HK1113991A - Electrolysis hair-removal device - Google Patents

Description

Electrolytic hair removing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of "permanent" or "long-term" hair removal devices, and in particular to devices for removing hair by electrolysis.

Background

Depilation by electrolysis is well known to the person skilled in the art. This technique involves the transmission of nearly undetectable direct current to the base of the hair follicle, which results in neutralization of the dermal papilla feeding the hair and severely limits its regrowth. Such hair-plucking devices are not only directed to visible hair, but also to the roots, so that a "long-term" or even "permanent" hair-plucking function can be provided.

Hair grows in a band called the follicle. The density of the follicles varies from about 60 follicles per square centimeter in the leg to 500 follicles per square centimeter in the beard, depending on the area.

And (3) hair cycle growth: in the growth phase (or anagenic) the hair is fed by the dermal papilla, then into the transition phase (or catagenic) phase, and finally into the resting state (or telogenic) in which the hair does not grow, as it detaches from the dermal papilla and detaches. Thereafter, the hair follicle will again contact the dermal papilla, thereby beginning a new cycle. It takes approximately three weeks for hairs to grow from the base of the follicle to the skin surface and thus become visible. In other words, the hair that started to grow was visible only in three weeks.

The growth cycle lasts for about another thirteen weeks, starting from the moment the hair appears on the skin surface. In order to perform an effective cosmetic care, it is necessary to treat the hair in the neogenesis phase, i.e. the phase in which the dermal papilla is still active; this is a necessary condition for actually stopping the hair growth process.

Furthermore, hair grows in overlapping cycles: in the same area, some hairs are in the growth (new growth) stage, while others are in the resting (termination) stage; this is why the initial result is obtained only after applying the device according to the invention to the body part to be epilated for a number of weeks.

In particular, a device for permanent or long-term hair removal by electrolysis or any related method is disclosed in patent US-60/397,406, wherein a current generator is described which delivers an electric current to a patch which is stuck to the skin. The documents DE3426141 and US5,534,003 also describe inventions based on the same principle.

Document US5,522,814 describes a high-frequency hair removal method.

Document FR-2680965 describes a device and a method for cosmetic treatment of the skin intended for long-term hair removal, comprising induction of a high-frequency electromagnetic current through the skin by means of an electrically conductive gel impregnated with a treatment product, the electromagnetic current causing the product to penetrate the pores of the skin.

Document FR-2595239 discloses a permanent hair removal device comprising a high-frequency current generator which generates a high-frequency current which is chopped into a plurality of sets of phased waves (phasedwaves) which can be applied to the skin.

A problem encountered with all the known devices of the prior art is that the user himself can choose the intensity and duration and thus the energy of the applied electrolysis current. The energy to be applied must be adapted to the size of the body surface to be treated and its sensitivity. This often results in improper use of such devices, which may result in skin irritation.

Document US 2004/0039403a1 discloses a battery powered hair remover based on the principle of low frequency electrolysis with a separate feeding patch.

Document US5,906,614 discloses a system for ablating cardiac tissue by means of a high-energy element based on a catheter which transmits its energy to the cardiac tissue and is provided with a high-precision temperature probe. The system comprises means for controlling the temperature of the ablation catheter level (level), which are extremely complex and not suitable for managing and identifying a hair-removing patch sticking to the skin.

There is therefore a need to solve this problem by proposing a device which is able to manage a precise and constant application of energy according to the surface of the patch employed, and therefore there is a need to develop a device which is able to identify patches of different sizes, thus making it possible to manage a precise and constant application of energy to a given area.

Object of the Invention

The present invention aims to provide a device for removing hair by electrolysis, comprising a central control unit with a microprocessor and a set of patches (depilating and contact) capable of applying a precise current intensity for a precise duration, so that a constant application of energy can be applied to each identified patch. To achieve this object, the present invention proposes a system for identifying a patch that enables application of a target application amount for each application.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention discloses a device for removing hair by electrolysis, comprising: a central control unit having a microprocessor; a variable size depilatory patch adapted for use with different body parts to be treated; and a contact patch enabling an electrolytic current to be generated on the skin, characterized in that the device comprises a system for identifying the hair patch, which enables the microprocessor of the central control unit to identify the hair patch and to adjust the duration of the applied current according to the intensity selected by the user, so as to provide a constant amount of energy application specifically designed for the size of the hair patch used.

According to particular embodiments of the present application, the present invention discloses one or more of the following features:

the hair-removing device further comprises a high-precision probe,

-the high precision probe comprises several interchangeable application heads,

the central unit comprises a visual system displaying different parts of the body, enabling the user to select the part to be treated,

the visual system comprises a timer for displaying the remaining treatment duration,

-said identification means (5, 6, 7) comprise an oscillating circuit,

-the identification means (5, 6, 7) comprise a resistor on a patch (8) or a connector of a probe,

-the identification system comprises: a resistor (5, 6, 7) located on the patch (8) or probe to be identified; and a capacitor located on the central control unit, the microprocessor of said unit (4) enabling the identification of the frequency of the oscillating circuit and the adjustment of the energy applied by the device according to the size of the patch (8) selected and the given function.

The invention also discloses the use of a device according to claim 1 for long-term depilation.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a connection layout of patches on a central control unit.

Fig. 2 shows a connection layout of high precision probes on the central control unit.

Figure 3 shows a view of the complete device with the central unit, its patch and the high precision probe.

Detailed Description

The device for electrolytic depilation comprises a central control unit 4 with a microprocessor, a multiplicity of patches 8 of different sizes adapted to the application area (face, leg, sensitive area) and a contact patch 10 enabling the closing of an electric circuit and the transmission of an electrolytic current through the skin. The assembly also includes a high precision probe 9 having a number of interchangeable heads.

The electrolytic depilation device of the invention has an automatic device for recognizing patches. The central control unit 4 will thus "recognize" the patch 8 or probe 9 to be connected and the area to be processed will be displayed on the model on the screen of this unit 4. The central control unit 4 enables the current intensity to be adjusted according to the skin sensitivity. The device of the invention will then automatically adapt the processing duration. The central unit 4 comprises a timer which displays the remaining processing duration on the screen.

In order to identify the patch 8 or probe 9 used, its connector is provided with a resistor (5, 6, 7) which, through an oscillating circuit, enables the device to detect which patch is being used (fig. 1 and 2).

The circuit comprises a resistor (5, 6, 7) located in the patch or probe to be identified and a capacitor located on the central control unit. The microprocessor of the unit 4 identifies the frequency of the oscillating circuit and adapts the energy applied by the device according to the size of the patch 8 selected and the given function.

The connection layout of the patch 8 to the central unit 4 is shown in fig. 1. In order to identify the frequency of the oscillating circuit and to adjust the applied energy, the two wires 2 and 3 are connected to a patch 8 or probe 9 (see fig. 2), so that the oscillating circuit is closed. The wires 3 are used to close an electrical circuit through the skin of the user and the touch patch 10. To provide constant energy to the user, the microprocessor adjusts the time according to the user selected amperage. In this way, the total amount of current during the operating cycle remains constant regardless of the intensity variations induced by the user during the treatment, and thus the device provides a constant amount of energy application for each patch.

Users of such devices typically have very different sensitivity ratings with respect to the number of milliamps applied to their skin. This is why everyone adjusts the current intensity to its own comfort level. The control unit 4 then manages the duration.

The following table shows some examples of different resistors that enable identification of the patch:

patch and probe	Resistor with a resistor element
		Patch for leg	430,000 ohms
Patch for sensitive area	150,000 ohm
		Patch for face	47,000 ohm
High-precision probe	15,000 ohm

In each operating mode, the product of the current intensity times the time is constant.

Mode(s)	Current (milliampere)	Time (seconds)	Current x time-energy supplied
				Probe needle	0.2 to 0.5 milliamp	50 to 20	10
Face part	0.5 to 2 milliamps	240 to 60	120
				Sensitive part	1 to 4 milliamps	240 to 60	240
Leg part	2.5 to 10 milliamps	240 to 60	600

Thus, the system enables to provide always the same amount of energy, whatever the intensity chosen by controlling the energy provided; the amount of energy applied depends on the patch to which its identification system is connected and the adjustment of the duration of application.

The high-precision probe 9 is used for processing a high-precision area, and it can adopt four different heads depending on the area to be processed: the wide head is used for beards, while the thinner head is used for isolated hairs. The use of a conductive gel may improve the conductivity of the high precision probe or patch.

Retrieval table (Key)

1 wire connected to contact patch

2 leads connected to resistors of an oscillating circuit

3 detection leads connected to patches for electrolytic depilation

4 Central control Unit

5, 6, 7 switching socket (identification resistor)

8 Patch for electrolytic depilation

9 high-precision probe

10 contact patch for closing an electric circuit

Claims (9)

1. A device for electrolytic depilation comprising: a central control unit (4) having a microprocessor; a variable-sized hair-removing patch (8) adapted to different body parts to be treated; and a contact patch (10) enabling the generation of an electrolytic current on the skin, characterized in that the device comprises a system for identifying the hair-removing patch (8) which enables the microprocessor of the central control unit (4) to identify the hair-removing patch (8) and to automatically adjust the duration of the application of the current according to the intensity selected by the user, so as to provide a constant amount of energy application specifically designed for the size of the hair-removing patch (8) used.

2. The hair-removing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a high-precision probe (9).

3. The hair removal device of claim 2, wherein the high precision probe comprises a plurality of interchangeable application heads.

4. The depilation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit (4) comprises a visual system for displaying different parts of the body on the model, thereby enabling a user to select the part of the body to be treated.

5. The hair-removing device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the visual system comprises a timer for displaying the remaining treatment duration.

6. The depilation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification means (5, 6, 7) comprise an oscillating circuit.

7. The depilation device according to claim 1, wherein the identification means (5, 6, 7) comprise a resistor on a patch (8) or a connector of a probe (9).

8. The hair-removing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said identification system comprises: a resistor (5, 6, 7) located in the patch (8) or probe (9) to be identified; and a capacitor located on the central control unit, the microprocessor of said unit (4) enabling the identification of the frequency of the oscillating circuit and the adjustment of the energy applied by the device according to the size of the patch (8) selected and the given function.

9. Use of a device according to claim 1 for long-term depilation.