Hybrid epilator

Abstract

To provide an epilator capable of efficient epilation.SOLUTION: A hybrid epilator 10 includes: a photoepilation part 14 having an irradiation part 20 irradiating the hair in an area to be epilated with light; and an electric epilation part 12 for flowing current in an epilation needle 42 inserted in a hair follicle. Also, when irradiation by the irradiation part 20 is repeated, and output value of the irradiation part 20 reaches prescribed threshold or below, the output value of the irradiation part 20 is set to increase.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid epilator. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the number of people wanting to remove unwanted hair has been increasing. There are three types of hair removal devices: electric hair removal (needle hair removal), photoepilation (light hair removal), and laser hair removal.

[0003] As an example of technology related to the present invention, Patent Document 1 describes an optical hair removal device that removes hair by irradiating the skin surface with pulsed light emitted from a hair removal light source located inside the main body, and is characterized by comprising: a cooling means for cooling a light-transmitting plate installed in an exit window through which the pulsed light is emitted; a heat sink that is attached in contact with the cooling means and dissipates heat from the cooling means; an electric board on which electric elements including a drive circuit for the hair removal light source are mounted; and an air blowing means that generates an air current to simultaneously cool the heat sink and the electric board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-34294 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Electrolysis has the advantage of being able to remove not only black hair but also gray hair, but it is very painful and takes time as it treats each pore one by one. Light hair removal is less painful and can treat a specific area in a short time, but is said to be less effective than electrolysis. Laser hair removal is more painful than light hair removal but is more effective. However, laser hair removal can only be performed at a medical institution. Each hair removal method has its advantages and disadvantages.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a hair removal device that can remove hair more efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The hybrid hair removal device of the present invention is characterized by comprising an optical hair removal unit having an irradiation unit that irradiates light onto hair in the area to be removed, and an electric hair removal unit that passes an electric current through a hair removal needle inserted into a hair follicle.

[0008] In the hybrid hair removal device according to the present invention, it is preferable to set the output value of the irradiation unit to increase when the number of irradiations by the irradiation unit increases and the output value of the irradiation unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

[0009] In addition, the hybrid hair removal device according to the present invention preferably further comprises a storage unit that stores the hair removal target area, the output value of the irradiation unit, and the number of irradiations of the irradiation unit for each client.

[0010] The hair removal method using the hybrid hair removal device of the present invention is a hair removal method using a hybrid hair removal device equipped with an optical hair removal unit having an irradiation unit that irradiates light onto hair in the area to be removed, and an electric hair removal unit that passes an electric current through a hair removal needle inserted into a hair follicle, and is characterized by comprising: a first step in which the optical hair removal unit irradiates light onto hair in the area to be removed as desired by the client; and a second step in which, after the first step, the hair removal needle of the electric hair removal unit is inserted into the hair follicle of hair remaining in the area to be removed and an electric current is passed through the hair removal needle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, hair removal can be performed more efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a hybrid hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of irradiations by the light hair removal unit and the output value in the hybrid hair removal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a medical record of a hybrid hair removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, similar elements in all drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, in the description below, previously described reference numerals will be used as necessary.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hybrid hair removal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of irradiations and the output value of the light hair removal unit 14 in the hybrid hair removal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 2(a) is a table showing the relationship between the number of irradiations and output value by the optical hair removal unit 14 in the hybrid hair removal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2(b) is a line graph showing the relationship between the number of irradiations and output value by the optical hair removal unit 14 in the hybrid hair removal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the medical record of the hybrid hair removal device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The hybrid epilator 10 includes an electrical epilator unit 12, a photoepilator unit 14, a controller 18, and a memory unit 19. The hybrid epilator 10 combines the advantages of both photoepilation and electrical epilation to provide efficient hair removal.

[0017] The electric hair removal unit 12 has a hair removal needle unit 43 having a hair removal needle 42, and a high-frequency generator 40, and has the function of passing an electric current through the hair removal needle 42 inserted into a hair follicle.

[0018] When a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the control unit 18 outputs a high-frequency output control signal to the electric hair removal unit 12. Based on this control signal, a high-frequency output current is applied from the high-frequency generator 40 to the hair removal needle 42 inserted into the hair follicle for a predetermined application time and timing. This causes a weak current to flow inside the hair follicle, stopping the hair growth function.

[0019] The power cable 13 houses a signal line for transmitting various signals between the device main body 11 and the epilation needle unit 43 and a power line for supplying power to the epilation needle 42. One end of the power cable 13 is connected to the connector unit, and the other end is connected to the epilation needle unit 43.

[0020] The photo-epilation unit 14 includes an irradiation unit 20 that irradiates light onto hair in the area to be removed, and a refrigerant cooling unit 30 that cools the heat generated by the light emitted from the xenon tube 22 of the irradiation unit 20.

[0021] The irradiation unit 20 is a part for emitting pulsed light to the hair removal target area. The irradiation unit 20 includes a xenon tube 22, an irradiation window 24, an irradiation button 26, an irradiation counter 28, and an irradiation heat absorption unit 32.

[0022] The xenon tube 22 functions as a light source of pulsed light. When a high voltage is instantaneously applied to the xenon tube 22, light that reacts with the melanin pigment in the hair roots and generates heat is generated as pulsed light.

[0023] The generated pulsed light can be emitted with a width of, for example, 20 ms to 1500 ms. Furthermore, even when the xenon tube 22 is not lit, a weak current is passed through it to cause simmer light emission, so that light can be emitted at high speed during irradiation.

[0024] The irradiation window 24 is a window for guiding the pulsed light generated by the xenon tube 22 to the outside of the main body, and is arranged on the bottom surface of the irradiation unit 20 facing the area to be depilated. Here, the irradiation window 24 will be described as being composed of a light guide tube made of sapphire.

[0025] The irradiation unit 20 is also provided with an irradiation button 26 and an irradiation counter 28. The irradiation button 26 is a button that causes the irradiation unit 20 to emit pulsed light when pressed by the user at any timing.

[0026] The irradiation counter 28 is a section that displays the number of times that pulsed light has been emitted. The irradiation counter 28 displays the cumulative number of times that irradiation has been performed based on the counter value stored in a predetermined storage area of ​​the control unit 18 or the storage unit 19.

[0027] Furthermore, a current-carrying cable 15 for connecting to the device main body 11 is extended from the irradiation unit 20 .

[0028] The current-carrying cable 15 houses signal lines for exchanging various signals between the device main body 11 and the irradiation unit 20, power lines for supplying power to the xenon tube 22, and cooling water pipes for circulating cooling water between the device main body 11 and the irradiation unit 20. One end of the current-carrying cable 15 is connected to the connector unit, and the other end is connected to the irradiation unit 20 through the grip unit.

[0029] The refrigerant cooling unit 30 is a device for cooling heat generated by light emission from the xenon tube 22 of the irradiation unit 20, and is built into the device main body 11. The refrigerant cooling unit 30 is configured by connecting the refrigerant heat absorption unit 32 built into the irradiation unit 20 via a cooling water pipe built into the current-carrying cable 15.

[0030] The refrigerant cooling section 30 includes a Peltier unit 36, a cooling water tank 38 for replenishing and storing cooling water as the refrigerant, and a water pump 40.

[0031] The Peltier unit 36 ​​is a water-cooled cooling device that uses a Peltier element, which is a thermoelectric element that utilizes the Peltier effect, and cools water supplied from a cooling water tank 38. The cooled water is sent out by a water pump 40 via the cooling water connector of the connector portion.

[0032] A cooling water pipe is connected to the cooling water connector, and the delivered cooling water passes through an outgoing cooling water pipe housed in the current-carrying cable 15 , enters the irradiation unit 20 , and reaches the refrigerant heat absorption unit 32 .

[0033] The refrigerant heat absorption section 32 includes an irradiation window cooling pipe arranged to remove heat from the irradiation window 24, a xenon tube cooling pipe arranged to remove heat from the xenon tube 22, and a connecting pipe for supplying cooling water discharged from the irradiation window cooling pipe to the xenon tube cooling pipe.

[0034] The cooling water supplied to the refrigerant heat absorption section 32 cools the emission window 24 in the emission window cooling pipe, is introduced into the xenon tube cooling pipe through the connecting pipe, cools the xenon tube 22, and is discharged from the refrigerant heat absorption section 32.

[0035] The cooling water that has passed through the refrigerant heat absorption unit 32 enters the device body 11 through a return cooling water pipe housed in the current-carrying cable 15, and is circulated by reaching the Peltier unit 36 ​​in the refrigerant cooling unit 30, where it is cooled again. In this way, the refrigerant cooling unit 30 cools the xenon tube 22 and the irradiation window 24 provided in the irradiation unit 20.

[0036] The control unit 18 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and is capable of executing programs necessary for the operation of the hybrid epilator 10.

[0037] The control unit 18 has a function of setting the output value of the irradiation unit 20 to increase when the number of irradiations (number of shots) by the irradiation unit 20 increases and the output value of the irradiation unit 20 falls below a predetermined threshold. For example, the relationship between the number of irradiations (number of shots) and output (J) of the irradiation unit 20 is shown, and the "Setting value" on the right side displays the setting by the control unit 18, including the frequency (Hz), irradiation (seconds), and interval (seconds).

[0038] In this way, the number of shots is 3,300,000, and the average output (J) is 39.6 J. Since the output has decreased, the control unit 18 extends the irradiation time from 10 seconds to 15 seconds and also extends the interval from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. As a result, the average output (J) at 340,000 shots increases to 44.0 J.

[0039] The control unit 18 also has a function of storing in the storage unit 19 the hair removal target area, the output value of the irradiation unit 20, and the number of irradiations of the irradiation unit 20 for each client.

[0040] The memory unit 19 is a storage device that stores the hair removal target area, the output value of the irradiation unit 20, the number of irradiations by the irradiation unit 20, and the like.

[0041] The operation unit 50 is a terminal for operating the hybrid epilator 10. The operation unit 50 can communicate with the device main body 11 via Wifi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like using a smartphone, tablet terminal, or the like.

[0042] The operation unit 50 can be, for example, a smartphone or tablet terminal owned by the owner of a hair removal salon or the like that uses the hybrid hair removal device 10 as a commercial device.

[0043] Application software for operating the hybrid hair removal device 10 is installed in the operation unit 50, and when the application software is started, information on the client, such as the hair removal salon, can be input.

[0044] Information input through the operation unit 50 can include, for example, the name of the hair removal salon, the client's name, gender, age, treatment date, treatment area and treatment level, treatment time (treatment start time, treatment end time), skin color of the treatment area, and number of treatment shots within the time, as shown in Figure 3.

[0045] Here, the area to be depilated, the output value of the irradiation unit 20, the number of irradiations by the irradiation unit 20, etc. may be automatically input based on information from the irradiation unit 20 and the control unit 18. The information stored in this way for each client can be used as a medical record.

[0046] Next, we will explain the operation of the hybrid epilator 10 configured as described above. In a hair removal salon that is newly introducing the hybrid epilator 10, application software is installed on a smartphone or tablet device owned by the salon, enabling communication between the operation unit 50, which is composed of a smartphone or tablet device, and the device main body 11 of the hybrid epilator 10.

[0047] When a client visits the salon, the salon staff uses the operation unit 50 to input the client's name, sex, age, treatment date, treatment area, etc.

[0048] First, the salon staff uses the photo-epilation unit 14 to irradiate light onto the hair in the area desired by the client (S2). The salon staff operates the irradiation unit 20 to position the irradiation window 24 facing the area to be removed by the client, and then presses the irradiation button 26 to perform hair removal.

[0049] After step S2, the hair removal needle 42 of the electric hair removal unit 12 is inserted into the hair follicle of the hair remaining in the area to be removed, and an electric current is passed through the hair removal needle 42 (S4). The salon staff operates the hair removal needle unit 43 to insert the hair removal needle 42 into the hair follicle and turns on the activation switch, causing a high-frequency electric current to pass through the hair removal needle 42 and removing the hair.

[0050] With the hybrid epilator 10, the client's desired area is first depilated using the light epilation unit 14, which reduces pain and allows for treatment of a specified area, resulting in a short treatment time. However, the light epilation unit 14 cannot remove hair, such as gray hair, so some hair may remain after treatment.

[0051] After achieving this state, the hybrid epilator 10 inserts the epilation needle 42 of the electric epilation unit 12 into the hair follicle and applies an electric current to the epilation needle 42 to remove hair. The electric epilation unit 12 can treat each hair follicle one by one, even removing gray hair.

[0052] Conventionally, electric hair removal is highly effective but is painful and takes a long time to complete, while photoepilation is less painful and can be completed in a short time, but has the drawback of being less effective than electric hair removal. However, the hybrid hair removal device 10 combines the two types of hair removal and can perform hair removal using an efficient procedure, thereby achieving the remarkable effect of reducing pain and improving hair removal effectiveness in a short time.

[0053] Furthermore, with the hybrid hair removal device 10, treatment information for each client is recorded as a chart in the memory unit 19 and can be displayed on the operation unit 50, etc., as needed, allowing salon staff to provide appropriate advice to clients.

[0054] Furthermore, with the hybrid hair removal device 10, the number of shots of the light hair removal unit 12 increases, and if the output drops, the irradiation time and intervals are reset to increase the output, which has the advantage of maintaining an efficient hair removal effect for a long period of time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 Hybrid hair removal device, 11 Device body, 12 Electric hair removal unit, 13 Power cable, 14 Light hair removal unit, 15 Power cable, 18 Control unit, 19 Memory unit, 20 Irradiation unit, 22 Xenon tube, 24 Irradiation window, 26 Irradiation button, 28 Irradiation counter, 30 Refrigerant cooling unit, 32 Refrigerant heat absorption unit, 36 Peltier unit, 38 Cooling water tank, 40 Water pump, 40 High frequency generator, 42 Hair removal needle, 43 Hair removal needle unit, 50 Operation unit.

Claims

1. a light hair removal unit having an irradiation unit that irradiates light onto hair in the hair removal target area; an electric hair removal unit that applies an electric current to a hair removal needle inserted into a hair follicle; A hybrid hair removal device comprising:

2. The hybrid epilator according to claim 1, A hybrid hair removal device characterized in that the output value of the irradiation unit is set to increase when the number of irradiations by the irradiation unit increases and the output value of the irradiation unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

3. The hybrid epilator according to claim 1, A hybrid hair removal device characterized by comprising a memory unit that stores the hair removal target area, the output value of the irradiation unit, and the number of irradiations of the irradiation unit for each client.

4. a light hair removal unit having an irradiation unit that irradiates light onto hair in the hair removal target area; an electric hair removal unit that applies an electric current to a hair removal needle inserted into a hair follicle; A hair removal method using a hybrid hair removal device comprising: A first step of irradiating light onto hair in the hair removal target area desired by the client using the light hair removal unit; a second step of inserting the hair removal needle of the electric hair removal unit into a hair follicle of hair remaining in the hair removal target area after the first step and passing an electric current through the hair removal needle; A hair removal method using a hybrid hair removal device, comprising:

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