631results about "Hair-singeing" patented technology

Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources. Contact sensors and motion sensor may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources. Contact sensors and motion sensor may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources. Contact sensors and motion sensor may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

A laser depilator comprising a unit for removing hairs from the skin, a light source for irradiating laser light, and a lens for irradiating the skin with the laser light irradiated from the light source while deforming the beam shape so as to conform to the shape of a region of the skin from which hairs are removed by the hair removing unit. Since removal of hairs shielding the laser light and irradiation of laser light for damaging hair roots can be carried out continuously, efficiency of depilation treatment can be enhanced. Furthermore, depilation can be carried out effectively through a simple arrangement because a shaved skin surface can be irradiated with laser light over a relatively wide range using a lens.

Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources. Contact sensors and motion sensor may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

A system and method for rejuvenating skin through ablation using a handheld device (200) having a removable treatment component (213) with an abrasive material on one surface of the component which surface is on a portion of the treatment component (213) configured to conform to a skin surface. The system further includes application of other elements to facilitate skin recovery and rejuvenation processes.

An apparatus enabling a casual user in a residential set-up to perform himself almost every skin treatment procedure by using a variety of modules that may be inserted into an infrastructure frame. The apparatus presents a docking station and an applicator. The applicator simultaneously receives only two types of skin treatment modules, these may be replaced after use for modules providing a different type of skin treatment. Such skin treatment modules like epilator, shaver, exfoliation or abrasive module, suction head, and massage head apply a mechanical action to the skin. Ultrasound module applies ultrasound waves to the skin. Intense pulsed light and RF apply electromagnetic radiation to the skin. A combination of these modules may be used to provide a variety of skin treatments such as hair removal, skin rejuvenation, skin exfoliation, acne treatment, circumference reduction, and other skin treatments.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving bodily safety during exposure to a monochromatic light source by diverging the monochromatic light, such as with a highly durable diffuser. At a first position of the distal end of the monochromatic light source the energy density of an exit beam from said distal end is substantially equal to the energy density of the monochromatic light required for desired applications and at a second position of the distal end the energy density of the light emitted therefrom is significantly less than the energy density of the monochromatic light. Accordingly, a laser unit suitable for aesthetic treatment, medical treatment or industrial treatment is converted into an eye safe laser unit. Eye safety is further enhanced by measuring the radiance of the divergent monochromatic light and issuing a warning as a result of a mishap if the radiance of the divergent monochromatic light is greater than a predetermined safe value, and if desired, generating a visible flash prior to the emission of a pulse of monochromatic light to induce an eye of a bystander to blink or to change its field of view in order to avoid staring at the monochromatic light.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving bodily safety during exposure to an eye hazardous monochromatic treatment light source by diverging the light, such as with a diffusing unit attached to the light source distal end so that the radiance of the light exiting the distal end is an eye safe level. At a first position of the light source distal end substantially in contact with an outer surface of a target, the energy density of an exit beam from the distal end is suitable for effecting a desired treatment, and at a second non-contact position of the distal end the exit beam energy density is significantly less than a value suitable for effecting the treatment. In an additional embodiment, the diverging or diffusing unit has a device for evacuating vapors or particles from the target.

System and method for improving the shaving experience by providing improved visibility of the skin shaving area. A digital camera is integrated with the electric shaver for close image capturing of shaving area, and displaying it on a display unit. The display unit can be integral part of the electric shaver casing, or housed in a separated device which receives the image via a communication channel. The communication channel can be wireless (using radio, audio or light) or wired, such as dedicated cabling or using powerline communication. A light source is used to better illuminate the shaving area. Video compression and digital image processing techniques are used for providing for improved shaving results. The wired communication medium can simultaneously be used also for carrying power from the electric shaver assembly to the display unit, or from the display unit to the electric shaver.

Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources. Contact sensors and motion sensor may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

An improved method is provided to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. For the microstructure used in the improved method, the dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate and retain those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In another embodiment of the improved method, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of skin cells accumulated using the improved method represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus associated with the improved method. Some of the microelement shapes are purposefully designed with distal ends that exhibit sharp edges rather than sharp tips to reduce skin irritation resulting from use of the improved method.

Hair or partial hair removal system and hair growth deterrent that includes mechanical process for cutting, plucking or shaving hair follicles, along with pre and / or post skin treatment techniques. The skin treatment techniques can include the application of energy to the skin surface before, after and / or during the application of the mechanical process. Such techniques include the application of heat and / or energy from illumination sources and / or RF emitters. Further skin treatment techniques include the application of solutions before, after and / or during the mechanical process and / or the application of heat and / or energy. Overall, the system operates to treat an area of skin to facilitate the removal of all or a portion of hair, retard further growth, and recovery of skin surface.

A hair cutting apparatus comprising a structure (126), a portion (1216) of which being adapted for placement against a skin surface where hair is to be cut, a heat generator comprising one or more heat elements (1214) positioned to touch said hair and heated to a temperature sufficient to cut hair, at least one of said heat elements being juxtaposed with said portion and a controller that controls the power source to provide pulsed heating of said one or more heat elements.

A hair-removing device (1) includes a laser source (3), an adjustable laser beam manipulator (5) for positioning a laser beam (7) of the laser source (3) in a target position (9) on a skin (11) to be treated, and an image sensor (47) for detecting an image (49) of the skin. The hair-removing device further comprises a control unit (17) which determines a position and orientation on the skin of a hair (13) to be removed, and which determines the target position of the laser beam as a function of said position and orientation of the hair. The control unit brings the laser beam manipulator in a state corresponding to the target position of the laser beam, and activates the laser source when the laser beam manipulator has reached said state. Thus, the hair-removing device is suitable for use by inexperienced users, and is particularly suitable for the consumer market. In a particular embodiment, the control unit determines the target position of the laser beam in a position (71) on the skin under which a root (15) of the hair is present, so that the root of the hair is destroyed and the hair-removing device (1) is an epilating device by means of which the hair is removed for a relatively long time or even permanently. In another embodiment, the control unit determines the target position of the laser beam in a position (65) on the hair where the hair comes out of the skin, so that the hair is burnt through near the skin surface and the hair-removing device (1″) is a shaving device by means of which a high skin smoothness is obtained.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving bodily safety during exposure to a monochromatic light source by diverging the monochromatic light, such as with a highly durable diffuser. At a first position of the distal end of the monochromatic light source the energy density of an exit beam from said distal end is substantially equal to the energy density of the monochromatic light required for desired applications and at a second position of the distal end the energy density of the light emitted therefrom is significantly less than the energy density of the monochromatic light. Accordingly, a laser unit suitable for aesthetic treatment, medical treatment or industrial treatment is converted into an eye safe laser unit. Eye safety is further enhanced by measuring the radiance of the divergent monochromatic light and issuing a warning as a result of a mishap if the radiance of the divergent monochromatic light is greater than a predetermined safe value, and if desired, generating a visible flash prior to the emission of a pulse of monochromatic light to induce an eye of a bystander to blink or to change its field of view in order to avoid staring at the monochromatic light.

Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tools may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Some of the retention members are stationary and some are movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tools. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit, such as by including both cutting segments and blunt relief segments. A number of dual concentric tube embodiments permit a division of removal functions. Distal fluid or gas delivery may supplement a vacuum in a luminal space to help extract biological units from surrounding tissue.

Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tools may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Some of the retention members are stationary and some are movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tools. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit, such as by including both cutting segments and blunt relief segments. A number of dual concentric tube embodiments permit a division of removal functions. Distal fluid or gas delivery may supplement a vacuum in a luminal space to help extract biological units from surrounding tissue.

The present invention relates to a hair-detection device (100), with a source (80) of electromagnetic radiation and an imaging sensor (74), and with radiation selection means (83, 48). During use of the device, the selection means improve a ratio between the part of the emitted radiation that is coupled into a skin (8), homogenized via multiple scattering without much absorption in the skin, reaches the sensor (74) and thus provides an image of the skin, and the part that reaches the sensor via other ways, such as reflection at the skin surface. The radiation preferably has a wavelength between about 700 nm and 1100 nm. The radiation selection means may e.g. comprise a separate wall (83) around at least one of the source (80) and the sensor (74) and the sensor (74), crossed polarizers, etc. By means of this selection, the contrast of the image may be improved, and may be made less dependent on skin color and skin artifacts, thus enabling easier detection of e.g. white hairs on a fair skin. A hair-detection in accordance with the invention is used in a hair-removing device.

An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. The dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In addition, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of accumulated skin cells represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus. Some of the microstructures are designed with very close-packed microelements, which in some cases have flexible substrates.

A grip for a graspable item having a body and a handle connected to and extending outwardly away from the body. The grip includes a hollow core configured to slide onto the handle, and a hollow sleeve having a plurality of outwardly extending ribs disposed on the external surface of the sleeve. The sleeve is configured to slide onto the exterior of the core such that the core and the sleeve define a cavity therebetween. The grip further includes a quantity of a gel disposed within the cavity. The ends of the sleeve are sealed against the corresponding ends of the core to retain the gel within the cavity, and the gel allows the sleeve to deform to conform to the shape of a user's hand when the handle of the graspable item is grasped by the user.

A hair cutting apparatus comprising: an elongate element (260) heated to a temperature capable of cutting hair; a vibrating structure (200), on which said elongate element (260) is mounted; and a housing (106) in which the vibrating structure (200) is mounted.

In a first embodiment, an ultrasonic or vibratory energy apparatus is provided for at least one of ultrasonically, vibrationally, thermally or ablatively treating at least a first portion of at least one hair, hair-shaft, hair root-structure, hair root-region, hair-follicle, hair-related scalp tissue or hair-supporting vasculature. In a second embodiment, an optical, radio-frequency or microwave treatment energy-delivery apparatus is provided for at least one of thermally, ablatively or photo-optically treating at least a first portion of at least one hair, hair-shaft, hair root-structure, hair root-region, hair-follicle, hair-related scalp tissue or hair-supporting vasculature.

A hair removing device with a lotion applicator includes a housing, a hair removing head mounted to the housing and adapted to be held against a user's skin for hair depilation or hair epilation, an applicator which dispenses a lotion on the user's skin, a tank holding the lotion and a lotion supply mechanism for supplying the lotion from the tank to the applicator. The lotion supply mechanism includes a regulating device, which regulates an amount of the lotion being dispensed from the applicator. The lotion supply mechanism includes a powered pump for expelling the lotion from the tank to the applicator. The regulating device includes a handle for varying pump capacity of the powered pump. The applicator is incorporated into a head frame forming a part of the hair removing head with the head frame being detachable from the housing.

A hair-detection device with a source of electromagnetic radiation, an imaging sensor and a radiation selection means. The selection means improves a ratio between a part of emitted radiation that is coupled into a skin which reaches the sensor and thus provides an image of the skin, and the part that reaches the sensor via other ways, such as reflection at the skin surface. The radiation may have a wavelength between about 700 nm and 1100 nm. The radiation selection means may for example include a separate wall around at least one of the source and the sensor, such as crossed polarizers. By means of this selection, the contrast of the image may be improved, and may be made less dependent on skin color and skin artifacts, thus enabling easier detection of for example, white hairs on a fair skin.

A novel device and method for use in providing multiple cosmetic treatments is disclosed, where a sanding tool is provided with sanding surfaces for use in imparting exfoliation, depilation, and cellulite treatments on the skin of a person. Select sanding surfaces are use for each of the exfoliation, depilation and cellulite treatments with the sanding action being generated by the orbital sanding effects of a palm sander. Specifically, a 100 grit (CAMI) sanding paper is used for exfoliation, a 180 grit (AMI) sanding paper is used for depilation, and the sander pad of the sanding tool of the present invention is used directly on the skin for cellulite reduction.

Photocosmetic device (100) for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissues via optical systems (520 for example) designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has a variety of cooling systems including phase change cooling solids and liquids to cool treated skin and the radiation sources (510 for example). Contact sensors (1712) and motion sensor (1820) may be used to enhance treatment. The device may be modular to facilitate manufacture and replacement of parts.

An optical hair removing device includes a light emitting unit for emitting a light and an irradiation unit for irradiating the light emitted from the light emitting unit to body hairs on a skin. Further, the optical hair removing device includes a control unit for controlling the light emission unit. The irradiation unit has a movement detection unit for detecting a movement of the irradiation unit on a skin and a contact detection unit for detecting a contact between the irradiation unit and the skin.

Apparatus for abrading hair and exfoliating skin. An electric motor drive produces rotation at three transmission outputs. A universal joint connects each motion transmission output to a disk for supporting annular abrasive pads. The abrasive disks and pads are free to swivel to maximize surface contact between the abrasive pad and skin during use.

In scanned optical systems such as confocal laser microscopes wherein a beam of light is focused to a spot in a specimen to excite a fluorescent species or other excitable species in the spot, the effective size of the excitation is made smaller than the size of the spot by providing a beam of light of wavelength adapted to quench the excitation of the excitable species, shaping this second beam into a pattern with a central intensity minimum, and overlapping this central minimum with the central intensity maximum of the focused spot, so that within the spot the intensity of quenching light increases with distance from the center of the spot, thereby preferentially quenching excitation in the peripheral parts of the spot, and thereby reducing the effective size of the excitation and thus improving the resolution of the system. In the preferred et of the present invention, the central minimum of quenching light is narrowed further by creating the pattern of quenching radiation in the specimen by imaging onto the focal plane a plurality of pairs of sources of quenching light, arrayed at the vertices of a regular, even-sided polygon, the center of which is imaged in the specimen the central maximum of exciting radiation, and such that the two members of each pair are on opposite vertices of the polygon and emit light mutually coherent and out-of-phase, and the light emitted by different pairs is incoherent with respect to each other.