IMPROVED LASER COMB DESIGN/FUNCTION

Abstract: A hand-held, comb-like device emitting laser beams from laser diodes set in a row centered between two parallel rows of teeth for parting hair, enabling more economical product manufacturing as well as a more effective way of irradiating hair-growing skin with laser energy than that afforded by conventional hand-held laser devices where the laser energy is conveyed via a system of fiber optics into and through tubes which must also act as teeth for parting hair.

Description: IMPROVED LASER COMB DESIGN/FUNCTION Λ hand-held, comb-like device emitting laser beams from laser diodes set in a row centered between two parallel rows of teeth for parting hair, enabling more economical product manufacturing as well as a more effective way of irradiating hair-growing skin with laser energy than that afforded by conventional hand-held laser devices where the laser energy , is conveyed via a system of fiber optics into and through tubes which must also act as teeth for parting hair. Low-power laser is in widespread use in skin care, scar reduction, wound healing and the like, and has also been found to assist the hair's natural onyoing replacement and improve its condition However, when there is existing hair growth on the skin being treated (for whatever purpose), laser beams by themselves do not satisfactorily penetrate the hair and it is necessary to find means to enable the laser beam or beams to be better brought into contact with the hair-growing skin In this invention laser energy reaches the hair-growing skin by way of a row of laser beams being preceded by a row of teeth that part the hair to expose the skin in advance of said row of laser beams. Said laser irradiation is thus direct in its action instead of as is done via the unnecessarily complex conventional system which uses tubes, each one containing a fiber optic to both carry the laser light and part the hair, requiring said tubes to be broader than the teeth of this invention which are solid and can be finer and more sharply pointed and plow-like in shape and function, affording more effective hair parting than that of aforesaid conventional system. This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show internal details which are encased in the device. (See fig.1 , f i g. 1a , -fig.1b, 1c .) In this device solid state diode lasers are used. The diodes usually come fiom the manufacturer within complete modules which are small cylindrical units each approximately 20mm long by 6mm in diameter in which is encased the lasing medium which creates the laser beam and the electronics that control and process the electric current that passes through the lasing medium. The lasing medium chosen for use in the preferred form of this invention produces a visible red beam of between 632 to 670 nanometers and has a typical divergence of 33 degrees in the perpendicular plane and 7 degrees in the parallel plane, said angles varying slightly according to different manufacturers' diode module construction. A lens is positioned in front of each diode at or near the point of exit of the laser beam to columnate said laser beam so as to control its divergence from its point of exit. Another feature of this invention is its two rows of teeth which are provided in this device so that the aforesaid function of parting the hair is conveniently effected whether the device is moved in either a forward or backward direction across the skin. This invention has been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For example, the above description of the invention refers to a preferred laser diode frequency but other frequencies such as the infrared wavelength may be used. Also, a single laser diode may be used and divided into separate beam parts deflected in a configuration similar to that emitted from a row of separate diodes as described in the foregoing. Also, in addition to the comb-like configuration described in the foregoing (where the row of lasers and combs are parallel to the body of the device) other configurations such as a rake-like one (where the row of lasers and teeth are at right-angles to the body of the device) or a brush-like one are possible. Modification of the device from mains power to battery power usage is also possible.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1 A laser comb of improved design/function for irradiating hair- growing skin, comprising • A radiation source, and a power source for said radiation source, • A hand-held case enclosing a row of lasers emitting a row of laser beams or a single laser the beam of which is divided into a number of emitted beams, • Said row of laser beams being preceded by teeth that part the hair in advance of said row of laser beams, • Two rows of teeth - one on each side of the row of said laser beams enabling parting of the hair with said laser comb whether it is moved in either a forward or backward direction across the skin

Inventors: PEARL HENRY, PEARL, HENRY
Applicants: PEARL HENRY, PEARL, HENRY
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61N5
IPC codes: A45D24, A61B18, A61N5