US3693623A — Photocoagulation means and method for depilation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

The method of epilation, comprising in combination the steps of a. Producing a pulse of high energy light by electronically triggering a gaseous media to produce visible light radiation, b. Positioning a flexible thin single fiber conduit formed from fiberoptic material capable of transmitting said light energy from the gaseous media so that the input end of said conduit collects intense light from said high energy light and the output end of said conduit is positioned in a hair follicle, and c. Transmitting said pulse of light energy in said conduit with enough energy passed through said conduit to said hair follicle to cause photocoagulation of body tissue in the vicinity of said region at an intensity killing the hair.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 120 words

The method of epilation, comprising in combination the steps of a. Producing a pulse of high energy light by electronically triggering a gaseous media to produce visible light radiation, b. Positioning a flexible thin single fiber conduit formed from fiberoptic material capable of transmitting said light energy from the gaseous media so that the input end of said conduit collects intense light from said high energy light and the output end of said conduit is positioned in a hair follicle, and c. Transmitting said pulse of light energy in said conduit with enough energy passed through said conduit to said hair follicle to cause photocoagulation of body tissue in the vicinity of said region at an intensity killing the hair.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method defined in claim 1, including the additional step of limiting the frequency of the light energy to a predetermined bandwidth.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method defined in claim 2, including the additional step of producing light of a wavelength in the green region of the light spectrum that is specifically absorbed by hemoglobin, thereby selectively photocoagulating the blood vessel structure about the region with the light energy becoming significantly absorbed in other nonpigmented tissues near the region.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method defined in claim 2, including the additional step of limiting the light energy supplied to the follicle to less than 3 millijoules.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method defined in claim 1 including the step of limiting the light pulse to less than 3 milliseconds in duration.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of successively flashing said light energy a plurality of times at approximately 1 second intervals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method defined in claim 1, including locating the output end of said conduit only partly within said hair follicle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 90 words

Depilation apparatus for depilation by photocoagulation in a limited region about a hair root comPrising in combination, a. A high energy gaseous medium light source including electrical means for producing therein short intense pulses of light, b. A single fiber conduit formed from fiberoptic material positioned to transmit light energy from said source to said region with a polished end for inserting into the follicle for releasing the transmitted light energy in said body tissue, and c. Means for locating said polished output end of said conduit in the follicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 90 words

Depilation apparatus for depilation by photocoagulation in a limited region about a hair root comPrising in combination, a. A high energy gaseous medium light source including electrical means for producing therein short intense pulses of light, b. A single fiber conduit formed from fiberoptic material positioned to transmit light energy from said source to said region with a polished end for inserting into the follicle for releasing the transmitted light energy in said body tissue, and c. Means for locating said polished output end of said conduit in the follicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said locating means comprises a needle having a cavity therein for receiving a portion of said conduit at the terminating end.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said light energy producing means further comprises a spherical lens of high optical speed which collimates said light in rays.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including a lens system for focusing said collimated light to be concentrated at the end of said flexible conduit.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising means for producing light energy from said pulse to provide light in a specific range of the spectrum.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said light as provided in the green range of the spectrum.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said light is provided having a wave length of approximately 530 nanometers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which means provides light energy at the end of said conduit to reach said region with approximately one-half to 3 millijoules.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 limited to produce light flashes of less than 3 milliseconds in duration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 adapted to produce a series of successive flashes at approximately 1 second intervals.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 76 words

Photoepilation, comprising producing pulses primarily of blue-green high-energy light in a gaseous medium across an arc longer than the millimeters, transmitting said light through a single fiber optic filament of about 5 to 7 mills thickness directly from an input end adjacent said arc to a needle end, inserting said needle end into a hair follicle, and transmitting into said follicle the pulses for a time sufficient to coagulate the tissue therein responsible for hair growth.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 76 words

Photoepilation, comprising producing pulses primarily of blue-green high-energy light in a gaseous medium across an arc longer than the millimeters, transmitting said light through a single fiber optic filament of about 5 to 7 mills thickness directly from an input end adjacent said arc to a needle end, inserting said needle end into a hair follicle, and transmitting into said follicle the pulses for a time sufficient to coagulate the tissue therein responsible for hair growth.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

Photoepilation according to claim 18 wherein the energy input is approximately 300 joules and the output is greater than 0.6 millijoules.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

Photoepilation according to claim 18, wherein in said inserting step said needle is inserted only partly into said hair follicle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-09-26	1976-03-27	1976-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-09-26	1980-03-27	1980-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-09-26	1984-03-27	1984-09-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Photocoagulation means and method for depilation

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