Abstract:
A light emitting skin treatment device for hands is disclosed. Generally, a wholesaler supplies an LED skin treatment device to a retailer. To reduce the duration of treatments, a partially enclosed system large enough for both hands of a typical user includes a lower panel of LEDs and an upper panel of LEDs. In this manner, both sides of both hands of a user may be treated in one session.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/785,057, filed Mar. 23, 2006 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Treating Hands with Light Emitting Diodes” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates in general to skin treatment devices, and, in particular, to a light emitting skin treatment device for hands.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     As people age, they tend to become more and more concerned with the appearance of their skin. As a result, these people try various remedies from lotions to surgery. Another method of reducing the appearance of aging is light treatments. Typically, a light based skin treatment device uses a plurality of lasers and/or light emitting diodes (LEDs) at specific frequencies. Such a skin treatment device typically delivers a carefully timed sequence of light frequencies to a user&#39;s skin.  
         [0004]     However, existing skin treatment devices have certain drawbacks. Some skin treatment devices only include a few small light sources. For example, a small cluster of LEDs may be arranged in a two inch circle at the end of a treatment wand. As a result, the device must be moved from one skin location to another skin location to cover a significant area of skin. This greatly extends the overall treatment time and is a deterrent to many users. For example, if a user is attempting to treat all of the skin on both sides of both of his/her hands with a single small device, up to ten sessions of ten minutes each (e.g., 100 minutes) may be required for one application. [ 0005 ] Other skin treatment devices include a large panel of light sources capable of covering a large area of skin. However, these skin treatment devices are still not capable of treating two different sides of an area simultaneously (e.g., both sides of a hand). In addition, these skin treatment devices are relatively expensive. As a result, retailers (e.g., nail saloons and spas) are often not willing to take on the financial risk of purchasing one of these skin treatment devices. This risk aversion is especially acute in retailers who are new to light based skin treatment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The system disclosed herein solves these problems. To reduce the duration of treatments, a partially enclosed system large enough for both hands of a typical user includes a lower panel of LEDs and an upper panel of LEDs. In this manner, both sides of both hands of a user may be treated in one session (e.g., ten minutes).  
         [0006]     To reduce the financial risk to the retailer, the system is provided to retailers on pay-per-use basis (e.g., $1 per minute). If the retailer is able to sell a session (e.g., at $2 per minute), a profit is essentially guaranteed. If the retailer is not able to sell a significant number of sessions, the only down side is some sales effort and some retail space.  
         [0007]     To account for the pay-per-use method, the system is regulated by a digital key. For example, a smart card or debit card may be attached to the treatment device via a card reader. When the value of the digital key drops below a certain threshold (e.g., only ten treatment sessions remaining), an alert is generated by the treatment device. When the value of the digital key is reduced to zero, the treatment device does not operate until the digital key is replenished or replaced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example LED skin treatment device for hands.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a symbolic representation of an example skin treatment device with a lower illumination surface and an upper illumination surface.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the electrical systems of an example skin treatment device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an example network environment suitable for replenishing payment cards.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the electrical systems of an example computing device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an example process for paying for a skin treatment device on a per-use basis.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     An illustration of an example LED skin treatment device  100  for hands is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the LED skin treatment device  100  is a table top unit that includes a lower illumination surface  102  and an upper illumination surface  104 . A symbolic representation of an example skin treatment device  100  with a lower illumination surface  102  and an upper illumination surface  104  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the treatment device  100  only includes a lower illumination surface  102  or an upper illumination surface  104 . A user preferably places his/her left hand  106  and his/her right hand  108  into the treatment device  100  simultaneously via an aperture in the front of the treatment device  100  as shown. However, in some embodiments, the user may place one hand at a time into the treatment device  100 . A technician or the user then presses a start button  110  to begin a preprogrammed illumination session.  
         [0015]     Each illumination session applies specific frequencies of visible and/or non-visible light to the user&#39;s skin. For example, the treatment device  100  may include a combination of visible red, visible amber, and non-visible infrared LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment device  100  includes six high intensity red emitters with diffusion optics. The six high intensity red emitters preferably have a primary frequency of 625 nanometers and a power level of 160 milliwatts. The preferred treatment device  100  also includes two high intensity amber emitters with diffusion optics. The two high intensity amber emitters preferably have a primary frequency of 590 nanometers and a power level of 80 milliwatts. The preferred treatment device  100  also includes 64 infrared LEDs, wherein each infrared LED has a primary frequency of 940 nanometers and a power level of 18 milliwatts. In such an embodiment, the effective photo power at 30 millimeters above the unit base is 2 mW/cm 2 .  
         [0016]     In addition, some or all of the light sources (e.g. LEDs) may be blinked (i.e., photo-pulsated) in a specific pattern and or frequency. For example, the light sources may be modulated at a frequency of 73 Hertz and 584 Hertz in a 80%/20% weighted application mix. The light sources shine onto the user&#39;s skin. However, the light sources preferably do not contact the user&#39;s skin.  
         [0017]     When the illumination session begins, four status LEDs  112  light to indicate that 75%-100% of the session time remains. For example, four illuminated status LEDs  112  may indicate that approximately 7.5-10 minutes remain in the session. When the remaining session time falls below the 75% point (e.g., &lt;7.5 minutes remaining), one of the four status LEDs  112  preferably turns off to indicate that 50%-75% of the session time remains. When the remaining session time falls below the 50% point (e.g., &lt;5 minutes remaining), another one of the four status LEDs  112  preferably turns off (i.e., two LEDs on and two LEDs off) to indicate that 25%-50% of the session time remains. When the remaining session time falls below the 25% point (e.g., &lt;2.5 minutes remaining), yet another one of the four status LEDs  112  preferably turns off (i.e., one LED on and three LEDs off) to indicate that 0%-25% of the session time remains. When the session ends, the last of the four status LEDs  112  preferably turns off to indicate that the session is complete. In addition, a transducer or other audio device may beep to indicate one or more of these transitions.  
         [0018]     A block diagram of an example skin treatment device  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The example treatment device  100  includes a main unit  302  which preferably includes one or more processors  304  electrically coupled by an address/data bus  306  to one or more memory devices  308 , other circuitry  310 , and one or more interface circuits  312 . The processor  304  may be any suitable processor or microcontroller. The memory  308  preferably includes volatile memory and non-volatile memory. Preferably, the memory  308  stores a software program that interacts with the other devices in the treatment device  100  as described below. This program may be executed by the processor  304  in any suitable manner.  
         [0019]     The interface circuit  312  may be implemented using any suitable interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface and/or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. One or more input devices  314 , such as the start button  110 , may be connected to the interface circuit  312  for starting the treatment device  100  and/or entering data and commands into the main unit  302 . For example, the input device  314  may include a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, and/or any other suitable input device.  
         [0020]     In addition, a card reader  316  may be connected to the interface circuit  312 . The card reader  316  may be a smart card reader, a debit card reader, a thumb drive reader, and/or any other suitable memory reading device. The card reader  316  preferably accepts a card  318  or other memory device, such as a smart card, a debit card, and/or a thumb drive. In an embodiment, the card  318  is loaded with a value, and the treatment device  100  does not operate unless a predetermined value amount is detected on the card  318  by the card reader  316 . Preferably, the value on the card  318  is reduced by the processor  304  via the card reader  316  each time the treatment device  100  is used. For example, a card  318  may initially store a value indicative one hundred ten minute illumination sessions. After the treatment device  100  is used once, the value on the card is reduced to indicate ninety nine remaining sessions.  
         [0021]     When the value on the card  318  is reduced to a predetermined level, the treatment device  100  may indicate that the card level is low. For example, one or more displays, printers, speakers, alerts and/or other output devices  320  may be connected to the main unit  302  via the interface circuit  312 , and when the card  318  is indicative of less than ten remaining sessions, the output device  320  may beep, the status LEDs  112  may flash, and/or other outputs may be generated. If a display is included, the display  216  may be a cathode ray tube (CRTs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), a plasma device, or any other type of display. The display preferably generates visual displays of data generated during operation of the treatment device  100 . For example, a display may be used to display a numerical value indicative of the time remaining in a session and/or the number of sessions (or minutes) remaining on a card  318 . In addition, visual displays and/or other outputs may be used to prompt for human input, indicate other run time values, calculated values, data, etc. When the value stored by a card  318  is low or reduced to zero, the card  318  may be replenished or replaced as described in detail below.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, a card reader  316  with a valid card  318  is not required until a card reader  316  is attached. In this manner, the treatment device  100  may be sold outright as a stand alone unit or quickly modified to be a pay-per use unit. In addition, by placing a special card in the card reader  316 , a treatment device  100  that is in the pay-per-use mode may be reverted to stand alone operation.  
         [0023]     During a session, a plurality of treatment LEDs  322  illuminate in a preprogrammed manner. For example, the treatment device  100  may include a combination of visible red, visible amber, and non-visible infrared LEDs that may be modulated at a frequency of 73 Hertz and 584 Hertz in a 80%/20% weighted application mix. In addition, the treatment device may include a demonstration mode that continuously lights the treatment LEDs  322  at a low power level while the status LEDs  112  blink in a unique pattern.  
         [0024]     One or more storage devices  324  may also be connected to the main unit  302  via the interface circuit  312 . For example, a hard drive, CD drive, DVD drive, a flash device, and/or other storage devices may be connected to the main unit  302 . The storage devices  318  may store any suitable type of data. The treatment device  100  may also exchange data with other devices  328  via a wireless transceiver and/or a connection to a network  326 . The network connection may be any suitable type of network connection, such as an Ethernet connection, digital subscriber line (DSL), telephone line, coaxial cable, etc. The network  326  may be the Internet and/or some other data network, including, but not limited to, any suitable wide area network or local area network. It will be appreciated that any of the devices described in the examples herein may be directly connected to each other instead of over a network. In addition, any combination of devices described in the examples herein may be embodied in a single device.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, cards  318  may be replenished via a connection to a network. A block diagram of an example network environment suitable for replenishing payment cards  318  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this example, each treatment device  100  is connected to the network  324  via a local computer  406  or other suitable communication device at a retail location  402 . Alternatively, the treatment device  100  may be connected directly to the network  324  via one or more interface circuits  326  as shown in  FIG. 3 . After one or more customers  410  use the treatment device  100 , and the card  318  is partially or completely depleted of value, a technician  408  initiates a replenishing sequence programmed in the local computer  406  and/or the treatment device  100 .  
         [0026]     Once the replenishing sequence begins, the local computer  406  and/or the treatment device  100  preferably communicate with a central computer  412  at a wholesale location via the network  324 . The central computer  412  may query a local and/or remote database  414  to determine if the particular treatment device  100  is authorized for replenishment. For example, each treatment device  100  may include a unique identification code. The unique identification code may be stored in the treatment device&#39;s internal memory  308 , the card reader  316 , the card  318 , and/or the storage device  324 . The central computer  412  may query the database  414  to determine if the retailer  408  associated with the unique identification code has sufficient credit to proceed with a card replenishment. For example, a wholesaler  416  may enter this credit information, in association with the unique identification code, upon receiving payment from the retailer  408 . Alternatively, the wholesaler  416  may bill the retailer  408  after one or more card replenishments.  
         [0027]     A block diagram of the electrical systems of an example computing device  406 ,  412  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Although the electrical systems of different computing devices  406 ,  412  may be similar, the structural differences between these devices are well known. For example, a typical handheld device is small and lightweight compared to a typical personal computer.  
         [0028]     The example computing device  406 ,  412  includes a main unit  502  which preferably includes one or more processors  504  electrically coupled by an address/data bus  506  to one or more memory devices  508 , other computer circuitry  510 , and one or more interface circuits  512 . The processor  504  may be any suitable processor, such as a microprocessor from the INTEL PENTIUM® family of microprocessors. The memory  508  preferably includes volatile memory and non-volatile memory. Preferably, the memory  508  stores a software program that interacts with the other devices in the system as described below. This program may be executed by the processor  504  in any suitable manner.  
         [0029]     The interface circuit  512  may be implemented using any suitable interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface and/or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. One or more input devices  514  may be connected to the interface circuit  512  for entering data and commands into the main unit  502 . For example, the input device  514  may be a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, track pad, track ball, isopoint, and/or a voice recognition system.  
         [0030]     One or more displays, printers, speakers, and/or other output devices  516  may also be connected to the main unit  502  via the interface circuit  512 . The display  516  may be a cathode ray tube (CRTs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), a plasma device, or any other type of display. The display  516  generates visual displays of data generated during operation of the computing device  406 ,  412 . The visual displays may include prompts for human input, run time statistics, calculated values, data, etc.  
         [0031]     One or more storage devices  518  may also be connected to the main unit  502  via the interface circuit  512 . For example, a hard drive, CD drive, DVD drive, a flash device, and/or other storage devices may be connected to the main unit  502 . The storage devices  518  may store any suitable type of data. The computing device  406 ,  412  may also exchange data with other devices  326  via a wireless transceiver and/or a connection to the network  324 . The network connection may be any suitable type of network connection, such as an Ethernet connection, digital subscriber line (DSL), telephone line, coaxial cable, etc.  
         [0032]     Users of the system may be required to register with the central computer  412 . In such an instance, each user may choose a user identifier (e.g., e-mail address) and a password which may be required for the activation of services. The user identifier and password may be passed across the network  324  using encryption. Alternatively, the user identifier and/or password may be assigned by the central computer  412 .  
         [0033]     A flowchart of an example process  600  for paying for a skin treatment device on a per use basis is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, the process  600  is embodied in one or more software programs which is stored in one or more memories and executed by one or more processors. For example, the process  600  may be software running on the treatment device  100 , the card reader  316 , the local computer  406  and/or the central computer  412 . Although the process  600  is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it will be appreciated that many other methods of performing the acts associated with the process  600  may be used. For example, the order of many of the steps may be changed, and some of the steps described may be optional.  
         [0034]     Generally, a wholesaler supplies an LED skin treatment device  100  to a retailer  408 . The retailer  408  pays the wholesaler on a per use basis, which is regulated by a digital key, such as a smart card attached to the treatment device  100  via a smart card reader. When the value of the digital key drops below a threshold (e.g., only ten treatment sessions remaining), an alert is generated by the treatment device  100 . When the value of the digital key is reduced to zero, the treatment device  100  does not operate until the digital key is replenished or replaced.  
         [0035]     More specifically, a wholesaler offers an LED skin treatment device  100  to a retailer  408  on a pay-per-use basis (block  602 ). For example, the wholesaler may offer to supply one or more LED skin treatment devices  100  to a retailer  408  at no initial charge. Instead, the retailer  408  agrees to pay the wholesaler $1.00 for each minute of treatment device use. In this manner, there is very little risk taken by the retailer  408 . If the retailer  408  is able to sell skin treatments (e.g., at $2.00 per minute), the retailer  408  will likely do so at a profit. If the retailer  408  is not able to sell a significant number of skin treatments at some marked up rate, there is no finical lost to the retailer  408 .  
         [0036]     Preferably, the wholesaler supplies the treatment device  100  to the retailer  408  with a card reader  316  (block  604 ). The card reader  316  may be integrated into the treatment device  100 , or the card reader  316  may be removably attached to the treatment device  100 . For example, the card reader  316  may be removably attached to the treatment device  100  via a cable connection to a port on the back of the treatment device  100 . The card reader  316  may be any suitable memory reading device. For example, the card reader may be a smart card reader, a debit card reader, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) receiver, etc.  
         [0037]     Alternatively, or in addition, the wholesaler may supply the treatment device  100  to the retailer  408  with a network interface  312  (block  604 ). The network interface  312  may communicate directly with a network  326 , or the network interface  312  may communicate indirectly with the network  326  via a local computer  406 . For example, the treatment device  100  may be connected directly to the Internet and/or the telephone network via an internal or external modem. Alternatively, the treatment device  100  may be connected to the local computer  406  (e.g., via a serial cable), and the local computer  406  may be connect to the Internet in a well known manner.  
         [0038]     When the retailer  408  is supplied with a treatment device  100  configured to work in conjunction with a card reader  316 , the wholesaler  416  stores data on one or more cards  318  indicative of an amount of authorized treatment device use (block  606 ). For example, a code indicative of a number of purchased minutes and/or a number of purchased sessions may be stored on the card  318 . Preferably, the wholesaler  416  uses a specially configured treatment device  100  and/or a central computer  412  to store the authorization data on the card  318 . In one embodiment, the card  318  is a smart card including a microprocessor and/or a memory device that communicates with the treatment device  100  via the card reader  316 . In another embodiment, the card  318  is a debit card with a magnetic strip that is read and can be modified by the card reader  316 . In yet another embodiment, the card  318  is a flash memory device that can be read from and written to by the treatment device  100  via the card reader  316 . In still another embodiment, the card  318  is a printed card with a machine readable symbol such as a bar code. In such an instance, the card reader  316  is preferably an optical sensing device such as a bar code scanner.  
         [0039]     In any event, the wholesaler  416  supplies the card  318 , with the data indicative of an authorized usage amount, to the retailer  408  (block  608 ). For example, the wholesaler  416  may mail the card  318  to the retailer  408 , as part of initial treatment device shipment, periodically and/or in response to a request from the retailer  408 . Alternatively, the wholesale location  404  may communicate with the retail location  402  electronically via the network  324  in order to replenish a card  318  and/or update a memory associated with the treatment device  100 .  
         [0040]     When the retailer  408  inserts a card  318  with sufficient value into the card reader  316 , or the treatment device  100  receives authorization data from the network  324  (block  610 ), the treatment device  100  is enabled for use. The retailer  408  may then administer a treatment session on a customer (block  612 ). For example, a technician  408  may replace a clear plastic disposable liner in the bottom of the treatment device  100  and ask a customer to insert one or both of his/her hands into the treatment device  100 . The technician  408  may then press the start button  110  to initiate a preprogrammed session (e.g., ten minutes).  
         [0041]     If the treatment device  100  is authorized (block  614 ), the treatment session begins. As described above, status LEDs  112  then count down the time in the session in 25% increments. If the treatment device  100  is not authorized (block  614 ), the treatment session does not begin, and the treatment device  100  produces an error signal. For example, the treatment device  100  may produce a long beep via the alert transducer  320 , and/or the treatment device  100  may indicate the error via the status LEDs  112 .  
         [0042]     In response to an authorized session being administered, the treatment device  100  communicates with the card  318  and/or a memory device (e.g., memory  308  and/or storage device  324 ) to indicate the use of a session (block  616 ). For example, an encrypted code may be modified to decrease the remaining amount of authorized sessions or minutes.  
         [0043]     Each time the remaining authorization amount is decreased, the treatment device  100  checks if the remaining authorized time is below a threshold (block  618 ). For example, the treatment device  100  may check if the remaining authorized time is below ten sessions (e.g., one hundred minutes). If the remaining authorized time is not below the threshold (block  620 ), the retailer may administer additional sessions (block  612 ). If the remaining authorized time is below the threshold (block  620 ), the treatment device  100  indicates this condition (block  622 ). For example, the treatment device  100  may sound an alert and/or indicate the current low threshold condition on the status LEDs  112 .  
         [0044]     At any time, such as when the card value falls below the threshold or is completely depleted, the retailer may request additional minutes or sessions (block  624 ). The request from the retailer  408  may be manual (e.g., an e-mail message or a telephone call), or the request form the retailer  408  may be automated. For example, the treatment device  100  may connect to the network  324  to send a message to the central computer  412  when the treatment device&#39;s card value falls below a certain value.  
         [0045]     In response to a replenishment request from the retailer  408 , the wholesaler  416  may physically supply a new card  318  (e.g., physically via a mail system) or replenish an existing card  318  already at the retail location  402  (e.g., electronically via the network  324 ). Alternatively, the treatment device memory  308  may be updated by the central computer  412  automatically and/or in response to a request from the retailer  408 . In such an instance, no card  318  is needed.  
         [0046]     In summary, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a light emitting skin treatment device for hands has been provided. The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description of examples.