Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Robbert Adrianus Maria Van Hal

Rieko Verhagen

Paul Anton Josef Ackermans

Bernardus Leonardus Gerardus Bakker

Michiel Errit Roersma

Natallia Eduardauna Uzunbajakava

Guido Roosen

Bart Willem Jan Spikker

Babu Varghese

Jasper Zuidervaart

Bart Gottenbos

Bastiaan Wilhelmus Maria Moeskops

Jozef Johannes Maria Janssen

Antonius Maarten Nuijs

Dirk Brokken

Francisco Morales Serrano

Sieglinde Neerken

Erik Houbolt

Aleksey Anatolievich Kharin

Peter Bjerring

Reiko Verhagen

Mathijs Niehaus

A method, system and device for shortening hair with the method including generating a plurality of laser pulses overlapping in time; focusing the laser pulses into spatially separated focal spots having a peak power density at least equal to a first threshold at which a laser induced optical breakdown phenomenon occurs in the hair and below a second threshold at which a laser induced optical breakdown phenomenon occurs in skin. Generating the plurality of laser pulses includes an act of generating the plurality of laser pulses to reach the first characteristic threshold value after a start of each corresponding laser pulse in a time span of less than half of the pulse duration; and positioning the respective at least three focal spots into respective target positions within a single hair such that only one of the plurality of laser pulses occur in each of the at least three focal spots.

Hair shortening device

The invention relates to a device () for hair-growth control of hairs (), in particular hairs growing from human skin (). The device () has a laser source () for generating a laser beam () during a pulse time, an optical system () for focusing the laser beam into a focal spot (), and a laser beam manipulator () for positioning the focal spot in a target position. According to the invention, a dimension of the focal spot () and a power of the generated laser beam () are such that, in the focal spot (), the laser beam has a power density which is above a characteristic threshold value for hair-growth related skin tissue above which, for the pulse time, a laser induced optical breakdown (LIOB) phenomenon occurs in the hair-growth related skin tissue. The LIOB phenomenon results in a number of mechanical effects, such as cavitation and the generation of shock waves, which damage the hair-growth related skin tissue in positions surrounding the LIOB phenomenon. An advantage of the device () according to the invention is that the amount of total energy which is necessary to cause trauma and induce (semi-)permanent cessation of hair-growth is at such a level that irritation and damage of the surrounding skin tissue is very limited or even completely prevented.

Hair-growth control device and hair-growth control method

The invention relates to a hair-shortening device. The device is based on the principle of laser-induced optical breakdown, wherein a laser pulse causes mechanical effects in tissue, which are used to cut the hair (). The invention uses the insight that, when two or more such laser pulses are provided simultaneously, the mechanical effects can co-operate. This in turn allows cutting of the hair () with less total energy, down to about half the energy required for cases with pulses that are supplied sequentially. In one embodiment, the device comprises a laser source (), a grating (), and a beam manipulator (), that aim a plurality of simultaneous focal spots () into a hair ().

An optical blade and a hair cutting device is configured to cut a hair near skin of a human body part or animal body part. The optical blade maybe used in a hair cutting device and includes a blade body configured to guide optical radiation, and a tapered end configured to allow the optical radiation to exit the optical blade. The tapered end includes a reflector configured to redirect the optical radiation before it exits the optical blade.

Optical blade and hair cutting device

The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The system comprises a hair detection device and a hair-removing device (). Since 3D information on hairs () is required, but due to the very dispersed presence of, e.g., human hairs () on skin (), known detection devices are too slow, the invention provides a combination of two image sensors. A first image sensor () produces a first image, based on which a selected part is imaged with a second image sensor () that provides the required 3D position information with which the hair-removing device () can remove the hair. Thus, optimum use may be made of both fast but less accurate image sensors, such as (2D) CCDs or CMOS sensors, and accurate but slow sensors such as 3D scanning sensors.

Hair removing system

The invention provides a skin treatment device comprising a laser source () and focusing optics (), such that a focal spot () is positioned in a dermis layer () of the skin to be treated. The laser beam () is powered and focused () such that a LIOB (laser induced optical breakdown) phenomenon is obtained, which affects the skin in order to stimulate re-growth of tissue. This in turn reduces wrinkles (). The device may comprise wrinkle-determining means (). The focusing optics () may have a numerical aperture of at least 0.4. The invention also provides a corresponding method to treat skin, in particular to reduce wrinkles (), by providing a focused laser beam () that causes LIOB in the dermis layer () of the skin. The advantage is that damage to overlaying epidermis layers may be avoided by the use of the very local LIOB phenomenon.

Device and method for the treatment of skin, and use of the device

The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The hair removal system comprises a hair detection device and a hair removal device (; S) operatively coupled to the hair detection device, wherein the hair detection device comprises an imaging device comprising a first image sensor (; S) which is constructed and arranged to detect an image of a part of a skin () to be treated, and a control unit () adapted to discern, in the image, a hair () on the part of the skin (), and operatively coupled to the hair removal device (; S) so as to control its operation, characterized by preventing means coupled to the control unit () and being adapted to disable the hair detection device or the hair removal device during a preventing period after the control unit has discerned the respective hair for the first time.

Hair removal system and method

The invention relates to a device for shortening hairs growing from human skin. The device has a laser source for generating a laser beam during a predetermined pulse time, an optical system for focusing the laser beam into a focal spot, and a laser beam manipulator for positioning the focal spot in a target position. According to the invention, a dimension of the focal spot and a power of the generated laser beam are such that, in the focal spot, the laser beam has a power density which is above a characteristic threshold value for hair tissue above which a laser induced optical breakdown (LIOB) phenomenon occurs in the hair tissue. The LIOB phenomenon results in a number of mechanical effects in the hair tissue, such as cavitation and the generation of shock waves, which damage the hair in positions surrounding the position in which the LIOB phenomenon occurs.

Device for shortening hairs by means of laser induced optical breakdown effects

The present invention relates to a skin treatment device (, F). The device comprises a radiation source () in a housing, such that radiation can be emitted through an exit opening in the housing. It further comprises at least one skin presence sensor () capable of measuring the presence of skin () in a number of respective positions, and a control unit (). The control unit () is constructed to determine a covered portion of the exit opening () from a measurement signal of the skin presence sensor and to restrict emission of the radiation () to the covered portion of the exit opening (), e.g. by modifying the control of a radiation beam manipulator (), or by controlling radiation-blocking means, such as blinds, in the exit opening (). The invention provides a more efficient and yet safe treatment device (), since a larger exit opening () can be selected, while unwanted emission of radiation () through uncovered portions of the exit opening () is still prevented.

Skin treatment device with radiation emission protection

A hair-detection device with a source of electromagnetic radiation, an imaging sensor and a radiation selection means. The selection means improves a ratio between a part of emitted radiation that is coupled into a skin which reaches the sensor and thus provides an image of the skin, and the part that reaches the sensor via other ways, such as reflection at the skin surface. The radiation may have a wavelength between about 700 nm and 1100 nm. The radiation selection means may for example include a separate wall around at least one of the source and the sensor, such as crossed polarizers. By means of this selection, the contrast of the image may be improved, and may be made less dependent on skin color and skin artifacts, thus enabling easier detection of for example, white hairs on a fair skin.

Hair detection device

The invention relates to a device () for shortening hairs (), in particular growing from human skin (). The device () has a laser source () for generating a laser beam () during a predetermined pulse time, an optical system () for focusing the laser beam into a focal spot (), and a laser beam manipulator () for positioning the focal spot in a target position. According to the invention, a dimension of the focal spot () and a power of the generated laser beam () are such that, in the focal spot (), the laser beam has a power density which is above a characteristic threshold value for hair tissue above which, for the predetermined pulse time, a laser induced optical breakdown (LIOB) phenomenon occurs in the hair tissue. The LIOB phenomenon results in a number of mechanical effects in the hair tissue, such as cavitation and the generation of shock waves, which damage the hair () in positions surrounding the position in which the LIOB phenomenon occurs. From experiments it appeared that, with a sufficient amount of total energy of the laser source (), the LIOB phenomenon can be used to completely break and thus to shorten a hair. An advantage of the device () according to the invention is that the amount of total energy, which is necessary to completely break a hair (), is at such a level that irritation and damage of the skin tissue surrounding the hair are limited to an acceptable level or even completely prevented.

The invention relates to a device () for treating human skin by means of radiation. The device comprises a housing () with a radiation exit opening (). A radiation source () is accommodated in the housing. Radiation generated by the radiation source propagates from the radiation source towards the radiation exit opening via a radiation path () comprising a radiation filter having a predetermined transmission spectrum. According to the invention the radiation filter comprises a reflecting surface () via which the radiation propagating along the radiation path () is reflected. The reflecting surface has a coating which provides the reflecting surface with a reflection spectrum substantially matching the predetermined transmission spectrum. An advantage is that the reflection surface can be optimally and uniformly cooled, so that the heat generated as a result of the absorption of part of the radiation by the radiation filter can be effectively transmitted to a cooling system () of the device (). In a particular embodiment the device () is an epilator for removing hairs from the human skin and the radiation source () is a flash lamp. The radiation path () is enclosed by a channel () having a bend () and having an inner wall () on which the reflecting surface () is provided.

Device for treating human skin by means of radiation

The invention relates to a device () for treating human skin by means of radiation. The device has a housing () with a radiation exit opening (), a radiation source () which is accommodated in the housing, and a radiation path () between the radiation source and the radiation exit opening. A radiation filter () is provided in the radiation path. According to the invention the radiation filter () comprises water () which is in solid state at least during an initial phase of operation of the device (). The water in solid state has an optical transmission spectrum which corresponds to the optical transmission spectrum of water in liquid state as present in the skin. As a result the water in solid state acts as an ideal filter for the IR light and near IR light, which would otherwise be absorbed by the water in the skin and cause unwanted heating of the skin. An additional advantage of the water in solid state is its relatively high heat absorbing capacity and its ability to cool the skin in case of direct thermal contact with the skin. In a particular embodiment the device () is an epilator for the removal of hairs from the human skin, the radiation source () being a flash lamp which generates light pulses having a high energy density and a broad optical spectrum.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Robbert Adrianus Maria Van Hal