Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7993331?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,183,366
Timestamp: 2014-07-11 06:04:07
Document Index: 507761019

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 05709110', 'Application No. 177585', 'Application No. 177585', 'Application No. 200580011895', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 200580011895', 'Application No. 200580011895']

Patent US7993331 - Method and device for removing hair - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA method of treating unwanted hair is disclosed. The method comprises: transmitting acoustic waves through the hair so as to generate heat at a follicle, a dermal papilla, a hair bulge and/or a germinal matrix of the hair. The heat itself is sufficient to damage or destroy the follicle, the dermal papilla,...http://www.google.com/patents/US7993331?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7993331 - Method and device for removing hairAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7993331 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/590,477PCT numberPCT/IL2005/000210Publication dateAug 9, 2011Filing dateFeb 20, 2005Priority dateFeb 24, 2004Also published asCN1960682A, CN1960682B, EP1720476A2, EP1720476B1, US20070173746, WO2005079687A2, WO2005079687A3Publication number10590477, 590477, PCT/2005/210, PCT/IL/2005/000210, PCT/IL/2005/00210, PCT/IL/5/000210, PCT/IL/5/00210, PCT/IL2005/000210, PCT/IL2005/00210, PCT/IL2005000210, PCT/IL200500210, PCT/IL5/000210, PCT/IL5/00210, PCT/IL5000210, PCT/IL500210, US 7993331 B2, US 7993331B2, US-B2-7993331, US7993331 B2, US7993331B2InventorsAmir Barzilay, Alon Goren, Abraham Dayan, Vladimir Furman, Assaf Guterman, Yehuda NivOriginal AssigneeApplisonix Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (30), Non-Patent Citations (13), Classifications (15), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and device for removing hairUS 7993331 B2Abstract A method of treating unwanted hair is disclosed. The method comprises: transmitting acoustic waves through the hair so as to generate heat at a follicle, a dermal papilla, a hair bulge and/or a germinal matrix of the hair. The heat itself is sufficient to damage or destroy the follicle, the dermal papilla, the hair bulge and/or the germinal matrix.
RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a National Phase Application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210 having International Filing Date of Feb. 20, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/546,956 filed on Feb. 24, 2004. The contents of the above Applications are all incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aesthetic care and, more particularly, to a method and device for removing hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The prior art fails to provide a hair removal method in which the transmission of acoustic waves through the hair shaft generate sufficient heat to destroy the hair root.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is of a method and device which can be used for treating unwanted hair or hairs. Specifically, the present invention can be used to destroy hair roots so as to prevent, temporarily or permanently, re-growth of hairs therefrom. The present invention can further be used to remove hair from hair covered surfaces designated for hair removal.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the generated heat results in a temperature. increment of at least 20� C., more preferably at least 30� C., most preferably at least 40� C. Such heat in itself is sufficient to at least temporarily, preferably permanently destroy or at least damage the follicle, dermal papilla, hair bulge and/or germinal matrix. It is recognized that when the temperature of the soft tissue present in the follicle reaches high levels for a sufficient duration, a phenomenon known as �protein denaturing� can occur, resulting in a necrosis of the tissue.
Besides depending on the coupling length, the acoustic coupling also depends on the orientation of the hair shaft, e.g., relative to the main propagation direction of the acoustic waves while entering wave condenser 24. It was found by the Inventors of the present invention that an effective transmission of energy through the hair can be achieved when the propagation direction of the acoustic waves while entering wave condenser 24 is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hair shaft. This embodiment is referred to hereinunder as the �parallel orientation embodiment�.
Other, non parallel orientations of the hair shaft are also contemplated. For example, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention the propagation direction of the acoustic waves while entering wave condenser 24 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hair shaft. This embodiment is referred to hereinunder as the �perpendicular orientation embodiment�.
In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the propagation direction of the acoustic waves while entering wave condenser 24 is generally a at a predetermined angle, other than 0� or 90�, to the longitudinal axis of the hair shaft. This embodiment is referred to hereinunder as the �inclined orientation embodiment�. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skills in the art, the inclined orientation embodiment is a linear combination between the parallel and perpendicular orientation embodiments. Representative examples of inclination angles include, without limitation, about 10�, 20�, 30�, 40�, 50�, 60�, 70� and 80�.
Computational Model FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a simplified model of the geometry of the hair, which include three well distinguished regions: (i) the hair shaft above and below the skin surface, (ii) the hair bulb which comprises the dermal papilla and the germinal matrix, and (iii) the hair bulge, which is a part of the follicle and located near the hair shaft between the skin surface and the hair bulb. The hair shaft has a substantially smooth and extended structure and is located within the air, or the soft tissues which have distinctly different acoustic impedance. The hair shaft presents a good system for guiding an acoustic energy from the top end to the hair bulge and the entry point into the hair bulb.
ɛ = ( I 2 ⁢ ⁢ π 2 ⁢ f 2 ⁢ Z ) ( EQ . ⁢ 1 ) where I is the ultrasound density, Z is the acoustic impedance of the vibrating element, and f is the ultrasound frequency.
Irradiating Hair Shafts by Ultrasound Waves Experiment 1
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5143063Feb 9, 1988Sep 1, 1992Fellner Donald GMethod of removing adipose tissue from the bodyUS5522814Sep 1, 1992Jun 4, 1996Bernaz; GabrielMethod of high frequency depilationUS6090101Dec 10, 1997Jul 18, 2000Quon; David K.Method and apparatus for permanent hair removalUS6200326Apr 28, 1999Mar 13, 2001Krishna NarayananMethod and apparatus for hair removal using ultrasonic energyUS6267771Feb 27, 1996Jul 31, 2001Thermotrex CorporationHair removal device and methodUS6544259Aug 7, 2000Apr 8, 2003Unite Productions Inc.Hair removal method and deviceUS6685927Sep 27, 2001Feb 3, 2004Ceramoptec Industries, Inc.Permanent/semi-permanent hair removal comprising microparticles of a given particle size; activation by electromagnetic irradiation, ultrasonic irradiation, and solvent/chemical applicationUS20020055693Aug 23, 2001May 9, 2002Timi 3 Systems, Inc.Systems and methods for applying ultrasonic energyUS20020165529Apr 4, 2002Nov 7, 2002Danek Christopher JamesMethod and apparatus for non-invasive energy deliveryUS20030212351 *Jun 18, 2003Nov 13, 2003Hissong James B.Methods of using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesionsUS20050154332 *Jan 12, 2004Jul 14, 2005OndaMethods and systems for removing hair using focused acoustic energyUS20070239079 *Apr 9, 2007Oct 11, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for selective treatment of biological tissue using ultrasound energyUS20080154157 *Dec 13, 2007Jun 26, 2008Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc.Cosmetic and biomedical applications of ultrasonic energy and methods of generation thereofUS20080183110 *Sep 6, 2007Jul 31, 2008Davenport Scott AUltrasound system and method for hair removalUS20080195000 *Sep 6, 2007Aug 14, 2008Spooner Gregory J RSystem and Method for Dermatological Treatment Using UltrasoundUS20090171253 *Feb 10, 2009Jul 2, 2009Cutera, Inc.System and method for dermatological treatment using ultrasoundUS20090248448 *Mar 26, 2009Oct 1, 2009Ronen ZakayClinical network for dermal treatmentsEP0573618A1Sep 1, 1992Dec 15, 1993Gabriel BernazHigh frequency electronic depilatory device.GB2384674A Title not availableJP2002527162A Title not availableJPH02279107A Title not availableJPH08154728A Title not availableJPS6429126A Title not availableWO1999029245A1Dec 10, 1998Jun 17, 1999David W QuonMethod and apparatus for permanent hair removalWO2000021612A1Oct 8, 1999Apr 20, 2000Dmitry ElmanA method and device for hair removalWO2001013757A1Aug 23, 2000Mar 1, 2001Holzer AsherMethod and apparatus for hair removalWO2001026735A1Oct 5, 2000Apr 19, 2001Asher HolzerA method and device for affecting an object by accoustic radiationWO2001033991A1Nov 9, 2000May 17, 2001Holzer AsherEpilation method and deviceWO2002009813A1Jul 31, 2000Feb 7, 2002El En SpaMethod and device for epilation by ultrasoundWO2003065347A1Jan 28, 2003Aug 7, 2003Michael John Radley YoungMethod and apparatus for focussing ultrasonic energy* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC Dated Feb. 12, 2009 From the European Patent Office Re.: Application No. 05709110.0.2Communication Relating to the Results of the Partial International Search Dated Jul. 4, 2005 From the International Searching Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210.3International Report on Patentability Dated Jul. 3, 2006 From the International Preliminary Examining Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210.4International Search Report Dated Oct. 28, 2005 From the International Searching Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210.5Letter of Search for Prior Art Dated Oct. 27, 2004 From G. E. Ehrlich (1995) Ltd. Re.: File No. 28805.6Office Action Dated Jul. 13, 2009 From the Israeli Patent Office Re.: Application No. 177585 and Its Translation Into English.7Response Dated Feb. 9, 2010 to Office Action of Jul. 13, 2009 From the Israel Patent Office Re.: Application No. 177585.8Response Dated Mar. 7, 2010 to Office Action of Jan. 8, 2010 From the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China Re.: Application No. 200580011895.8.9Translation of Notice of Reason for Rejection Dated Apr. 23, 2010 From the Japanese Patent Office Re.: Application No. 2007-500350.10Translation of Office Action Dated Jan. 8, 2010 From the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China Re.: Application No. 200580011895.8.11Translation of Office Action Dated May 23, 2008 From the Patent Office of the People's Republic of China Re.: Application No. 200580011895.8.12Written Opinion Dated Mar. 29, 2006 From the International Preliminary Examining Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210.13Written Opinion Dated Oct. 28, 2005 From the International Searching Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2005/000210.Classifications U.S. Classification606/27, 601/2International ClassificationA61B18/00, A61B18/04, A61N7/00, A61B17/00Cooperative ClassificationA61N7/00, A45D2026/008, A61B2017/00752, A45D2200/207, A45D26/0009, A45D26/00European ClassificationA45D26/00, A45D26/00B, A61N7/00Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 24, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: APPLISONIX LTD., ISRAELFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BARZILAY, AMIR;GOREN, ALON;DAYAN, ABRAHAM;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:018232/0725;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060705 TO 20060712Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BARZILAY, AMIR;GOREN, ALON;DAYAN, ABRAHAM;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060705 TO 20060712;REEL/FRAME:018232/0725RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google