Patent EA-002834-B1 (EA)
Title: Apparatus and method for removing hair
Inventor: AZAR ZION
IPC: A61B18/20
Filed: 1998-12-14
Abstract: 1. Apparatus for removing hairs from a region of skin, the apparatus comprising: a housing having an opening therein, the housing forming a cavity enclosing a volume of air when the opening is placed in contact with the region of skin; a switchable heat source disposed within the housing that rapidly heats the volume of air to a temperature sufficient to destroy the hair by conduction of heat along the length of the hair to a follicle thereof; and a power source that controllably energizes the heat source. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the heat source forms a temperature gradient between the source and the skin. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the cavity is a sealed cavity. 4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the heat source also provides pulsed light that irradiate the region of skin, the light having an energy insufficient to destroy the hair. 5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the pulsed light is a broad band pulsed light. 6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 and including a filter disposed between the heat source and the opening which filters a preselected portion of the pulsed broad band light. 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the heat source is a flash lamp or an arc discharge lamp. 8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the flash lamp comprises at least one glass xenon lamp. 9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the flash lamp comprises at least one quartz xenon flash lamp. 10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the at least one flash lamp comprises at least two lamps in series electrical connection. 11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7-9 wherein the heat source is disposable. 12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the housing further comprises a sealing gasket attached to the housing along the circumference of the opening. 13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims and including a pump having a port communicating with the cavity. 14. Apparatus according to Claim 13 and including a controller that energizes the pump to reducing the air pressure within the air cavity to lift at least some of the hairs from the skin. 15. Apparatus according to Claim 14 wherein the controller causes energizing of the heat source after lifting at least some of the hair. 16. Apparatus according to any of Claims 13-15 and including a controller that energizes the pump to exchange air within the cavity at a predetermined time after the heat source is energized. 17. Apparatus according to Claim 16 and including at least one valve that allows exchange of air within the cavity when the pump is energized. 18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the at least one valve is at least one one-way valve which allows air to enter the cavity when the pump is activated to draw air from the cavity. 19. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the pump pumps air into the cavity at the predetermined time. 20. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims including a hair aligning member situated at the opening which raises at least some of the hairs from the skin. 21. Apparatus according to Claim 20 wherein the hair aligning member is a flat comb-like member or a flat perforated member. 22. Apparatus according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 wherein the hair aligning member is made of a material which substantially blocks light having a wavelength lower than about 400 manometers and substantially passes light having a wavelength higher than about 450 manometers. 23. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims and including a reflector that reflects light produced by the heat source toward the skin. 24. Apparatus according to Claim 23 wherein the reflector substantially absorbs light having a wavelength lower than 400 manometers. 25. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims and comprising an extension, the extension having a first end attachable to the opening and a second end placeable on the region of skin, the extension has an aperture therethrough defining an area for removing hairs. 26. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the housing is made of a heat insulating material. 27. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the power source is an electrical power source. 28. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, which apparatus fits into the palm of a hand. 29. Apparatus for removing hairs from a region of skin, the apparatus comprising: a housing having an opening therein, the housing forming a cavity enclosing a volume of air when the opening is placed in contact with the region of skin; a switchable energy source disposed within the housing which provides energy in an amount sufficient to destroy at least some of the hairs; a power source that controllably energizes the heat source; and a pump having a port communicating with the cavity. 30. Apparatus according to Claim 29 and including a controller that energizes the pump to reducing the air pressure within the air cavity to lift at least some of the hairs from the skin. 31. Apparatus according to Claim 30 wherein the controller causes energizing of the energy source after lifting at least some of the hair. 32. Apparatus according to any of Claims 29-31 and including a controller that energizes the pump to exchange air within the cavity at a predetermined time after the energy source is energized. 33. Apparatus according to Claim 32 and including at least one valve that allows exchange of air within the cavity when the pump is energized. 34. Apparatus according to Claim 33 wherein the at least one valve is at least one one-way valve which allows air to enter the cavity when the pump is activated to draw air from the cavity. 35. Apparatus according to Claim 32 or Claim 33 wherein the pump pumps air into the cavity at the predetermined time. 36. A method for removing a plurality of hairs from a region of skin, each of the hairs having a first part disposed in a hair follicle within the skin and a second part distal of the skin, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the region of skin with a pulse of light to elevate the temperature of the first part of at least some of the hairs and of hair follicles of the at least some of the hairs to a first temperature, the first temperature being lower than the coagulation temperature of blood; selectively heating a portion of the second part of at least one of the plurality of hairs; conducting heat from the second part to the hair follicle of the at least one of the plurality of hairs to thereby heat the hair follicle to a temperature high enough to cause the coagulation of the blood vessels supplying blood to the hair follicle. 37. A method according to Claim 36 wherein the pulse of light is a broad band pulse of light. 38. A method according to Claim 37 wherein the pulse of light is filtered to remove a preselected portion of the pulsed broad band light. 39. A method according to any of Claims 36-38 and including keeping the temperature of the region of skin away from the hairs below the temperature required to coagulate blood. 40. A method according to any of Claims 36-39 wherein selectively heating comprises: providing a temperature gradient such that air in the vicinity of the second portion of the at least one hair is at a high temperature and air in the vicinity of the skin is below the temperature required to coagulate blood, except for heating of the immediate vicinity of the hair by conduction via the hair. 41. A method according to any of Claims 36-40 wherein selectively heating comprises flashing a flash lamp or an arc discharge lamp at a distance from the skin. 42. A method according to any of Claims 36-41 wherein selectively heating comprises the steps of: providing a cavity overlying the region of skin, the cavity comprising a volume of air having a first end proximal to the region of skin and a second end distal to the region of skin; heating the air in the cavity to create a temperature gradient in the volume of air, the temperature gradient having a first temperature at the first end and a second temperature at the second end, the first temperature being lower than the second temperature; and maintaining the temperature gradient for a predetermined time interval sufficient for heating at least some of the plurality of hairs extending within the volume of air to a temperature sufficient to remove at least part of at least some of the plurality of hairs, while keeping the first temperature below the coagulation temperature of the region of skin. 43. A method for removing hairs from a region of skin, the region of skin having a plurality of hairs, each of the plurality of hairs includes a fast part disposed in a hair follicle within the region of skin and a second part distal of the region of skin, the method comprising: providing a cavity overlying the region of skin, the cavity comprising a volume of air having a first end proximal to the region of skin and a second end distal to the region of skin; heating the air in the cavity to create a temperature gradient in the volume of air, the temperature gradient having a first temperature at the first end and a second temperature at the second end, the first temperature being lower than the second temperature; and maintaining the temperature gradient for a predetermined time interval sufficient for heating at least some of the plurality of hairs extending within the volume of air to a temperature sufficient to remove at least part of at least some of the plurality of hairs, while keeping the first temperature below the coagulation temperature of the region of skin. 44. A method according to Claim 42 or Claim 43 wherein the air cavity is a sealed air cavity. 45. A method according to any of Claims 42-44 and including removing heat from the air after maintaining the temperature gradient, so as to keep the temperature of the skin below the