Hair Removal Apparatus with Pulsed Near-Infrared Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair removal devices using heat often cause skin damage due to excessive heat application, and methods like selective photothermolysis are not optimally integrated into these devices for effective hair reduction.
Innovation Solution
A hair removal and re-growth suppression apparatus that combines a cutting element with an irradiating element, using near-infrared radiation to target hair follicles without damaging the outer skin layers, with a control circuitry and motion sensor to regulate the radiation and heating based on relative motion detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heat is applied to cut hair, then hair removal effectiveness is improved, but skin damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into pulsed intervals rather than continuous application. The heater element applies heat in discrete pulses with cooling intervals between them, allowing the skin to recover and preventing cumulative thermal damage while maintaining effective hair removal over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element operates periodically with on-off cycles. The control system activates the heater for specific durations followed by cooling periods, creating a rhythmic heating pattern that achieves hair removal effectiveness while preventing excessive heat buildup that would damage skin tissue.
2Reliability
If continuous heat is applied to hair follicles, then hair growth suppression is improved, but skin damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic heating cycles where the heater is activated for controlled durations followed by cooling intervals. This rhythmic application allows cumulative thermal effect on hair follicles for growth suppression while providing skin recovery time to prevent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors heating duration and intensity, adjusting the heating cycles based on accumulated exposure time. This feedback mechanism ensures that sufficient heat is delivered to suppress hair growth while preventing excessive cumulative heating that would damage skin tissue.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If EMR irradiation is used to target hair follicles, then selective photothermolysis is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the EMR irradiation system with the existing heated element device. The irradiating element is integrated into the same housing and operational control structure as the heater, allowing dual functionality (thermal and electromagnetic radiation) to be achieved without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional heated hair cutting, EMR-based selective photothermolysis for hair follicle targeting, and combined mode operation. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address multiple hair removal mechanisms without requiring separate dedicated devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively reduces hair growth by selectively targeting hair follicles with controlled heat and radiation, minimizing skin damage and achieving long-term hair growth suppression while ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiating element arranged to irradiate a skin portion with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the spectrum between 500-5000 nanometers, with less than 10% of the energy of the electromagnetic radiation being within a spectrum between 500-1000 nanometers
Implementation Method 2
According to the theory of selective photothermolysis, irradiating the skin with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of an appropriate wavelength and pulse time results in permanent thermal damage of targeted structures while leaving surrounding tissues intact
Implementation Method 3
a cutting element arranged to cut hair when a defined opening of the extender assembly is juxtaposed with a skin portion having a hair extending outward there from
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D~1E
Figure 1F~1G
AI summary
A hair removal and re-growth suppression apparatus (10) constituted of: a control circuitry (70); a removal and suppression head (20); an extender assembly (23) coupled to the head (20) and extending away from a wall of the head (20) towards an end thereof, the extender assembly defining an opening (17) at an end thereof removed from the wall of the head (20); an irradiating element (40) secured to the head (20) responsive to the control circuitry (70); a reflector (90) disposed on the head (20) between the irradiating element (40) and the head (20); and a cutting element (110) secured to the head (20) and arranged to cut hair when the opening (17) is juxtaposed with a skin portion (140) having a hair (150) extending outward there from, wherein the reflector (90) is arranged to substantially reflect the out¬ put electromagnetic radiation toward the opening (17). Optionally, the irradiating element (40) is regularly translated between a first and a second position to heat and cut the hair without damaging the skin.