the direction in which the angle polarization is rotated 90 ° due to polarization in the skin, whereas in contrast, if the target area is an eyeball, the amount of light received by the light receiver 30 is extremely small since polarization does not occur. By using this phenomenon, the irradiation determination device 50 decides whether the target area is an eyeball. Namely, if the amount of measurement light received after passing through the polarizing filter 32 is less than or equal to a predetermined value, then the target portion is considered an eyeball and the radiation detection device 50 is configured to prohibit the emission of modulating light.

In addition, since the light emitted by the measuring light emitter 20 includes light having a wavelength of 1430 nm and 1940 nm, which is absorbed by water and the eyeball can be distinguished from the skin by measuring the absorbance of the reflected light, the radiation detection device 50 can also use this phenomenon as a criterion for making a decision.

In this regard, if the irradiation determination device 50 makes a decision using only the phenomenon of polarized light or optical absorption, it can be made in the form of a single-element light receiving means similar to using a measuring light emitter 20 as a light source and using a light receiver 30 as photodiode.

Second Embodiment

11 shows a device for modulating hair growth, which is claimed in the second embodiment of the present invention. This device is configured to emit modulating light to stimulate the effects of hair removal by slowing hair growth, and is also configured to prohibit emitting modulating light in areas where senile spots are present on the skin surface. In addition to providing the device with a modulating light emitter 10 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, this device uses two measuring light emitters 20A and 20B. Both of these measuring light emitters are configured to emit measuring light having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm, wherein the first measuring light emitter 20A uses an ultraviolet LED, while the second measuring light emitter 20B uses a blue LED. The light receiver 30 is arranged so as to receive the measuring light reflected from the skin surface, output the corresponding electrical signals and compose a coaxial reflective optical system with the measuring light emitter 20A and 20B and half-mirrors 6, thereby preventing the skin surface 9 from influencing the received measuring light . In addition, polarizing filters 22A, 22B and 32 are placed in front of each of the measuring light emitters 20A and 20B and the light receiver 30.

The processor 40 in this device consists of an image memory 41 for storing images received from the light receiver 30, a lighting switch 48 for switching and lighting the measurement light emitters 20A and 20B and the binary processor 47 for converting the images into binary form. An irradiation determination device 50 for deciding to emit modulating light from a modulating light emitter 10 consists of a senile spot applicant determination device 52 and senile spot determination device 54.

The following is an explanation of the operation of this device based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Before the light is emitted from the modulating light emitter 10 to the target portion to be irradiated, the processor 40 causes the measuring light emitter 20A to turn on so that the measuring light emitter 20A emits ultraviolet measuring light to the target portion. The light receiver 30 receives light reflected from the skin surface 9. The output image of the light receiver 30 is then converted to binary form by assigning a value of "1" to parts for which the brightness is less than or equal to some value. The senile spot applicant determination device 52 determines the common area of elements with the assigned value “1” in accordance with this binary processing, and those parts for which this area is greater than or equal to a certain value are considered as senile spot applicants, while those parts for of which this region is lower than the value, are considered foreign substances adhering to the skin.

Next, the processor 40 causes the measurement light emitter 20B to turn on, so that the measurement light emitter 20B emits blue measurement light to the target portion. The light receiver 30 receives light reflected from the skin surface 9. At the same time, light reflected from the surface of the skin is received due to the fact that the polarizing filter 22A located on the measuring light emitter 20A and the polarizing filter 32 placed on the light receiver 30 have the same polarization angle. On the other hand, the polarizing filter 22B located on the measuring light emitter 20B and the polarizing filter 32 located on the light receiver 30 are made to have polarization angles differing by several degrees. Since the light that has passed through the skin undergoes a change in the angle of polarization caused by the internal tissue, a portion of the reflected light that has slightly entered the upper layer of the skin can be received by the light receiver 30. Since senile spots are present not only on the surface of the skin, but also in the upper layer of the inner skin tissue, the image of the part of the senile spot that has slightly entered the skin is required to perform its accurate assessment. As a result of applying this procedure, the light received by the light receiver 30 is resistant to the effects of the skin surface, thereby reducing the likelihood of incorrect recognition of dirt or foreign substances adhering to the skin surface.

Images obtained in this way are binary processed in the same way as described above in binary processing 47. The senile spot determination device 54 then extracts a part for which the total pixel area with the assigned value “1” as a result of binary processing is greater than or equal to some value , and if this part coincides with the part defined as an applicant for the senile spot, as described earlier, this part is considered the senile spot and the emission of modulating light from the emitter 10 of incident light, whereas if it does not coincide, then the emission of modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10 is allowed.

The use of ultraviolet light and blue light having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm as a measuring light is effective for evaluating senile spots. The reason is that, compared with light having a long wavelength, the penetration of this light into the skin is difficult, which leads to greater reflectivity on the surface.

In the case of using polarized light as a measuring light and receiving light using the light receiver 30 after passing through the polarizing filter 32, the decision whether the target area is an eyeball can also be made similarly to the previously described embodiment.

In addition, if the wavelength of the measuring light from the measuring light emitter 20 includes light having a wavelength of 1430 and 1940 nm, which is absorbed by water, the eyeball may be different from the skin by measuring the absorption of reflected light.

Although the present embodiment has shown emitting modulating light with a wavelength that slows hair growth, it can also be configured to emit modulating light with a wavelength that stimulates hair growth.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 13 shows a hair growth modulation device that is claimed in a third embodiment of the present invention. This device is configured to suspend modulating light emission when the target portion is evaluated as an eyeball, and similarly to the first embodiment, is provided with a modulating light emitter 10 for emitting modulating light, a measuring light emitter 20 for emitting a measuring light and a light receiver 30 for receiving measuring light, reflected from the surface of the skin, while also optionally equipped with a processor 40 for processing electrical signals output from the receiver 30 of light, and an irradiation determination device 50 for deciding, on the basis of the data processed by the processor 40, whether the emission of the modulating light is allowed.

The measuring light emitter 20 has an LED that emits three types of measuring light: red, green and blue (RGB), and is arranged so as to emit measuring light at an angle of 45 ° to the skin surface 9 using a reflective mirror 7, while a switching mirror light device 142 switches the optical RGB output at predetermined intervals. The light receiver 30 consists of a photodiode, and the light that is received is thereby accumulated in the brightness data memory 146 for each RGB after corresponding passage through the analog-to-digital converter 144.

Although the skin surface has a skin color due to the influence of capillaries and melanin, the eyeball itself does not have many blood vessels and looks black due to the high proportion of melanin. Therefore, when irradiated with three RGB colors, if the target portion is black, only the phenomenon occurs in which the reflectance decreases and the amount of reflected light for each of the RGB colors decreases approximately equally. On the other hand, in the case of skin, the degree of decrease in reflectance is not constant. In the device that is claimed in this embodiment, if all the ratios with the reference value L0 (K1 = L1 / L0, K2 = L2 / L0, K3 = L3 / L0) are less than or equal to the set value for the brightness of each of the colors red, green and blue (L1, L2, L3), as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the target site is considered to be a site other than the skin (eyeball). When all the ratios are not equal to or less than the specified value, the skin color index is calculated (M = K1 · α + K3 · β), and if this skin color index M is greater than or equal to the specified value, the target area is considered to be skin and the emission of modulating light is allowed. If the skin color index M is less than a predetermined value, the target area is not considered to be skin and the emission of modulating light is prohibited. As the values of α and β, values are used that are appropriately determined according to the skin type of the user.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 15 shows a hair growth modulation device that is claimed in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Although this device is basically similar to the device of the first embodiment, it is provided with a weak stimulus generator 60 that transmits a weak stimulus to the user's eye before exposure to modulating light. In this device, by transmitting this weak irritant so as to cause the user's eye to close and irradiating the skin with modulating light during this time, it is provided that the device can be used without any discomfort, and this is especially effective in the case of emitting modulating light in the immediate vicinity to the eye.

The following is an interpretation of the generator 60 of weak irritants in the devices that are claimed in the present embodiment. A weak stimulus generator 60 transmits a weak stimulus to a target portion 9 before emitting modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10. As a result of this mild irritant, the eye closes, and during the time the eye is closed, modulating light is emitted from the modulating light emitter 10. Although the weak stimulus generator 60 may continue to transmit a weak stimulus to cause the eye to close, transmitting the weak stimulus only for a time sufficient to cause the eye to close can prevent energy loss. The time before the modulating light is emitted after the weak stimulus generator 60 transmits the weak stimulus to the target area is set taking into account the time from transferring the weak stimulus to the eye until the eye closes, and the time when the eye is forced to close with a weak stimulus.

Although atomization of a gas having a cooling effect is preferred for a weak irritant, a weak irritant is not limited to atomizing the gas, but may also be in the form of light or electric current.

Gas atomization can be performed, for example, by providing a known atomization mechanism in a weak irritant generator 60. In addition, wind pressure can also be generated using a fan, for example, in a generator 60 of weak stimuli. Gas spraying requires the eye to close while being safe for the eye. In addition, although there is a risk of burns, if the skin is excessively irradiated with modulating light from the modulating light emitter 10, the use of a gas having a cooling effect can reduce this risk.

In the case of transmitting a weak stimulus by light, a light emitter is provided in the weak stimulus generator 60. From the emission of light, it is required to make the eye close, while being safe for the eye. In addition, since people are more responsive to changes in light than to constant light, it is preferable to light that causes the eye to close, such as pulsed light or flashing light. Moreover, since the wavelength of light having a high visual sensitivity, which causes the eye to blink due to a physiological reaction, at the lowest possible power (for example, at the level of the LED) is 555 nm, it is preferable to transmit a weak irritant using light with this wavelength.

In the case of using an electric current in a generator 60 of weak stimuli, a current generator is provided. The current used is weak and is created by flowing around the perimeter of the eye. The current is required to make the eye close, while being safe for the eye.

In addition, although the above description shows three functions of the weak irritant 2, they can be arbitrarily combined to allow multiple functions to coexist.

Thus, since the weak irritant 2 transmits the weak irritant to the eye, which causes the eye to close, and the light that modulates the growth of body hair is emitted by the light emitter 1A during the time when the eye is closed due to the weak irritant, the eye can be protected from light that modulates body hair growth.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 15 shows a hair growth modulation device that is claimed in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Although this device is similar to the device of the fourth embodiment, it differs from the aforementioned embodiment in that the modulating light emitter 10 is also used as a weak irritant generator 60. The modulating light emitter 10 in this embodiment is configured to emit a weak light that does not damage the eyeball before emitting the modulating light. Additionally, a weak stimulus generator may be provided that transmits a weak stimulus other than light.

Claims (5)

1. Device for regulating hair growth, containing
a regulating light emitter configured to emit a regulatory light to regulate hair growth in a target area of the human body;
a measuring light emitter configured to emit measuring light for measuring a human body in said target portion of a human body;
a light receiver configured to receive measuring light reflected from said target portion;
a processor configured to process information about the measuring light received in said light receiver; and
an irradiation detection device that decides whether to emit light from said control light emitter based on a processing result of said processor,
wherein said control light has a wavelength of from 400 nm to 1000 nm, said measurement light being RGB or light having a wavelength in the range of 200 to 400 nm,
wherein said irradiation detection device is adapted to control said control light from said control light emitter in accordance with said decision, said processor being configured to obtain a radius of curvature of a cross section at said target portion by a light section method and deriving a radius of curvature,
said irradiation detection device is configured to make a decision not to emit control light from said control light emitter when the radius of curvature corresponds to the radius of curvature inherent in a human eyeball. 2. Device for regulating hair growth, containing
a regulating light emitter configured to emit a regulatory light to regulate hair growth in a target area of the human body;
a measuring light emitter configured to emit measuring light for measuring a human body in said target portion of a human body;
a light receiver configured to receive measuring light reflected from said target portion;
a processor configured to process information about the measuring light received in said light receiver; and
an irradiation detection device that decides whether to emit light from said control light emitter based on a processing result of said processor,
wherein said control light has a wavelength of from 400 nm to 1000 nm, said measurement light being RGB or light having a wavelength in the range of 200 to 400 nm,
wherein said irradiation detection device is adapted to control said control light from said control light emitter in accordance with said decision, and said light emitter is configured to emit measurement light that is polarized in a particular direction, said light receiver configured to receive measurement polarization information Sveta. 3. Device for regulating hair growth, containing
a regulating light emitter configured to emit a regulatory light to regulate hair growth in a target area of the human body;
a measuring light emitter configured to emit measuring light for measuring a human body in said target portion of a human body;
a light receiver configured to receive measuring light reflected from said target portion;
a processor configured to process information about the measuring light received in said light receiver; and
an irradiation detection device that decides whether to emit light from said control light emitter based on a processing result of said processor,
wherein said control light has a wavelength of from 400 nm to 1000 nm, said measurement light being RGB or light having a wavelength in the range of 200 to 400 nm,
moreover, said irradiation determination device is adapted to control said control light from said control light emitter in accordance with said decision,
wherein said processor is configured to calculate the amount of light received at said light receiver,
said determination device is configured to decide whether or not to emit light from said control light emitter based on the amount of light to be measured. 4. The device for regulating hair growth according to claim 3, in which said measuring light emitter is configured to emit measuring light polarized in a specific direction, and said light receiver is configured to obtain polarization information of the received light. 5. The hair growth control device according to claim 4, wherein said measuring light emitter is configured to emit measuring light of three RGB colors, respectively, and said light detector is configured to measure the amount of each color in RGB.

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