Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
104~6~
The invention herein is concerned with the field of
cosmetics known as depilation and is specifically
~` directed to an improved method for hair removal and
improved apparatus for achieving the same.
There are several methods which are generall~ used
-~ for removal of hair or depilation including the use of
. . .
short wave electrical energy, thermolysis, galvanic
action and combinations thereof. All of these methods
involve pain and discomfort for the patron. Various
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types of apparatus are used which are cumbersome and
jh expensive. Efforts to utilize laser energy have been
~, abandoned because of the pain and discomfort involved
but also because of the danger to khe patron.
~1 In recent yearæ one prior art method and apparatus
-utilized a method which is called photoepilation because
the pri~ciple consisted of removin~ hair by means of
photoenergy. The vas~ular papilla of the hair bo~y was
. i ~
~i subjected to ~lashes o~ light from a xenon gaseous discharge
,.
~ lamp by leading the light through a fiber-optical conduit
~ . .
~ 20 into the hair follicle, down khe follicle and to the
'!~
'! Yascular bed of the hair body. This would destroy the
;,. :
; hemoglobin in the vascular bed by coagulation. when the
vessels of the papilla were thus coagulated the hair
,
~i body was in e~fect rendered lifeless and its bond with
i 25 the papilla was so weakened that the hair body could be
,.! pulled out of its follicle without pain or discomfort.
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The concept of this method was good but the manner in
which it was utilized suffered from disadvantages which
eventually led to a discarding of the method. The
apparatus was deemed useless or an~ other purpose and
was thus abandoned by those who owned the same. These -
disadvantages are explained hereinafter~ -
In the photoepilation method using xenon light
energy as practiced heretofore, the polished end of a
fine optical fiber carrying the light energy had to be
inserted into the ollicle of a hair body. This was
painful and annoying. The degree o pain and annoyance
depended to some extent upon the location of the follicle
and the thic~ness of the hair body as well as the ~-
~irmness with which it was rooted. It was believed at
the tLme of use o~ this method that it was desirable to
get the frea end of the fiber as close as possible to the
papilla and hence the operator tried to push the fiber
down into the patron's follicle as far as it could be
comfortably tolerated.
~he procedure followed was to insert the fiber and
apply a few flashes o light, remove the fiber, apply
tension to the hair to see if it would release and to
reinsert the fiber and repeat if the hair could not
easily be withdrawn. This was not only painful but often
resulted in scratching or even piercing of the interior
wall of the hair follicle because the operator could not
. " , . .
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see where the leading free end of the fiber was going.
The axial end face would normally be quite sharp around
the edges because the axial end of the fiber itself is
best highly polished to transmit the maximum of light and
S because the cylindrical surface of the fiber was
protected by a sheath of stainless steel metal. Patrons'
tolerances to the discomfort often dictated the depth of
penetration.
The fact that the fiber had to be inserted into ~he
skin of the patron meant that the fiber end and housing
in which it was mounted had to be sterilized which was not ~-
readily capable of being effected. As a result,
infections could and did result. Further, regulatory
bodies concerned with public health were concerned and
problems o~ licensing and control become involved.
The apparatus of the type that was used with the
prior art of photoepilation described included a probe
which was a small cylindrical steel member secured to a
flexible cable that led the light energy from the source
~ to the cable end. The probe had a single glass iber
encased in a protective ste~l sheath dispo~ed in the
center of the probe coaxial with the exterior of the
cylindrical me~ber. One end of the fiber was arranged
flush with the end of the probe that was secured to the
cable and the probe end was threaded into a-connector or
fitting that coupled the light energy from a light-
~V~
transmissive member within the cable to the fiber
through an oil-filled chamber.
The second or free end of the ~iber was arranged ~o
pxotrude from the free end of the probe opposite the
connected end for a distance of about a quarter of an
inch. The free end of the fiber as understood from the ~
description was adapted to be inserted into the haLr ;
~ollicle of the-patron. ThiS free end was unsupported ~ -
by the probe and for strength had the steel sheath
surrounding its cylindrical surface with its axial end
face exposed. Both the axial end face on the free end
and on the end which is connected to the cable would be
highly polished to transmit the maximum of light.
The dimensions of the free and of the optical fiber
lS are of consequence in considering the impact of the
invention herein because these dimensions in the prior
art were dictated by the method that was deemed
necessary to be used. Since the fiber had to enter the
folli~le, it had to be long for at least the average
depth follicle - namely about one quarter inch in Length.
Since the fiber had to enter follicles of very fine hair
bodies, its diameter including that of the steel protective
sheath had to be very small. Women desiring depilation of
hair usually want it removed from their faces and
paXticularly from the upper lip where the hair is very
fine. The maximum diameter of the protruding fiber and
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protective sheath on the prior apparatus wa~ limited to
about .007 inch~ Anything larger would result in great
pain or even the improbability that it could be inserted.
As can be understood, the amount of light energy
which can be transmitted by an optical fiber that is
ab~ut .004 inc~ in diameter (allowing about ~003 inch for
the thickness of the sheath material on opposite sides of
the actual optical fiber) is not ve~y great. Even
assuming that the method of the prior art described can
be u~ed, the time required for coagulating the papillary
tissues is certainly substantially le58 than it would ~e
if the optical fiber could be doubled or even tripled in
size. This would be impossible, of course, because ~o
such fiber sheathed in steel could be inserted into a
15 normal hair follicle~
Another di-qadvantage of the prior art method and
apparatus was the fact that since the protruding end of
the sheathed fiber had to be so long and so thin it was
s~bjected to breakage. These so-called "needles" were
very expensive and the breaking o~ o a protruding end
rendered them usaless in accordance with the prior mathod.
The invention is based upon a discovery that gives
rise to an important series of advantages. The discovery
is that if the axial end of the optical fiber is placed
immediately adjacent the entrance to a hair follicle with-
out inserting the same within the follicle, there~is a
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~04~6~
substantial amount of the phokoenergy that will enter the
follicle and pass down to the papilla and coagulate the
same. The amount of energy thus transmitted is so great -
that the apparatus of the prior art can be used in
practicing this method. The same "needle" with its
protruding sheathed fiber is placed on the skin of t~e
patron with the axial end face located at the entrance to
the hair follicle and the xenon lamp is flashed several
times. The hair is pulled and if it does not immediately
give way, the follicle entrance is flashed several more
times. There is no pain or discomfort connected with
this method because the follicle is not entered. If the
first group of flashes is insufficient the patron does
not hàve to suffer the removal and reentry of the fiber
end as in the prior method.
The advantage which is inherent in using even the
prior apparatus to perform the method is only one
benefit which flows therefrom. The other benefits are
concerned with thP apparatus of the invention. Since the
fiber does not have to enter the follicle it can be made
much thicker than the prior art fiber. Fiber and sheath
combinations as thick as .015 inch can now be used. These
do not have to protrude from their probe housing as far
as the prior art devi~es and hence are robust and long-
lasting. They are not subject to lateral stress because
they are nëver inserted into the skin. They conduct
substantially more photoener~y than the.007 inch fibers
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of the prior devices and can thus coagulate tissues aster -
thereby decreasing the time required to epilate a given number
of hairs. The economy and convenience of this benefit are
believed to be obvious.
These larger fibers are easier to man~facture because the
tolerances are not as great. Glass or synthetic resins can be ~ -
used as the fibers. The probes and protruding fibers do not
have to be sterilized and since the skln is not entered, the
apparatus is not classed as a surgical instrument by regulatory
bodies. The operators are not as readily subject to the rigid
controls of governmental regulatory bodies.
Other advantages are the fact that the skill for using the
apparatus is less since there is no need to judge how far to
insert the fiber under the skin, that the operator is better
able to see where to place the axial fiber end; there is no
requirement to probe the skin while seeking out the precise
passageway below the entrance to the hair follicles.
There is described herein a probe for photoepilation, the
probe having a fiber optic conduit or conducting high energy
light energy to the exterior of a hair follicle at a location
relative thereto closely spaced adjacent yet outside the
entrance to the hair follicle. -~
Particularly, a preferred embodiment of the
invention is described as comprising a housing adapted to
have one end thereof connected to a source of high ene~gy light
from a gaseous discharge lamp and having an optical fiber
therein for transmitting light from the adapted-to-be-connected
end to a free end. The fiber has the axial face at the adapted-
to-be-connected end flush with the housing at the adapted-to-be-
connected end and has the axial face of the fiber exposed at theother end, the exposed end being disposed between a location
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flush with the free end and a location outwardly spaced
from the free end a distance no greater than the distance
required to permit the hair follicle to be touched ~y the
free end yet remain exterior of the entrance to the hair
follicle. The fiber is supported by the housing at both
ends of the fiber and the housing has an outer configuration
including a taper at the free end~
The exact manner in which the photoenergy is
transmitted to the papilla from the entrance thereof
is not precisely understood but is believed to occur on
account of the natural oils in the follicle which
transmit light. On this account the method of the
invention wa~ originally practiced by appl~ing mineral
oil to the skin at the follic~e entrance and attempting
lS to work it into the follicLe. Later it was learned that
this is not necessary. -~ -
It will be appreciated that the tissue which is
devoid of pigment will not absorb the photoenergy and
hence the outer surface of the skin in the vicini~y of the
follicle entrance will not be substantially affected, nor ~;
will the inner lining of the follicle. Instead the
light energy will most strongly affect the hemoglobin in
the papilla where the vessels nourishing the hair are
.. , . . . '~ :
located. This, then is wher0 the coagulation t~kes place.
In the description which follcws there are described
preferred embodiments, but only by way of example, from
an examination of which the method of the in-ention and ;~
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~04~6~L0
the apparatus for practicing the same will be
understood. Advantages and benefits not specifically
mentioned will become apparent to those skilled in the
art to which the invention pertains from a study thereof.
In the drawing which accompanies this specification:
Figure 1 is a sectional view on a greatly enlarged
scale through the skin of a subject having phot ~ ilation
performed on a hair papilla and showing the method
practiced according to the invention, with a fragment of
a probe:depicted in use; . .~ :
Figure 2 is an enlarged mediam sectional view of the
pro~e of the invention;
Figure 2A is a fragmentary sectional view on a
larger scale illustratin~ the sheathed optical fiber; ~ :
Figure 2B is a fragmentary sectional view through
the outer end of a probe o modified form showing the
manner of using the same to practice the method of the
: invention;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partially
broken away, illustrating the probe o the Prir art; and
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of another
modified form of the probe of the invention. -
As explained above the improvement over the prior
art resides in the construction of the probe and in the
manner of using the probe.
Initially it should ba clear that the method of
the invention can be practiced using the probe of the
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prior art but will give better results if used with the
probe of the invention. The reason simply is that the
prior art fibers are re~uired to be so much thinner
than the fibers of the invention can be and hence
cannot transmit as much photoenergy per flash of the
xenon lamp.
In Figure 1 there is illustrated on a greatly
exaggerated scale a sectional view through the skin of a
subject that is having the photoepilation process of the
invention performed in order to remove hair bodias. In
this instance a section is taken through a hair body or
shaft 10 and i$s hair follicle 12, there being a probe 14
applied in the manner taught by the invention to effect
epilation.
The derma of khe subject is designated 16 and the
epidermis 18 covers the same with an entrance 20 to the
follicle 12 opening at 20 to the outer surface of the
epidermis 18. The inner wall o the follicle 12 has a
layer equivalent to the epidermis 18 that comprises a ~
li~ing 22. The shaft 10 terminates at its inner end in a -;
.
bulbous portion which ma~ be termed the root 24, the
follicle 12 and lining 22 conforming in configuration to
the root 24. At the bottom of the follicle 12 there is an
upwardly protruding papilla 26 which enters a portion of
the root and contains a vascular network fed by an
arterial vessel 28
-- 11 --
The hair sha~t 10 and root 24 are shown rather
loosely disposed within the follicle 12, but this
illustration is only to explain the invention. In
actuality the spacing is small between the hair body ana
lining 22 but there is sufficient spacing for the e~ficacy
of the method which will be described.
At 30 are shown so-called fat glands in the derma
which communicate with the follicle 12 by way of the
ducts 32, these supplying the so-called natural oils that
lubricate and give tone to hair. The space between the
hair body 10 and the lining 22 is normally filled with
some of the lubri~ant which is exuded by the ~at gland 30.
The prior art probe 34 of Figure 3 was constructed
as a hollow cylindrical housing 36 with a central
sheathed optical iber 38 passing through the same
coaxially of the housing 36, held in place at the conical
tip 40 by means of an annular plastic plug 42 a~d having
a protruding portion 44. In use, the uppe~ screw-
threaded head 46 of the probe is screwed into the soc~et
48 (Figure 2) of a fitting 50 that is connected to a
bundle o~ light transmitting optical fibers or a single
flexible fiber, the light transmittiny means being shawn
at 52. The optica' fiber or fibers 52 are sheathed in a
steel conduit 54 which in turn is protected by a
relatively elastic plastic coating 56. The steel conduit
54 is swaged into the fitting 50 as shown at 58 and the
coating 56 sealed at 60 to be li~uid tight. The free
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end 62 of the optical fiber bundle or single fiber 52 i~
polished for maximum light ~ransmissivity and enters a
small annular chamber 64 formed in the upper part of the
socket 48 above the end 66 of the head 46. The head 46
is screwed in place with an eleastomeric 0-ring 68 spacing
the same fxom the uppermost end of the socket 48 in order
to form the chamber 64 while sealing the connec~bn.
The sheathed optical ~iber 38 of the probe 34 and
that of the probe 14 are identical in constructio~ and
hence designated by the same numeral 38. They are not of
the same thickness necessarily. There is a central
single glass or other optically transmissive fiber 70
and an outer sheath 72 o steel, the combined article
being somewhat resilient and bendable since its overall
outer diameter is quite small. ~he prior art sheathed
fiber 38 typically has been .007 inch in diameter
because o its need to enter into a follicleO The
sheathed fiber 38 of the invention is preferably larger
because of the dif~erent method of use. In practice,
success has been achieved by increasing the diameter of
the fiber .002 inch resulting in a total diameter of
.009 inch. ~arger diameters - up to at least .015 inch
will be even more effective.
The sheathed fiber 38 passes through the head 46 and
is flush with the upper surface 66. This flush end is
polished for maximum light transmissivity of the fiber 70.
When the probe 14 or 34 is assembled to the fitting
50, the fitting 50 is first inverted to form a cup and a
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small quantity of mineral or other stable oil is poured
into the chamber 64. Thus, when finally assembled, if
the free end 62 of the light transmissive means 52 and
the fiber 70 do not accurately meet and engage directly,
the light energy will be transmitted through the oil 74
so that the fiber bundle 52 and fiber 70 are well
coupled togather insofar as light energy trans~er is
concerned~ This techni~ue is known.
In use, the pxotruding portion 44 of the prior art
probe 34 is inserted alongside of the shaft 10 as well
into the follicle 12 placing the polished axial end face
thereof quite close to the papilla 26. Then, under the
control of the operator, several short flashes of light
eneryy are transmitted through the optical ~iber system
to coagulate the hemoglobin of the papilla. It is known
that the papilla ~urnishes the new cells that cause the
hair to grow, these cells being pushed forward from the
bottom o~ the root so that the hair grows axially
outwardly. Putting the hair shaft out by the root will
not de~troy the hair~ This requires the destruction of
the papilla. Accordingly, once the papilla is no
longer capable o supporting growth because o~ the
.
coagulation of the vessels within the papilla, there will -
no longer be any hair grown ~rom the papilla. In effect
the hair is destroyed.
Once the vessels in the papilla 26 are destroyed,
the hair shaft 10 with its root 24 may be easily pulled
out and will never re-grow.
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The basic theory of the method as described is
practical and effective, but the disadvantages of being
required to insert the protruding portion 44 into the
follicle have been mentioned. They include breakage with
accompanying expensive discard of the probe; danger of
infection; and discomfort of the subjectO Although shown
- proportionately larger, the protruding end 44 in the
prior art probe is of the order of 3 to 1 inch in
16 4
length. The operator attempts to insert it as far as
possible using a magnifying glass to fin~ the entranceO
Scratching of the lining 22 was common.
The probe 14 of the invention is especially
intended for use with the method of the invention. It is ~ ;;
possible to use the probe 34 in practicing the invention -
but not without some difficulty.
I have discovered that the light energy is capable~ ;
of being transmitted the entire length of the follicle 12
and that sufficient energy will reach the papilla to
effect de~truction o~ thc vessels therein. This is true`~
.
even using the prior art de~ice 34. Accordingly, } apply
the free end of the sheathed fiber 38 to the entrance 20
depending on the natural oily material therein, this
being shown at 75. Such natural oils are exuded by the
fat glands 30 through the ducts 32 and will suffice to
transmit the light energy. ~or added effectiveness I may
bathe the epidermis 18 in a low viscosity mineral oil
and rub the site of the opening 20 to work the oil down
into the follicle 12 but I have found that this is not
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necessary in most cases.
The probe is applied as shown in Figure 1, the
construction of the probe preferably being such that
there is a long shallow tapered bod~ 76 which comes to a
fine tip 78. The sheathed fiber 38 is mounted in the
same manner as it is in the probe 34, except that it
terminates in the tip ~8, either with or without a
plastic plug like 42 and its poli~hed axial end face is
flush with the tip end as shown at 80, The end 80 is
~ocated righ~ at the entrance to the opening 20 without
entering the follicle and even without the need for
touching any part of the subject. It is preferably laid
into contact with the upier sur~ace of the skin at the
entrance 20 in contact with oily material 75 in the
follicle 12. It will be appreciated that it is
practically impossible to hold the probe end a couple of
thousandths of an inch from the entrance 20 during use -
hence, touching the skin is the practical way of ~ -
accomplishing this.
~0 Where reference is made in the claims to placing the
probe "at the entrance" of the follicle it will be taken -
to mean either that there is a touching or a closene~s --~
sufficient that the majority of photoenergy is directed
into the follicle.
In the process of photoepilation, a few flashes of
light may be applied and the hair shaft 10 grasped and
given a gentle pull to see if it is loose. If not~ a
few more flashes and the hair shaft 10 is easily pulled
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~L~43~6~L( I
out of the follicle 12. With the mekhod of tha invention
there is no difficulty involved in such trial because the
pro~e is not engaged into the follicle. One just moves
it aside and tries the hair shaft~ In the case of the
pxior method, one would have to remove the protruding
portion 44 from the follicle 12 to make the trial, then
reinsert if not successful. Each time an insertion is
needed, the step must be done carefully in order to try
not to pierce the lining 22 and cause pain or discomfort -
to the subject. This ef~ort is not always successful.
It is possible to use the probe 34 in practicing the
method of t~e invention by just holding the very end of
the protruding porkion`44 at the entrance 20. One has to
be careful in handling the pxobe 34 just in picking it up, -
using it and storing it, since breakage o~ the sheathed
.
fiber was still possible. Additionally, the heavy
structure with the stubby conical end 40 makes it somewhat
inconvenient to locate and maintain position precisely ~ -
at the entrance 20 while the process is going on. With
the probe 14~ however, the long narrow gradual taper of
the end 78 makes for good viewing and easy manipulation.
The bundle of fibers 52 may be replaced ~y a single
fiber. For example, a convenient arrangement, and one~
which would be easy to manipulate would have a single
fiber about .02" in diameter suitably sheathed in steel
and plastic coated.
The ~odified form of the invention illustrated in
Figure 2B shows the probe 14" which has a small plastic
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plug 42' in the end 78' of the probe body and a sheathed
fiber 38' which is intended to be depicted as thicker
than the fiber 38 of Figure 3. The end 80' in this case
pxotrudes slightly from the probe end 78' by a small
amount although not necessarily as much as the prior art
end 44. Eerhaps it can protrude about 1/8 inch or less.
In this view the epidermis is shown at 18 with the hair
shat 10 protruding from the follicle entrance 20 and the
axial end face 82 is shown touching ~he skin immediately
at the entxance so that the light energy will be
primarily directed into the entrance 20.
The modi~ied form 14' of probe of the invention which
is illustrated in Figure 4 diE~ers from the probes 14 and
14" only in the respect that the tip 78' is curved as
sh~wn to enable reaching areas o~ the subject which are in
crevices, etc. Also the probe 14' is more easily
utili~ed by operators who prefer to hold the same at an
angle rather than erect.
An important aspect of the structure o~ the invention
is that because there is no need for a portion o~ ~he
sheathed fiber 38 to extend fr~m the housing 76 the iber
38 ma~ be fully supported within the housing. If
protruding only a stub is suf~icient as in pro~e 14" o
F~gure 2B~ It need not be made as ~ine as the sheathed
fiber of the probe 34 since it is not going to be
inserted into a fine follicle. Thus it can be made
heaviex and will transmit substantially more light. For
exampl~, since the cross sectional area varies as the
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s~uare of the diameter, an increase of onl~ .002 inch
of the diameter of the glass of fiber 70 from .004 inch
(assuming that the thickness of the steel shea~h 72 is
.0015 inch) to .006 inch results in the cross sectional
area of the fiber more than doubling, with a corresponding
increase in transmitted light energy. For the larger
fibers mentioned the energy increase is even greater.
Thus, photocoagulation can be accomplished in a shorter
time than with the thinner fiber.
To indicate ~he proportions and dimensions of the ~ --
probes, the diameters of the sheathed fibers 38 have
- alre dy been mentioned/ the diameter o~ the housing 36 is
about one-eighth inch and the overall length from end to
end of the probe is about one-half inch, this does not ~;
include the protruding portion 44 w~lich may be as much
as one-quarter inch. In the prior art probe 34 the small
end diameter of the conical section is about one-
sixteenth of an i~ch. The end 80 o~ probe 14 can be made
as fine as practical to support the sheathed fiber 38;
that is of the order o~ one thirty-second of an inch and
less.
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