Patent Description:
Intense pulsed light, also known as IPL, is a technology used to perform various skin treatments for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes, including hair removal, photo-rejuvenation (for example treatment of skin pigmentation, sun damage and thread veins) and alleviation of dermatologic diseases such as acne. An intense pulsed light device comprises a high- powered, hand-held, computer-controlled flash bulb for delivering intense, visible, broad- spectrum pulses of light, generally in the visible spectral range of <NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>. Various cut-off filters are commonly used to selectively filter out lower wavelengths, especially potentially damaging ultra violet light. The resulting very high level of light energy is absorbed by the skin at different levels of intensity based on the pigmentation of the tissue. Dark tissues absorb more light than pale tissues. The absorbed light transforms in the tissue to heat. Therefore, dark tissues like pigmented hair follicles or age spots are heated and destroyed, while the surrounding brighter tissues heat less and therefore not damaged.

The generation of the light pulses is based on using a power supply to charge at least one capacitor with high level electrical energy, which is rapidly released in pulses from the at least one capacitor to the flash bulb during treatment of a patient. Thus, the efficiency of an intense pulsed light treatment relies on the energy level of the emitted light, which is expressed in terms of joules per cm<NUM>, and the pulsing rate, which is expressed in terms of number of pulses per second. A more efficient and rapid treatment is achieved with a high level of emitted light energy and a high pulsing rate.

During operation, intense pulsed light devices generate heat from various sources: the power supply, the at least one capacitor, and the electronics of the system. In addition, the flash bulb generates a significant amount of heat due to the high level of light energy emitted from the flash bulb. The generated heat should be dissipated in order to avoid damage to the system in general and the flash bulb in particular. In the first intense pulsed light devices the heat generated by the flash bulb was dissipated by using cooling systems based on air flow. However, due to the low effectiveness of these cooling systems they were replaced by closed circulating liquid cooling systems, where in general a cooling liquid flows in the vicinity of the flash bulb and absorbs heat from the flash bulb; continues to flow through a cooling member where the heat is dissipated from the cooling liquid; and then flows into a reservoir in which the cooling liquid is stored for further circulation. Currently, the cooling member used in cooling systems of intense pulsed light devices is an air-cooled heat exchanger, for example a radiator, which comprises a fan for dissipating the heat from the cooling liquid that flows through the heat exchanger. Alternatively, the cooling member is a thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger that absorbs heat from the cooling liquid that flows through the heat exchanger by using a Peltier mechanism. However, the cooling efficiency of the currently available cooling systems for the flash bulb of intense pulsed light devices is limited. When water is used as a cooling liquid, it is heated to substantially <NUM>-<NUM> when it absorbs the heat of the flash bulb. Cooling the water with a heat exchanger comprising either a fan or a thermoelectric cooler decreases the water temperature to substantially <NUM>-<NUM>. Such warm water has a low heat absorbance capacity when used for cooling the flash bulb.

Therefore, the currently available cooling systems for the flash bulb of intense pulsed light devices allow only limited operation of the intense pulsed light device. Emission of light in a high energy level and a high pulsing rate produces a great amount of heat that the currently available cooling systems are not able to efficiently dissipate. Therefore, in order to avoid over heating of the flash bulb, emission of light pulses in a high energy level is possible only with a low pulsing rate, or alternatively emission of light pulses in a high pulsing rate is possible only with a low energy level. For example, emission of light in an energy level of up to substantially <NUM> joules per cm<NUM> allows a pulsing rate of only substantially one pulse per minute, whereas emission of light in a pulsing rate of substantially five pulses per second allows emission of light with an energy level of up to only substantially <NUM> joules per cm<NUM>. The result in both cases is a treatment that lasts for a long period of time until a desired result is achieved. For example, in a hair removal treatment, it is necessary to repeat the treatment on a certain area of the skin several times until all the hair follicles in this area are destroyed. To summarize, the heat dissipation capacity of the currently available cooling systems is a limiting factor in the operation of intense pulsed light devices.

Therefore, there is a long felt need for a cooling system for intense pulsed light devices that cools the flash bulb down to a level that allows emission of light pulses in a high energy level and a high pulsing rate without causing damage to the intense pulsed light device in general, and the flash bulb in particular. More particularly, there is long felt need for a cooling system for intense pulsed light devices that cools the flash bulb down to a level that allows emission of light pulses in an energy level of up to substantially <NUM> joules per cm<NUM> and a pulsing rate of substantially <NUM> pulses per second.

A cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device comprising the features of the preamble portion of claim <NUM> and a method for cooling a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device comprising the features of the preamble portion of claim <NUM> are known from <CIT>.

Additional cooling elements are known from <CIT>.

The present invention aims at more efficient cooling.

Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below.

In order to solve the above-indicated technical problem, the present invention provides a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device as defined by claim <NUM> and a method for cooling a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device as defined by claim <NUM>.

Embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the embodiments. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms may be embodied in practice. In the drawings:.

Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale.

For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device that allows emission of light pulses in a high energy level and a high pulsing rate.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a method for cooling a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device. Yet a further aim of the present invention is to provide a method for cooling a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device that allows emission of light pulses in a high energy level and a high pulsing rate. According to one aspect, a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device is provided.

The term "cooling system" as disclosed herein refers to a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device.

The term "flash bulb" as disclosed herein refers to a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device.

<FIG> schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a diagrammatic presentation of a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device. The cooling system <NUM> is a closed circulating liquid cooling system. The cooling system <NUM> comprises a reservoir <NUM>, a pump fluidically connected with a conduit <NUM> downstream to the reservoir <NUM>, a handpiece <NUM> thermally connected to a flash bulb <NUM> and fluidically connected downstream to the pump <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>, an air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> fluidically connected downstream to the handpiece <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>, and a thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> fluidically connected downstream to the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> with a conduit <NUM> and fluidically connected upstream to the reservoir <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>. A cooling liquid flows in the cooling system <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the cooling liquid is water.

The reservoir <NUM> is configured to store a cooling liquid, for example water. According to one embodiment, the reservoir <NUM> is made of a thermally conductive material. According to another embodiment, the reservoir <NUM> is made of a water-proof material. According to a preferred embodiment, the reservoir <NUM> is made of a water-proof thermally conductive material, for example stainless steel. Thus, heat carried by the cooling liquid, may be dissipated from the cooling liquid to the ambient air while stored in the reservoir <NUM>. According to still another embodiment, the surface area of the reservoir <NUM> is large and configured to facilitate a rapid transfer of heat from the cooling liquid stored in the reservoir <NUM> to the ambient air.

The pump <NUM> is fluidically connected downstream to the reservoir <NUM> with a conduit <NUM> and upstream to the handpiece <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>. The pump <NUM> is configured to draw cooling liquid from the reservoir <NUM> and push the cooling liquid towards the handpiece <NUM>. Furthermore, the pump <NUM> is configured to drive the flow of the cooling liquid throughout the cooling system <NUM>, namely from the reservoir <NUM> through the various components of the cooling system <NUM> and back to the reservoir <NUM>.

The handpiece <NUM> is configured to hold a flash bulb <NUM>, which is configured to emit pulses of high energy light. According to one embodiment, the handpiece <NUM> is configured to be held and manipulated by a hand of a user. The handpiece <NUM> is thermally connected to the flash bulb <NUM>. In other words, the handpiece <NUM> is configured to allow the flow of a cooling liquid in the vicinity of the flash bulb <NUM> in a manner that allows transfer of heat from the flash bulb <NUM> to the cooling liquid. The heat that is generated as a result of the high intensity of light that is emitted by the flash bulb <NUM>, which is transferred to the cooling liquid that flows in the handpiece <NUM>, may cause an increase of the temperature of the cooling liquid to a level of, for example, substantially <NUM>-<NUM>, depending on the energy level and pulsing rate of the light emitted by the flash bulb <NUM>. The heated cooling liquid then flows from the handpiece <NUM> to an air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> through a conduit <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to transfer heat from the cooling liquid that flows through the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> to the ambient air. According to a preferred embodiment, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is of a radiator-type. According to another embodiment, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> comprises at least one, preferably two fans, in order to facilitate the transfer of heat from the cooling liquid that flows through the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> to the ambient air. According to one embodiment, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid down to substantially <NUM>-<NUM>. According to another embodiment, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid down to ambient temperature. According to a preferred embodiment, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid to substantially <NUM>. Afterwards, the cooling liquid continues to flow from the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> through a conduit <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to absorb heat from the cooling liquid while consuming an electrical energy, using for example a Peltier effect. According to other embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> further comprises at least one, preferably two fans, in order to facilitate transfer of heat from the thermoelectric cooler to the ambient air, to further enhance the cooling of the cooling liquid. According to one embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid down to less than substantially <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid down to substantially <NUM>. According to yet another embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to cool the cooling liquid when the temperature of the cooling liquid is above a predetermined threshold temperature. According to a preferred embodiment, the threshold temperature is substantially <NUM>. Thus, only when the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is above the threshold temperature, for example substantially <NUM>, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to be actuated and cool the cooling liquid to a temperature below the threshold temperature. This embodiment allows saving of energy, and elimination of physical deterioration of the thermoelectric cooler, when the cooling liquid that enters the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is cool enough and there is no need to further cool it. After flowing through the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, the cooling liquid flows into the reservoir <NUM> through a conduit <NUM>.

According to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is located upstream to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>. The thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> may be located upstream to the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>. However, the latter configuration is not efficient in terms of energy saving, elimination of physical deterioration of the thermoelectric cooler and achievement of a desired temperature of the cooling liquid. The cooling liquid that exits the handpiece <NUM> is in a relatively high temperature, for example in the range of substantially <NUM>- <NUM>. Thus, a great amount of electrical energy should be consumed by the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> in order to cool the cooling liquid to ambient temperature. Furthermore, because of the extensive operation of the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, a rapid physical deterioration of the thermoelectric cooler is expected. In addition, the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is expected to have a low effectiveness in further cooling the cooling liquid that exits the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, since air cooling is not sufficient for further lowering the temperature of a cooling liquid that already exists the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> in a temperature close to ambient temperature.

Therefore, the configuration in which the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is located upstream to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, was found to be efficient in terms of energy saving, elimination of physical deterioration of the thermoelectric cooler and achieving a low temperature of the cooling liquid. This configuration allows firstly the cooling of the cooling liquid that exits the handpiece <NUM> to a temperature close to ambient temperature by the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> in an economical manner without consuming a high amount of energy. In addition, further cooling of the cooling liquid by the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is more efficient, economical and does not require extensive operation of the thermoelectric cooler.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a diagrammatic presentation of additional embodiments of a cooling system for a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device. In addition to the aforementioned components, illustrated in <FIG>, the cooling system <NUM> further comprises a liquid flow sensor <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> may be installed in any position in the cooling system <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> is located downstream to the handpiece <NUM>, and is fluidically connected to the handpiece <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>, and to the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> is further electronically connected with a connection line <NUM> to the flash bulb <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> is further electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a display unit (not shown) configured to display the flow level of the cooling liquid. According to yet another embodiment, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> is further electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a processor (not shown). According to still another embodiment, the liquid flow sensor <NUM> is further electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a computing member of the intense pulsed light device (not shown). The liquid flow sensor <NUM> is configured to sense whether there is flow of cooling liquid in the system, and allow for example automatic shutoff of the flash bulb <NUM> once flow of cooling liquid in not detected, for example due to malfunction of the cooling system <NUM>.

The cooling system <NUM> further comprises a temperature controller <NUM>. The temperature controller <NUM> is installed downstream to the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, and is fluidically connected to the air-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>, and to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> with a conduit <NUM>. The temperature controller <NUM> is further electronically connected to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> with a connection line <NUM>. The temperature controller <NUM> is configured to sense the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters into the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>. The temperature controller <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the thermoelectric cooler- cooled heat exchanger <NUM> according to the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters into the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>.

One way of controlling the operation of the thermoelectric cooler <NUM> is by determining a threshold temperature. According to a preferred embodiment, the threshold temperature is substantially <NUM>. Thus, according to one embodiment, when the temperature of the cooling liquid that is sensed by the temperature controller <NUM> is above the predetermined threshold temperature, the temperature controller <NUM> actuates the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> in order to decrease the temperature of the cooling liquid to a temperature below the predetermined threshold temperature. On the other hand, when the temperature of the cooling liquid that is sensed by the temperature controller <NUM> is below the predetermined threshold temperature, the temperature controller <NUM> shuts off the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>, in order to save energy and eliminate physical deterioration of the thermoelectric cooler when the temperature of the cooling liquid is sufficiently low. According to a further embodiment, the temperature controller <NUM> is electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a display unit (not shown) configured to show the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters into the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM>. According to still a further embodiment, the temperature controller <NUM> is electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a processor (not shown). According to yet a further embodiment, the temperature controller <NUM> is electronically connected with a connection line (not shown) to a computing member of the intense pulsed light device (not shown). According to a one embodiment, all the connection lines disclosed herein are wired.

According to another embodiment, all the connection lines disclosed herein are unwired.

According to one aspect, a method for cooling a flash bulb <NUM> of an intense pulsed light device is provided.

The term "cooling method" as disclosed herein relates to a method for cooling a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device.

According to one embodiment, the cooling method comprises:.

According to another embodiment, the decreasing the temperature of the cooling liquid by flowing the cooling liquid through an air-cooled heat exchanger is down to a temperature of substantially <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to yet another embodiment, the decreasing the temperature of the cooling liquid by flowing the cooling liquid through an air-cooled heat exchanger is down to ambient temperature.

According to still another embodiment, the decreasing the temperature of the cooling liquid by flowing the cooling liquid through an air-cooled heat exchanger is down to a temperature of substantially <NUM>. According to an additional embodiment, the further decreasing of the temperature of the cooling liquid by flowing the cooling liquid through an actuated thermoelectric cooler- cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is down to a temperature less than substantially <NUM>. According to yet an additional embodiment, the further decreasing of the temperature of the cooling liquid by flowing the cooling liquid through an actuated thermoelectric cooler- cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is down to a temperature of substantially <NUM>.

According to still an additional embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to be actuated when the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is above a predetermined threshold temperature.

According to another embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to be actuated when the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger <NUM> is above a predetermined threshold temperature of substantially <NUM>.

An intense pulsed light device comprising a cooling system <NUM> of the present invention was used for a hair removal treatment. Pulsed light was emitted in an energy level of substantially <NUM> joules per cm2 and a pulsing rate of substantially five pulses per second. An entire body hair removal treatment, including hair removal from both arms, legs, axilla and groins was completed within <NUM> minutes. A similar treatment using a pulsed light device comprising a prior art cooling system, which comprises only either an air-cooled heat exchanger, or a thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger, can be performed with an emitted light in an energy level of up to substantially <NUM> joules per cm2 and a pulsing rate of substantially one pulse per second, or an emitted light in an energy level of up to substantially <NUM> joules per cm2 and a pulsing rate of substantially five pulses per second. An entire body hair removal treatment, including hair removal from both arms, legs, axilla and groins, with an intense pulsed light device comprising a prior art cooling system is completed only within <NUM>-<NUM> hours.

These results demonstrate the advantage of using an intense pulsed light device comprising a cooling system <NUM> of the present invention over an intense pulsed light device comprising a prior art cooling system, namely a significant decrease in hair removal treatment time duration - from <NUM>-<NUM> hours down to only <NUM> minutes. Obviously, such a decrease in treatment time period has further beneficial implications, for example in terms of cost effectiveness and comfort of treatment to the patient and the operator.

Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.

Claim 1:
A cooling system for a flash bulb (<NUM>) of an intense pulsed light device, the cooling system comprising:
a reservoir (<NUM>);
a pump (<NUM>) fluidically connected with a conduit downstream to the reservoir (<NUM>);
a handpiece (<NUM>) thermally connected to a flash bulb of an intense pulsed light device and fluidically connected downstream to the pump with a conduit (<NUM>);
an air-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) fluidically connected downstream to the handpiece with a conduit (<NUM>); and
a thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) fluidically connected downstream to the air-cooled heat exchanger with a conduit (<NUM>) and fluidically connected upstream to the reservoir (<NUM>) with a conduit (<NUM>),
wherein a cooling liquid circulates in the cooling system,
characterized by
a temperature controller (<NUM>), wherein said temperature controller (<NUM>) is installed downstream to the air-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) and is fluidically connected to the air-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) with a conduit (<NUM>), and to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) with a conduit (<NUM>), wherein said temperature controller (<NUM>) is electronically connected to the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) with a connection line (<NUM>), wherein said temperature controller (<NUM>) is configured to sense the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters into the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>), wherein said temperature controller (<NUM>) is configured to control operation of the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) according to the temperature of the cooling liquid that enters into the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) by using a predetermined threshold temperature, and
wherein the thermoelectric cooler-cooled heat exchanger (<NUM>) is configured to be actuated by the temperature controller when the sensed temperature of the cooling liquid is above said predetermined threshold temperature.