Jay, M.D. v. Spectrum Brands Holdings et. al

8/13/2019 Jay, M.D. v. Spectrum Brands Holdings et. al.

1/93

Case 1:13-cv-08137-LTS Document 1 Filed 11/14/13 Page 1 of 93


2/93

11404643_2-- Page 2 of 20 --

3. On information and belief, Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands) is a

Delaware corporation having its principal place of business at 601 Rayovac Drive, Madison,

Wisconsin 53711 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of SB Holdings. On information and belief,

Spectrum Brands is in the business of manufacturing and selling branded consumer products,

including the Remington i-LIGHT Pro line of hair treatment products that it markets,

distributes, and sells in concert with SB Holdings and Shaser, Inc.

4. On information and belief, Shaser, Inc. (Shaser) is a Delaware corporation

having its principal place of business at 130 New Boston Street, Suite 201, Woburn MA 01801 and

doing business under the name Shaser BioScience, Inc. On information and belief, SB Holdings

acquired an approximately 56% interest in Shaser in November 2012 and holds an option to

purchase the remaining approximately 44% interest in Shaser in 2017. On information and belief,

Shaser is engaged in development of light-based medical devices, including the Remington

i-LIGHT Pro line of hair treatment products, that it markets, distributes, and sells in concert with

SB Holdings. and Spectrum Brands.

5. On information and belief, Defendants SPECTRUM act in concert to develop,

manufacture, import, market, distribute, and sell the Remington i-LIGHT Pro line of hair

treatment products and to instruct and induce consumers to use those products to treat hair.

NATURE OF THE ACTION

6. This is an action arising under the patent laws of the United States (Title 35, United

States Code, 100 et seq.)based upon SPECTRUMs infringement of one or more of several U.S.

patents owned by Dr. Jay. Designation of this case for inclusion in the Pilot Project Regarding

Case Management Techniques for Complex Civil Cases in the Southern District of New York

(Standing Order M10-468) is believed to be appropriate and is requested by Dr. Jay.



3/93

11404643_2-- Page 3 of 20 --

7. On information and belief, SPECTRUM develops, manufactures, imports, uses,

offers for sale, and/or sells light-based hair treatment appliances branded as Remington

i-LIGHT Pro products, including at least the following product designations (individually and

collectively, Accused Products):

Remington i-LIGHT Pro Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal System,

Remington i-LIGHT Pro PLUS Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal System,

Remington i-LIGHT Pro PLUS Quartz Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal System,

Remington i-LIGHT Pro Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal System Spa Kit, and

Remington i-LIGHT Pro Premier Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal System.

8. On information and belief, these Accused Products have been and are developed,

used, manufactured, imported, offered for sale, and/or sold by SPECTRUM in the State of New

York and elsewhere in the United States, and SPECTRUM actively promotes the Accused

Products to consumers as products useful for treatment of undesired body hair.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

9. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Dr. Jay's patent infringement claims

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a).

10. Plaintiff Dr. Jay is a citizen of the State of New York. Each of Defendants SB

Holdings and Spectrum Brands is a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware having

its principal place of business in Wisconsin. Defendant Shaser is a corporation incorporated

under the laws of Delaware having its principal place of business in Massachusetts. The amount

in controversy, without interest and costs, exceeds the sum or value specified by 28 U.S.C. 1332.



4/93

11404643_2-- Page 4 of 20 --

11. This Court has personal jurisdiction over each of the Defendants by virtue of the

fact that, on information and belief, each Defendant:

regularly solicits business from, does business with, and derives value from goods and

services provided to customers in this judicial district;

has committed and continues to commit acts of patent infringement in this judicialdistrict, including selling and offering to sell the Accused Products and/or inducing

others to use the Accused Products to commit acts of patent infringement in thisjudicial district;

has engaged in substantial and persistent contacts with this judicial district; and

has availed itself of the rights and benefits of New York law.

12. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), 1391(c), and

1400(b) because, on information and belief, SPECTRUM have committed and are continuing to

commit acts of patent infringement in this judicial district and have induced and are continuing to

induce others to do the same in this judicial district, provide a substantial volume of goods to and

do a substantial amount of business within this judicial district, and thus have purposefully availed

themselves of the privilege of conducting business within the State of New York and this judicial

district.

SUMMARY

13. Dr. Jay is a dermatologist who began studying use of light-based devices in

dermatology for purposes such as reducing the visibility of blood vessels by at least about 1985.

He began experimenting with and improving upon devices that deliver intense pulsed light (IPL)

to skin surfaces by at least about 1995.

14. Not later than about 2001, Dr. Jay recognized drawbacks in previously-developed

light-based permanent hair removal methods that destroy the follicles from which hair grows.



5/93

11404643_2-- Page 5 of 20 --

Around that time, Dr. Jay began developing methods and devices for using IPL to temporarily

retard and permanently reduce body hair growth without necessarily killing hair follicles.

15. Beginning on November 8, 2002, Dr. Jay filed a series of patent applications

describing his technological developments in this field. Those applications were examined by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which has issued to Dr. Jay at least ten

U.S. Patents to date. Several of those issued patents (collectively, the Patents-in-Suit) are

asserted in this action, including:

A. U.S. Patent No. 6,824,542 (the 542 Patent),

B. U.S. Patent No. 6,916,316 (the 316 Patent),

C. U.S. Patent No. 7,175,617 (the 617 Patent),

D. U.S. Patent No. 7,553,308 (the 308 Patent), and

E. U.S. Patent No. 8,393,330 (the 330 Patent).

16. Beginning not later than about 2003, Dr. Jay contacted and repeatedly met

confidentially with persons and/or entities associated with SPECTRUM regarding technology he

had developed and corresponding patent applications he had filed. Those contacts and meetings

were conducted for the purpose of considering joint development of a commercial product for

reducing undesired body hair based on Dr. Jays technology. The SPECTRUM-associated

persons and/or entities expressed interest in Dr. Jays technology, but declined to pursue joint

development of a commercial product with Dr. Jay.

17. On August 26, 2008, an attorney who is believed by Dr. Jay to have acted on behalf

of one or more of Defendants SPECTRUM, requested reexamination by the USPTO of each of Dr.

Jays 316 and 617 Patents.



6/93

11404643_2-- Page 6 of 20 --

18. On March 23, 2010, the USPTO confirmed the patentability of claims 18-21 and 31

of the 617 Patent, canceled claim 32, awarded four additional claims to Dr. Jay, and left the

remainder of the patented claims undisturbed.

19. On March 30, 2010, the USPTO confirmed the patentability of claims 29, 30, 32,

and 33 of the 316 Patent and left the remainder of the patented claims undisturbed.

20. Subsequent to March 2010, Dr. Jay learned that SPECTRUM had developed the

Accused Products and that the Accused Products appear to embody the technology that Dr. Jay had

previously invented, patented, and disclosed to SPECTRUM.

21. The only substantial use of the Accused Products is to reduce hair at skin locations.

22. Use of the Accused Products to reduce hair at skin locations is covered by each of

the Patents-in-Suit.

23. On information and belief, SPECTRUM has used the Accused Products to reduce

hair at skin locations on the bodies of individual humans.

24. SPECTRUM has acted in concert with others to use the Accused Products to reduce

hair at skin locations on the bodies of individual humans.

25. SPECTRUM has actively and deliberately promoted use of the Accused Products

by others for the purpose of reducing hair at skin locations on the bodies of individual humans.

26. SPECTRUM has actively and deliberately induced others to offer for sale and to

sell Accused Products for the purpose of reducing hair at skin locations on the bodies of end-users

of the Accused Products.



7/93

11404643_2-- Page 7 of 20 --

27. After learning of SPECTRUMs Accused Products, Dr. Jay contacted SPECTRUM

not later than 2012 to communicate, inter alia, the apparent relevance of the Patents-in-Suit and

their potential availability for licensing in connection with SPECTRUMs Accused Products.

28. Despite repeated requests from Dr. Jay, SPECTRUM has declined to discuss

licensing the Patents-in-Suit with Dr. Jay.

29. Despite SPECTRUMs knowledge of the Patents-in-Suit and that SPECTRUM

lacks a license to practice the subject matter claimed in the Patents-in-Suit, SPECTRUM

continues, and on information and belief will continue, to make, use, offer for sale, sell, and/or

import the Accused Products alone or in concert with others and to actively induce others to do the

same.

THE PATENTS-IN-SUIT

30. The 542 Patent, entitled Temporary Hair Removal Method, was issued to Dr.

Jay by the USPTO on November 30, 2004. A true and correct copy of the 542 patent is attached

to this Complaint as Exhibit A.

31. The 316 Patent, entitled Hair Treatment Method, was issued to Dr. Jay by the

USPTO on July 12, 2005. A true and correct copy of the 316 patent is attached to this Complaint

as Exhibit B.


USPTO on February 13, 2007. A true and correct copy of the 617 patent is attached to this

Complaint as Exhibit C.


USPTO on June 30, 2009. A true and correct copy of the 308 Patent is attached to this Complaint

as Exhibit D.



8/93

11404643_2-- Page 8 of 20 --

34. The 330 Patent, entitled Hair Treatment System and Method, was issued to Dr.

Jay by the USPTO on March 12, 2013. A true and correct copy of the 330 Patent is attached to

this Complaint as Exhibit E.

35. Dr. Jay has owned each of the Patents-in-Suit throughout the period for which

infringement by SPECTRUM is alleged in this Complaint, and he continues to own each of the

Patents-in-Suit.

36. Dr. Jay has the right to enforce each of the Patents-in-Suit.

37. SPECTRUM does not have, and has never had, a license to practice any of the

Patents-in-Suit.

38. No party with whom SPECTRUM has acted in concert to make, use, offer for sale,

sell, and/or import the Accused Products has, or has ever had, a license to practice any of the

Patents-in-Suit.

39. No party which SPECTRUM has induced to make, use, offer for sale, sell, and/or

import the Accused Products has, or has ever had, a license to practice any of the Patents-in-Suit.

FIRST COUNT FOR RELIEF

(INFRINGEMENT OF THE 542 PATENT)

40. The allegations of every preceding item in this Complaint are incorporated herein

by reference.

41. Notwithstanding the existence of the 542 Patent and SPECTRUMs knowledge

regarding the 542 Patent, SPECTRUM has made, used, offered for sale, and/or sold the Accused

Products in the U.S., and/or imported the Accused Products into the U.S., all without the authority

of the owner of the 542 Patent, Dr. Jay. SPECTRUM has thereby infringed the 542 Patent in

violation of 35 U.S.C. 271(a).



9/93

11404643_2-- Page 9 of 20 --


regarding the 542 Patent, SPECTRUM has actively induced others to make, use, offer for sale,

and/or sell the Accused Products in the U.S. and/or to import the Accused Products into the U.S.,

all without the authority of the owner of the 542 Patent, Dr. Jay. SPECTRUM has thereby

induced infringement of the 542 Patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271(b).


regarding the 542 Patent, SPECTRUM has acted in concert with others to make, use, offer for

sale, and/or sell the Accused Products in the U.S. and/or to import the Accused Products into the

U.S., all without the authority of the owner of the 542 Patent, Dr. Jay. SPECTRUM has thereby

contributorily infringed the 542 Patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271(c).

44. SPECTRUM was aware and/or should have been aware of the existence of the 542

Patent prior to the filing of this Complaint and at all times relevant to this Complaint.

SPECTRUMs infringement, inducement of infringement, and/or contributory infringement

(collectively, SPECTRUMs Infringement) of the 542 Patent has therefore been willful, active,

intentional, and deliberate.

45. On information and belief, SPECTRUM knew, prior to the filing of this Complaint

and at all times relevant to this Complaint, that the Accused Products are made and intended

especially for use in the methods claimed in the 542 Patent.


and at all times relevant to this Complaint, that the Accused Products are not suitable for

substantial uses other than those claimed in the 542 Patent.



10/93

11404643_2-- Page 10 of 20 --

47. Dr. Jay has sustained, is sustaining, and will continue to sustain damages owing to

SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 542 Patent. Dr. Jay is entitled to compensation for these

damages, as well as corresponding interest and costs.

48. On information and belief, SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 542 Patent has been

willful and deliberate, and justifies an enhancement of his recovery for damages in an amount up to

three times his actual damages, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 284.

49. SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 542 Patent is continuing and is expected to

continue unless enjoined by this Court. Dr. Jay does not have an adequate remedy at law and will

be irreparably harmed if SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 542 Patent is permitted to continue.

Dr. Jay is therefore entitled to an injunction against further Infringement by SPECTRUM pursuant

to 35 U.S.C. 283.

50. On information and belief, SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 542 Patent is

exceptional and Dr. Jay is therefore entitled to recover his reasonable attorneys fees incurred in

prosecuting this action in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 285.

SECOND COUNT FOR RELIEF



by reference.








11/93

11404643_2-- Page 11 of 20 --













SPECTRUMs Infringement of the 316 Patent has therefore been willful, active, intentional, and

deliberate.









12/93

11404643_2-- Page 12 of 20 --











to 35 U.S.C. 283.




THIRD COUNT FOR RELIEF



by reference.








13/93

11404643_2-- Page 13 of 20 --














deliberate.









14/93

11404643_2-- Page 14 of 20 --











to 35 U.S.C. 283.




FOURTH COUNT FOR RELIEF



by reference.








15/93

11404643_2-- Page 15 of 20 --














deliberate.









16/93

11404643_2-- Page 16 of 20 --











to 35 U.S.C. 283.




FIFTH COUNT FOR RELIEF



by reference.








17/93

11404643_2-- Page 17 of 20 --














deliberate.









18/93

11404643_2-- Page 18 of 20 --











to 35 U.S.C. 283.




PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Dr. Jay respectfully requests this Court to enter judgment in his favor

against each of Defendants SPECTRUM and to grant the following relief:

A. an adjudication that each of Defendants SPECTRUM has infringed one or more

claims of the Patents-in-Suit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 271(a), 271(b), and/or 271(c), by

manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale in the United States, and/or importation into the United

States, of the Accused Products before the expiration of the corresponding patent(s);



19/93

11404643_2-- Page 19 of 20 --

B. a judgment declaring that continuing manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale in the

United States, and/or importation into the United States, of the Accused Products, or inducing or

contributing to such conduct by any of Defendants SPECTRUM, would constitute infringement of

one or more claims of the Patents-in-Suit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 271(a), 271(b), and/or 271(c);

C. an order enjoining each of Defendants SPECTRUM and its corresponding officers,

agents, servants, employees, attorneys, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, and those persons in

active concert or participation with any of them, from infringing each of the Patents-in-Suit, and/or

contributing to or inducing anyone to do the same, including manufacture, use, offer to sell, sale,

or importation of the Accused Products, while the litigation corresponding to this Complaint is

pending;

D. a permanent injunction enjoining each of Defendants SPECTRUM and its

corresponding officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries,

and all persons in active concert or participation with any of them, from infringing each of the

Patents-in-Suit, and/or contributing to or inducing anyone to do the same, including manufacture,

use, offer to sell, sale, or importation of the Accused Products before the expiration of each of the

Patents-in-Suit;

E. an award of damages sustained by Dr. Jay as a result of SPECTRUMs

Infringement of the Patents-in-Suit, in an amount to be ascertained at trial, including at least a

reasonable royalty on sales of the Accused Products;

F. a determination that SPECTRUMs Infringement of the Patents-in-Suit is and has

been willful and a corresponding enhancement of damages by trebling awarded damages pursuant

to 35 U.S.C. 284;



20/93



21/93

Exhibit AU.S. PATENT 6,824,542

(The 542 Patent)



22/93

US006824542B2( 1 2 > Ulllted States Patent ( 1 6 ) P a t e n t N 6 . = US 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B2

J a y ( 4 5 ) D a t e o f P a t e n t : N o v . 3 0 , 2 0 0 4

( 5 4 ) TEMPORARY HAIR REMOVAL METHOD 6 , 1 6 2 , 2 1 1 A 1 2 / 2 0 0 0 T a n k o v i c h e t 2 1 1 .6 , 1 6 2 , 2 1 2 A 1 2 / 2 0 0 0 K r e i n d e l e t a l .

( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r : Harvey H . J a y , 1 4 C a y u g a R d . , 6 , 1 7 4 , 3 2 5 B 1 1 / 2 0 0 1 E c k h o u s eScarsdale, NY Us) 10583 6 , 2 2 8 , 0 7 4 B1 * 5/2001 Almeida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 6 / 96 , 2 6 7 , 7 7 1 B1 7 / 2 0 0 1 T a n k o v i c h e t 2 1 1 .

6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 B1 8 / 2 0 0 1 Eckhouse e t 2 1 1 .6 , 3 8 3 , 1 7 6 B1 5 / 2 0 0 2 Connors e t 2 1 1 .6 , 3 8 7 , 0 8 9 B1 5 / 2 0 0 2 K r e i n d e l e t a l .6 , 4 0 6 , 4 7 4 B1 6 / 2 0 0 2 N e u b e r g e r e t a 1 .

2004/0034319 A1 * 2 / 2 0 0 4 Anderson t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 4 / 2 0

o t 1 c e : u J e c t t o any i s c a1mer,t e t e r m 0 t i sN S b ' d ' l h f h 'p a t e n t i s e x t e n d e d o r a d j u s t e d u n d e r 3 5U . S . C . 1 5 4 ( b ) b y 6 2 d a y s .

( 2 1 ) A p p l . N o . : 1 0 / 2 9 1 , 0 8 6( 2 2 ) F i l e d : N O V . 8 , 2 0 0 2 * c i t e d by examinerP r i m a r y ExaminerAhmed M a r a h( 6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a ( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t , o r FirmR. N e i l S u d o l ; H e n r y D .

US 2 0 0 4 / 0 0 9 2 9 1 6 A1 May 1 3 , 2 0 0 4 C o l e m a n ; W?ham Sapone( 5 1 ) I n t . C 1 . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A61B 8 / 1 8 ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT( 5 2 ) U S . C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 6 / 9; 6 0 6 / 3 ; 6 0 6 / 1 0 ; A and h e l d d e v i c e g e n e r a t e s a p r e d e t e r m i n e d number O f

6 0 7 / 8 8 ; 1 2 8 / 8 9 8 p u l s e s o f l i g h t h a v i n g a p r e d e t e r m i n e d e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c( 5 8 ) F i e l d o f Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 6 / 3 , 9 1 3 , 1 6 2 0 , s p e c t r u m , a p r e d e t e r m i n e d d u r a t i o n , a p r e d e t e r m i n e d i n t e r6 0 6 / 2 2 2 6 ; 6 0 7 / 8 8 91 ; 1 2 8 / 8 9 8 p u l s e i n t e r v a l , a n d a p r e d e t e r m i n e d t o t a l e n e r g y . T h e p u l s e

sequence i s d e l i v e r e d t o a s k i n s u r f a c e t o t e m p o r a r i l y( 5 6 ) References C i t e d remove a i r . Aperiod o f t i m e f o r r e a p p e a r a n c e o f h a i r on t h e

s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e a f t e r t h e u s i n g o f t h e d e v i c e t o removeU ' S ' PATENT DOCUMENTS h a i r f r o m t h e s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e i s d e t e r m i n e d by c o u n t i n g5 , 4 2 5 , 7 2 8 A 6 / 1 9 9 5 T a n k o v i c h t h e d a y s t o h a i r r e a p p e a r a n c e a f t e r a t e s t l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n .5 , 5 9 5 , 5 6 8 A 1 / 1 9 9 7 Anderson e t a 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 8 2 / 1 2 2 S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e d e v i c e i s used p e r i o d i c a l l y t o apply t h e5 , 6 8 3 , 3 8 0 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 7 E c k h o u s e e t a 1 ~ p u l s e s o f l i g h t t o t h e s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e a t i n t e r v a l s o f2 * g n l g g r s o n 6 : a i ' 6 0 6 / 9 s h o r t e r l e n g t h t h a n t h e d e t e r m i n e d p e r i o d o f h a i r

, , c ouseea. - - ~ ~ -5 , 8 8 5 , 2 7 3 A 3 / 1 9 9 9 E c k h o u s e r i l g e n e r a f t i o m f t h e r e t g y t e i n p o t r a r i l y m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s e l e c t e d6,050,990 A 4/2000 Tanko vich e t a 1 . 5 n Sur ace fee 0 V151 e an6 , 0 6 3 , 0 7 6 A 5 / 2 0 0 0 M e h l , S r . e t 2 1 1 .6 , 1 5 2 , 9 1 7 A 1 1 / 2 0 0 0 T a n k o v i c h 2 8 C l a i m s , 1 Drawing S h e e t

SETTING ___>EMORYS E L E C T O R/ 1 2

l 1 0 1 4 CONTROL 5g \N I T 52 2 1 8 1 6OPTICAL LIGHT PULSEEL EM ENTS S O U R C E ' GENERATOR ;

i 2 ' 0i . . . . . ii__ v ..................... ..............................

APPLICATORINTERFAC E 26 28



23/93

U.S. Patent N o v . 3 0 , 2 0 0 4 US 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B2

5 SETTING2 EM RY; SELECTOR> O/ 1 2

1 0 1 4 CONTROLNIT

2 2 1 8 1 6OPTICAL LIGHT PULSE i; ELEMENTS SOURCE GENERATOR ;i 2 0 i2 24 " " a

v ..................... . ............................... _ iAPPLICATORNTERFACE 2 6 2 8 1

30 \ . _ 32 34 36 38

i I N T E R - P U L S E PULSE PULSEINTERVAL NUMBER POWER DURATION ;SELECTOR SELECTOR SELECTOR SELECTOR 5

Ii 42 L I G H T P U L S E CONTROLSOURCE GENERATOR U N I T

4 4 CQOLANT4 6 RESERVOIR ;4 8 O P T I C A L l 5 8

g \LEMENTS ii 'VALVE 60s o 56/ i A C T U A T O RL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . .....................................2 APPLICATOR NOZZLE 54

NTERFACE



24/93

U S 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B21

TEMPORARY HAIR REMOVAL METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONT h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s g e n e r a l l y t o h a i r r e m o v a l . More

p a r t i c u l a r l y , t h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a method f o r t h et e m p o r a r y r e m o v a l o f h a i r .A s d i s c u s s e d i n U S . P a t . No. 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 , h a i r may b er e m o v e d f r o m s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e s b y t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o fi n t e n s e , W i d e a r e a , p u l s e d e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c ( l i g h t ) e n e r g y .A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m e t h o d o l o g y o f Us. P a t . N o . 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 ,t h e e n e r g y h e a t s t h e h a i r a n d c o a g u l a t e s t h e t i s s u e a r o u n d t h eh a i r a n d f o l l i c l e W i t h o u t d a m a g i n g t h e h e a l t h y s k i n . P u r s ua n t t o t h a t p r i o r a r t d i s c l o s u r e , i t i s p r e f e r a b l e t o p r o v i d e a no p t i c a ll y t r a n s p a r e n t W a t e r b a s e d g e l o n t h e s k i n p r i o r t ot r e a t m e n t W i t h t h e e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c e n e r g y . The g e l c o o l s t h ee p i d e r m i s b u t i s a p p l i e d s o a s n o t t o e n t e r t h e c a v i t y aroundt h e h a i r f o l l i c l e , a n d t h u s d o e s n o t c o o l t h e h a i r a n d t h e h a i rf o l l i c l e . The a p p l i e d e n e r g y t h e n c o a g u l a t e s t h e h a i r W i t h o u td a m a g i n g t h e s k i n .

U S . P a t . No. 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 t e a c h e s t h e u s e o f i n c o h e r e n tp o l y c h r o m a t i c r a d i a t i o n i n a W a v e l e n g t h r a n g e t h a t p e ne t r a t e s i n t o t h e s k i n W i t h o u t b e i n g h i g h l y a t t e n u a t e d . I t i si n d i c a t e d i n t h e p a t e n t t h a t W a v e l e n g t h s s h o r t e r t h a n 550 nma r e n o t u s e f u l b e c a u s e t h e y W i l l b e h i g h l y a t t e n u a t e d b e f o r er e a c h i n g t h e l o W e r p a r t s o f t h e h a i r f o l l i c l e s . I n s t e a d , Wavel e n g t h s i n t h e r a n g e o f 550 t o 630 nm r e h e a v i l y a b s o r b e dby b l o o d a n d c a n t h e r e f o r e b e u s e d t o c o a g u l a t e t h e v e s s e l st h a t f e e d t h e h a i r s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , l o n g e r W a v e l e n g t h s , i n t h er a n g e o f 600 t o 100 nm have a v e r y good p e n e t r a t i o n i n t onon-pigmented s k i n a n d c a n b e u s e d t o c o u p l e t o t h e m e l a n i no f t h e h a i r .

U S . P a t . N o . 5 , 8 8 5 , 2 7 3 d i s c l o s e s a method o f removingh a i r t h a t i n c l u d e s p r o d u c i n g a p l u r a l i t y o f p u l s e s o f i n c oh e r e n t e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c e n e r g y , Which i s ? l t e r e d i n a c c o rd a n c e W i t h t h e c o l o r o f t h e h a i r b e i n g r e m o v e d . A a s h l a m pp r o d u c e s p u l s e s h a v i n g d e l a y s o n t h e o r d e r o f 0 . 1 msec t o10 0 msec, and an energy ?uence on t h e o r d e r of 10 t o 10 0J / c m 2 . Energy t h a t h a s a W a v e l e n g t h o f l e s s t h a n 500 nm r600 nm and g r e a t e r t h a n 1300 nm s p r e f e r a b l y ? l t e r e d o u t .L i g h t i s a p p l i e d t o t h e t r e a t e d a r e a i n e i t h e r a l o n g p u l s e o ri n a s e q u e n c e o f p u l s e s s e p a r a t e d b y a d e l a y . The d e l a ya n d / o r p u l s e l e n g t h i s p r e f e r a b l y c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e o p e r a t o rt o p r o v i d e enough h e a t t o remove t h e h a i r b u t n o t enoughh e a t t o damage t h e s k i n . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e p u l s e l e n g t h o rd e l a y b e t W e e n t h e p u l s e s s h o u l d b e more t h a n t h e c o o l i n gt i m e o f t h e g e l c o v e r e d e p i d e r m i s a n d l e s s t h a n t h e c o o l i n gt i m e o f t h e h a i r a n d f o l l i c l e . S p e c i ? c a l l y , a p u l s e l e n g t h o f5 0 msec i f a s i n g l e p u l s e i s used o r a d e l a y o f 5 0 msecbetWeen t h e p u l s e s i f a p u l s e s e q u e n c e i s u s e d a r e a p p r op r i a t e v a l u e s .

I n b r i e f , t h e a r t u s i n g e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c r a d i a t i o n s u c h a sp u l s e s o f i n c o h e r e n t l i g h t i s i n t e n d e d t o p e r m a n e n t l y removeh a i r f r o m s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e s . T h e l i g h t p u l s e s h a v ep a r a m e t e r s s u c h a s s p e c t r a l d i s p e r si o n , p u l s e d u r a t i o n a n dt o t a l e n e r g y t h a t a r e s e l e c t e d t o d e s t r o y t h e h a i r f o l l i c l e s i nt h e s e l e c t e d s k i n a r e a . U n d e r s t a n d a b l y , s u c h methods c a r r ya c e r t a i n amount o f r i s k t h a t t h e s k i n may be damaged.A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r i o r a r t m e t h o d s o f h a i r d e p i l a t i o n a r et y p i c a l l y i n t e n d e d f o r u s e b y t r a i n e d c o s m e t o l o g i s t s a n do t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s . T h e c o n s u m i n g p u b l i c i s l e f t W i t h f e Wo p t i o n s i n r e m o v i n g u n d e s i r e d h a i r .

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONI t i s a n o b j e c t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n t o p r o v i d e a method

f o r t e m p o r a r y h a i r r e m o v a l .A ore p a r t i c u l a r o b j e c t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s t o

p r o v i d e such a method t h a t i s s a f e f o r h ome u s e .

1 5

20

25

30

35

45

50

55

60

6 5

2I t i s a r e l a t e d o b j e c t o f t h e i n v e n t i o n t o p r o v i d e a method

f o r h a i r r e m o v a l , Which may r e p l a c e c u r r e n t h o m e - b a s e dm e t h o d s , f o r i n s t a n c e , o f s h a v i n g , W a x i n g , p l u c k i n g ,t W e e Z i n g , o r u s i n g d e p i l a t o r i e s .A f u r t h e r o b j e c t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s t o p r o v i d e s u c h

a method t h a t can r e s u l t i n a smooth c l e a n e r h a i r removalt h a n i s p o s s i b l e W i t h r a Z o r s a n d s h a v e r s .

T h e s e a n d o t h e r o b j e c t s o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n W i l l b ea p p a r e n t f r o m t h e d r a W i n g s a n d d e s c r i p t i o n s h e r e i n . I t i s t ob e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t e a c h o b j e c t o f t h e i n v e n t i o n i s a c h i e v e dby a t l e a s t one embodiment o f t h e i n v e n t i o n . I t i s n o tn e c e s s a r i l y t h e c a s e t h a t a n y embodiment a c h i e v e s a l l o f t h eo b j e c t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA a i r r e m o v a l method c o m p r i s e s , i n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h e

p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , g e n e r a t i n g a p r e d e t e r m i n e d n u m b e r o fp u l s e s o f l i g h t e a c h h a v i n g a p r e d e t e r m i n e d e l e c t r o m a g n e t i cs p e c t r u m , a n d d i r e c t i n g t h e p u l s e s o f l i g h t t o W a r d s a s k i ns u r f a c e . T h e l i g h t p u l s e s h a v i n g a t l e a s t o n e p u l s e d u r a t i o n ,a t l e a s t o n e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( i f t h e number o f p u l s e s i sg r e a t e r t h a n o n e ) , a n d a t o t a l e n e r g y a l l p r e d e t e r m i n e d t ot e m p o r a r i l y p r e v e n t a g r o W t h o f h a i r t h r o u g h t h e s k i ns u r f a c e f o r a p e r i o d o f t i m e . P r i o r t o a l a p s e o f t h e p e r i o d o ft i m e a f t e r t h e d i r e c t i n g o f t h e p u l s e s t o W a r d s t h e s k i ns u r f a c e , t h e p r e d e t e r m i n e d n u m b e r o f p u l s e s o f l i g h t a r ea g a i n g e n e r a t e d a n d d i r e c t e d t o W a r d s t h e s k i n s u r f a c e .

T h e p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s , n a m e l y , t h e p u l s e n u m b e r , t h e p u l s ed u r a t i o n ( s ) , t h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( s ) , t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a n dt h e s p e c t r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n ( s ) , a r e s e l e c t e d i n c o n c e r t t o o n l yt e m p o r a r i l y p r e v e n t t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f h a i r on t h e t r e a t e ds k i n s u r f a c e . T h u s , i n c o n t r a s t t o p r i o r m e t h o d s , Which a r ea i m e d a t c o m p l e t e l y d e s t r o y i n g t h e h a i r f o l l i c l e , t h e p r e s e n tm e t h o d c o n t e m p l a t e s o n l y a p a r t i a l d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e f o ll i c l e s o r , a l t e r n a t i v e l y , a d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e h a i r i n s i d e t h ef o l l i c l e s . I n e i t h e r c a s e , t h e h a i r W i l l groW a n d a g a i n a p p e a ron t h e t r e a t e d s u r f a c e i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a d d i t i o n a l c o n t r o l l e dl i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n .

The l i g h t u s e d i n a h a i r removal method i n a c c o r d a n c eW i t h t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n may b e i n c o h e r e n t a n d p r o d u c e dby a ?ashlamp o r o t h e r s o u r c e o f i n c o h e r e n t e l e c t r o m a g n e t i cr a d i a t i o n . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e l i g h t may b e c o h e r e n t a n dproduced by a l a s e r s o u r c e . I n t h e former c a s e t h e e l e c t r om a g n e t i c s p e c t r u m o f t h e l i g h t p u l s e s i s a band o fW a v e l e n g t h s , W h i l e i n t h e l a t t e r c a s e , t h e e l e c t r o m a g n e t i cs p e c t r u m o f a l i g h t p u l s e d e l i v e r e d a t o n e t i m e i s a s i n g l eW a v e l e n g t h . I n t h e f o r m e r c a s e ? l t e r s may be used t o l i m i tt h e band o f t r a n s m i t t e d W a v e l e n g t h s , W h i l e i n t h e l a t t e r c a s et h e l a s e r s o u r c e may b e a d j u s t a b l e o r t u n a b l e f o r p r o d u c i n gW a v e l e n g t h s o f d i f f e r e n t f r e q u e n c i e s .

I n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , a u s e r d e t e rmines t h e t i m e i t t a k e s f o r t h e h a i r t o r e g e n e r a t e a n d r e a p p e a ro n t h e t r e a t e d s k i n s u r f a c e a n d r e a p p l i e s t h e l i g h t p u l s e sp r i o r t o t h e e X p e c t e d t i m e o f h a i r g r o W t h t h r o u g h t h e t r e a t e ds k i n s u r f a c e . More s p e c i ? c a l l y , a h a i r removal method i na c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i n c l u d e s g e n e r a t i n g ap r e d e t e r m i n e d n u m b e r o f p u l s e s o f l i g h t e a c h h a v i n g ap r e d e t e r m i n e d e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c s p e c t r u m a n d a p p l y i n g t h ep u l s e s o f l i g h t t o a g i v e n s k i n s u r f a c e , t h e p u l s e s h a v i n g a tl e a s t o n e p r e d e t e r m i n e d p u l s e d u r a t i o n , a t l e a s t o n e p r e d et e r m i n e d i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( i f t h e n u m b e r o f p u l s e s i sg r e a t e r t h a n o n e ) , a n d a p r e d e t e r m i n e d t o t a l e n e r g y . Thev a r i o u s p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s a r e p r e d e t e r m i n e d i n s o f a r a st h e y a r e s e t o r s e l e c t e d p r i o r t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i g h te n e r g y t o t h e s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e . The d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h ed i f f e r e n t p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s i s g e n e r a l l y made p a r t i a l l y a t t h et i m e o f m a n u f a c t u r e o f t h e l i g h t - g e n e r a t i n g d e v i c e a n dp a r t i a l l y by t h e s e l e c t i o n o r s e l e c t i o n s made by t h e u s e r . Atl e a s t i n p a r t oWing o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e p u l s e s t o t h e s k i n



25/93

U S 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B23

s u r f a c e , an appearance o f v i s i b l e h a i r ? b e r s on t h e s k i ns u r f a c e i s t e m p o r a r i l y p r e v e n t e d . P a s s i n g d a y s a r e t h e nc o u n t e d b e t W e e n t h e a p p l y i n g o f t h e p u l s e s t o t h e s k i ns u r f a c e and a s u b s e q u e n t r e a p p e a r a n c e o f h a i r ? b e r s on t h es k i n s u r f a c e , t h e r e b y d e t e r m i n i n g a n e x p e c t e d h a i r r e g e ne r a t i o n p e r i o d . A f t e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h i s h a i r r e g e n e r a t i o np e r i o d , t h e s a m e p u l s e s e q u e n c e i s g e n e r a t e d , h a v i n g t h es a m e p u l s e n u m b e r , t h e same e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c s p e c t r u m ( s ) ,t h e s a m e p u l s e d u r a t i o n ( s ) , t h e s a m e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( s )( i f a p p l i c a b l e ) , a n d t h e same t o t a l e n e r g y . T h i s p u l s es e q u e n c e i s d i r e c t e d t o W a r d s t h e g i v e n s k i n s u r f a c e .T h e r ea f t e r , p r i o r t o a l a p s e o f t h e d e t e r m i n e d h a i r r e g e n e r at i o n p e r i o d , t h e l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n i s r e p e a t e d W i t h p u l s e s o fl i g h t h a v i n g ( i f d e s i r e d ) t h e s a m e s p e c t r u m , t h e s a m en u m b e r , t h e same d u r a t i o n , t h e same i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( i fa p p l i c a b l e ) , a n d t h e same t o t a l e n e r g y . I t i s t o b e n o t e d t h a tt h e h a i r r e g e n e r a t i o n p e r i o d may c h a n g e W i t h t i m e , i n p a r ta s a r e s u l t o f t h e l i g h t t r e a t m e n t s . I n r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h a tp o t e n t i a l i t y , t h e r e g e n e r a t i o n t i m e may b e r e c a l c u l a t e d a f t e ra n y g i v e n number o f t r e a t m e n t s . And i f t h e r e g e n e r a t i o nt i m e d o e s c h a n g e , t h e i n t e r v a l b e t W e e n s u c c e s s i v e l i g h tt r e a t m e n t s may b e a d j u s t e d a c c o r d i n g l y .

The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s t h u s d i r e c t e d t o a method f o r t h et e m p o r a r y r e m o v a l o f h a i r W h e r e i n l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n i sr e p e a t e d p r i o r t o h a i r r e a p p e a r a n c e . T h i s method s e r v e s t om a i n t a i n a smooth and h a i r f r e e s k i n s u r f a c e c o n t i n u o u s l y a sl o n g a s t h e l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n i s r e p e a t e d i n d u e c o u r s e p r i o rt o t h e e x p e c t e d t i m e o f h a i r r e a p p e a r a n c e .

The method o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n may b e a p p l i e d t of a c i a l h a i r , l e g h a i r , u n d e r a r m h a i r , c h e s t h a i r , e t c . , u s i n gh a n d h e l d d e v i c e s o f p r i o r a r t d e s i g n s , f o r i n s t a n c e , W i t h al i g h t source such a s a ?ashlamp, a r e ? e c t o r , one or morel e n s e s , a n d a n a p p l i c a t i o n i n t e r f a c e s u c h a s a s k i n - c o n t a c t i n gc r y s t a l . The c r y s t a l may f u n c t i o n a s a c o o l i n g e l e m e n t .A l t e r n a t i v e l y , a s e p a r a t e c o o l i n g medi u m s u c h a s a g e l mayb e a p p l i e d t o t h e s k i n s u r f a c e p r i o r t o t h e l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n .

A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e s t h e u s eo f a hand h e l d d e v i c e f o r g e n e r a t i n g a p r e d e t e r m i n e d numb e r o f p u l s e s o f l i g h t h a v i n g a p r e d e t e r m i n e d e l e c t r o m a gn e t i c s p e c t r u m a n d f o r a p p l y i n g t h e p u l s e s o f l i g h t t o a s k i ns u r f a c e , t h e p u l s e s h a v i n g o n e o r more p r e d e t e r m i n e dd u r a t i o n s , one o r more p r e d e t e r m i n e d i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l s( i f n u m b e r o f p u l s e s i s g r e a t e r t h a n o n e ) , a n d a p r e d e t e rmined t o t a l e n e r g y . The d e v i c e i s u s e d t o t e m p o r a r i l yremove h a i r from a s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e . A e r i o d o f t i m ef o r r e a p p e a r a n c e o f h a i r on t h e s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e a f t e r t h eu s i n g o f t h e d e v i c e t o remove h a i r from t h e s e l e c t e d s k i ns u r f a c e i s d e t e r m i n e d , f o r i n s t a n c e , b y s i m p l y c o u n t i n g t h ed a y s t o h a i r r e a p p e a r a n c e a f t e r a t e s t l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n .S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e d e v i c e i s u s e d p e r i o d i c a l l y t o a p p l y t h ep u l s e s o f l i g h t t o t h e s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e a t i n t e r v a l s o fs h o r t e r l e n g t h t h a n t h e d e t e r m i n e d p e r i o d o f h a i rr e g e n e r a t i o n , t h e r e b y t e m p o r a r i l y m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s e l e c t e ds k i n s u r f a c e f r e e o f v i s i b l e h a i r . The r e g e n e r a t i o n t i m e a f t e ra n y number o f t r e a t m e n t s may b e measured a g a i n a f t e r a n ynumber o f l i g h t t r e a t m e n t s e s s i o n s . I f t h e r e g e n e r a t i o n t i m ec h a n g e s , t h e i n t e r v a l b e t W e e n s u c c e s s i v e l i g h t t r e a t m e n t smay b e a d j u s t e d a c c o r d i n g l y .

T h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( W h e r e t h e n u m b e r o f p u l s e s i sg r e a t e r t h a n o n e ) m a y , i n d i f f e r e n t a p p l i c a t i o n s o f t h ei n v e n t i o n , b e a n y W h e r e f r o m 1 m i l l i s e c o n d t o 2 s e c o n d s .G e n e r a l l y , t h e s m a l l e r t h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l , t h e g r e a t e r t h er i s k o f damage t o t h e s k i n . T h u s , t h e s m a l l e r i n t e r - p u l s ei n t e r v a l s s h o u l d b e u s e d o n l y i n p r o f e s s i o n a l s e t t i n g s . I nh o m e - b a s e d e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h e i n t e r - p u l s ei n t e r v a l o f a l i g h t t r e a t m e n t i s p r e f e r a b l y g r e a t e r t h a n 200m s e c . An n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l o f s u c h a magnitude a l l o W sp a r t i a l c o o l i n g o f t h e h a i r f o l l i c l e s a n d r e d u c e s t h e c h a n c e so f c o m p l e t e f o l l i c l e d e s t r u c t i o n a n d i n a d v e r t e n t damage t ot h e e p i d e r m i s . P r e f e r a b l y , t h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l i s b e t w e e n

10

1 5

25

35

40

45

55

6 5

4200 msec and a b o u t 500 msec. An n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l o f 300msec i s e f f e c t i v e .

The t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d may b e a n y W h e r e f r o m 1 J o u l ep e r s q u a r e c e n t i m e t e r o f t r e a t e d s k i n su r f a c e t o a b o u t 200J / c m 2 . G e n e r a l l y , t h e h i g h e r e n e r g i e s e n t a i l g r e a t e r r i s k t os k i n i n t e g r i t y a n d s h o u l d b e u s e d o n l y b y s k i l l e d p r o f e ss i o n a l s . F o r home u s e , t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d s h o u l d b el o W e r , b e t W e e n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 J / c m 2 a n d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0J / c m 2 o f t h e s k i n s u r f a c e . T h i s e n e r g y r a n g e i s a p p r o p r i a t ef o r p e r s o n s o f l i g h t s k i n c o l o r . Where t h e s k i n c o l o r i s on t h ed a r k s i d e , t h e u p p e r l i m i t o f t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d t o a u n i to f s k i n s u r f a c e s h o u l d b e l e s s , f o r i n s t a n c e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y2 0 J / c m 2 .

G e n e r a l l y , i t i s c o n t e m p l a t e d t h a t d e v i c e s u s e d i n amethod p u r s u a n t t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n W i l l r e q u i r e as e l e c t i o n of a maximum r t o t a l energy t o be a p p l i e d t o as k i n s u r f a c e . T h i s r e q u i r e m e n t t y p i c a l l y e n t a i l s some e s t r i ct i o n o n t h e u s e r s f r e e d o m i n s e l e c t i n g t h e m a g n i t u d e s o fo t h e r p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s . I n a s i m p l e d e v i c e , t h e u s e r may b ea b l e t o s e l e c t o n l y o n e p u l s e p a r a m e t e r , n a m e l y t h e t o t a le n e r g y . Such a d e v i c e m i g h t , f o r i n s t a n c e , h a v e h i g h ,medium a n d loW e t t i n g s . I n a more complex d e v i c e , s e t t i n go f t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d b y a p u l s e s e q u e n c e W i l l l i m i t t h er a n g e o f o p t i o n s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e u s e r i n s e t t i n g t h e o t h e rp a r a m e t e r s . For i n s t a n c e , once t h e u s e r s e l e c t s t h e t o t a le n e r g y a n d t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o n , t h e number o f p u l s e s i sd e t e r m i n e d , p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e r a t e o f e n e r g y p r o d u c t i o n o ri n t e n s i t y i s n o t a d j u s t a b l e . I f t h e i n t e n s i t y i s a d j u s t a b l e , t h eu s e r W i l l h a v e some l e e W a y i n s e l e c t i n g b o t h t h e p u l s ed u r a t i o n a n d t h e number o f p u l s e s . I n t h a t c a s e , t h e i n t e n s i t ymay b e a u t o m a t i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e l i g h t - g e n e r a t i n gd e v i c e s o t h a t t h e t o t a l energy does n o t exceed t h e s e t v a l u e .

The d u r a t i o n o f t h e l i g h t b u r s t s o r p u l s e s may b e a s l i t t l ea s 1 millisecond o r a s g r e a t a s tWo seconds. The s h o r t e s td u r a t i o n s a n d h i g h e r e n e r g i e s a r e recommended o r p r o f e ss i o n a l l y s u p e r v i s e d l i g h t t r e a t m e n t s o n l y . F o r o r d i n a r y c o nsumers o r u n s k i l l e d u s e r s , t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o n s h o u l d bel o n g e r , p r e f e r a b l y a b o v e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 msec a n d morep r e f e r a b l y b e t W e e n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 msec a n d a p p r o x im a t e l y 20 m s e c . A u l s e d u r a t i o n o f 7 msec i s e f f e c t i v e .

P u r s u a n t t o o n e embodiment o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , t h el i g h t o f t h e p u l s e s i s i n c o h e r e n t a n d t h e s p e c t r u m i n c l u d e sW a v e l e n g t h s betWeen a b o u t 300 nm and 1200 nm. LongerW a v e l e n g t h s a r e u s e d f o r d a r k e r s k i n , f o r d e e p e r h a i r s a n dd e e p e r r e m o v a l . I n some embodiments o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h es p e c t r u m o f t h e p u l s e s may b e l i m i t e d t o W a v e l e n g t h sbetWeen about 300 nm and 550 nm. These embodiments W i l lr e q u i r e a more f r e q u e n t a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i g h t e n e r g y t oe f f e c t u a t e t e m p o r a r y h a i r r e m o v a l .

The number o f p u l s e s i n e a c h p u l s e s e q u e n c e o r t r e a t m e n ts e s s i o n ( a s a p p l i e d t o a g i v e n s k i n a r e a ) may b e b e t W e e n o n ea n d t e n , W h i l e t h e t o t a l d u r a t i o n o f a p u l s e s e q u e n c e r a n g e sbetWeen 1 m i l l i s e c o n d and 3 8 s e c o n d s .

As i n d i c a t e d a b o v e , t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e st h a t some a d j u s t m e n t may b e made by t h e u s e r i n t h ep a r t i c u l a r o p e r a t i o n a l p a r a m e t e r s o f t h e l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o nd e v i c e . For i n s t a n c e , a s i m p l e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e may have ap l u r a l i t y o f s e t t i n g s , f o r i n s t a n c e , h i g h , m e d i u m , a n d l o W ,Where one o r more o f t h e o p e r a t i o n a l parameters haved i f f e r e n t p r e - e s t a b l i s h e d v a l u e s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e s e t t i n g .T h u s , h i g h , m e d i u m , a n d l o W s e t t i n g s may v a r y i n t h en u m b e r o f a p p l i e d p u l s e s , t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o n , t h e i n t e r - p u l s ei n t e r v a l , a n d / o r t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d . A s e r c o u l d s t a r tW i t h a loW s e t t i n g t o s e e Whether t h e h a i r f a l l s o u t and f n o t ,t r y t h e n e x t h i g h e r s e t t i n g . U s u a l l y , i t i s p r e f e r a b l e t o u s e t h el o W e s t s e t t i n g W h i c h a c c o m p l i s h e s t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t .

I t i s t o be noted t h a t consumer d e v i c e s may be p r e p r og r a m m e d W i t h a u t o m a t i c a l l y o p e r a t i n g s a f e t y c o n t r o l sWhich i n h i b i t t h e u s e r f r o m i n a d v e r t e n t l y e x p o s i n g h i m s e l f



26/93

US 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B25

o r h e r s e l f t o d a n g e r o u s q u a n t i t i e s o f l i g h t e n e r g y . T h u s , i n ar e l a t i v e l y c o m p l e x c o n s u m e r p r o d u c t , t h e u s e r s s e t t i n g o fone p a r a m e t e r a t a p o t e n t i a l l y dangerous v a l u e W i l l c a u s e t h edevice e i t h e r t o l i m i t t h e s e l e c t a b l e ranges of one o r m o r eo t h e r p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s o r t o a u t o m a t i c a l l y a d j u s t p u l s ep a r a m e t e r s t o p r e v e n t a n e x c e s s i v e r a t e o f e n e r g y d e l i v e r y .F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a s m a l l i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l m a yp r e v e n t t h e u s e r f r o m s e l e c t i n g a l o n g p u l s e d u ra t i o n a n d / o ra s m a l l number o f p u l s e s o r , a l t e r n a t i v e l y , m a y r e s u l t i n a na u t o m a t i c d i m i n u t i o n o f t h e i n t e n s i t y ( e . g . , v i a e n g a g e m e n to f a n i n t e n s i t y - r e d u c i n g ? l t e r ) .

The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n p r o v i d e s a method f o r t h e tempor a r y removal o f h a i r . The method i s s a f e f o r h o m e u s e . Thee n e r g i e s u s e d a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y loW t o a v o i d s k i n d a m a g e .B e c a u s e t h e l i g h t i s a p p l i e d p r i o r t o t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f h a i ro n a s k i n s u r f a c e , t h e s k i n s u r f a c e may e maintained i n ah a i r l e s s c o n d i t i o n c o n t i n u o u s l y . I f t h e i n d i v i d u a l W i s h e s t ogroW a i r a t a n y l o c a t i o n , t h i s i s p o s s i b l e b y m e r e l y r e f r a i ni n g f r o m l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n c o n t e mp l a t e s t h e u s e o f a l i g h t a p p l i c a t o r p e r i o d i c a l l y , s a y , a ti n t e r v a l s o f a W e e k o a f e W months. I n s o m e c a s e s , t h e l i g h ta p p l i c a t i o n may b e d a i l y , a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r d a i l y s h a v i n gW i t h a raZor or shaver.

I n c o n t r a s t t o s h a v i n g , Which c u t s h a i r s a t o r above t h es k i n s u r f a c e , t h e method o f p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n s e v e r s t h e h a i r sb e l o W t h e s k i n s u r f a c e , t h e r e b y p r e s e n t i n g a s m o o t h e r ,c l e a n e r , more c o m p l e t e h a i r r e m o v a l . I n c o n t r a s t , a l l conv e n t i o n a l m e t h o d s o f h a i r r e m o v a l , i n c l u d i n g s h a v i n g ,W a x i n g , p l u c k i n g , t W e e Z i n g , e l e c t r o l y s i s , l a s e r l i g h ta p p l i c a t i o n , i n c o h e r e n t l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n , o r t h e u s e o fd e p i l a t o r i e s , r e q u i r e t h e p r o t r u s i o n o f t h e h a i r s a t t h e s k i ns u r f a c e .

I t s h o u l d b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t m e t h o d o l o g y mayb e u s e d i n p r o f e s s i o n a l s e t t i n g s , i n s p a s o r s a l o n s , b yp r o f e s s i o n a l c o s m e t i c s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r s . H i g h e r e n e r g i e smay b e u s e d i n s u c h s e t t i n g s . Even h i g h e r e n e r g i e s a n d morec o m p l e x s e t t i n g s may b e u s e d b y l i c e n s e d m e d i c a l p r o f e ss i o n a l s i n m e d i c a l o f ? c e s .

B RI E F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSF I G . 1 i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m o f a l i g h t - p u l s e g e n e r a t i n gd e v i c e f o r u s e i n a method i n accordance With t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n .

F I G . 2 i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m o f a n o t h e r l i g h t - p u l s e g e n e r a ti n g d e v i c e f o r u s e i n a method i n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As d e p i c t e d i n F I G . 1 , a d e v i c e f o r g e n e r a t i n g l i g h t p u l s e sf o r a p p l i c a t i o n t o a s k i n s u r f a c e i n a h a i r removal p r o c e s si n c l u d e s a m a n u a l l y o p e r a b l e s e t t i n g s e l e c t o r 1 0 c o n n e c t e da t an output t o a memory 12 i n t u r n connected a t an outputt o a c o n t r o l u n i t 1 4 . M e m o r y 1 2 s t o r e s p r e - e s t a b l i s h e dc o m b i n a t i o n s o f l i g h t p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s i n c l u d i n g p u l s eW i d t h o r d u r a t i o n , i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l o r d e l a y t i m e , p u l s en u m b e r , l i g h t i n t e n s i t y , a n d t o t a l t r e a t m e n t e n e r g y . C o n t r o lu n i t 1 4 m a y b e a m i c r o p r o c e s s o r o r a s p e c i a l l o g i c c i r c u i tc o n n e c t e d t o a p u l s e g e n e r a t o r 1 6 f o r i n d u c i n g t h e g e n e r a t o rt o produce a sequence o f e l e c t r i c a l c o n t r o l p u l s e s f e d t o as o u r c e 1 8 o f i n c o h e r e n t l i g h t e n e r g y . S o u r c e 1 8 p r o d u c e sl i g h t W i t h a s p e c t r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n i n c l u d i n g W a v e l e n g t h sbetWeen 500 nm and 1200 nm. C o n t r o l u n i t 14 may bec o n n e c t e d d i r e c t l y t o s o u r c e 18 Where t h e s o u r c e i n c o r p or a t e s means f o r v a r y i n g p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s p u r s u a n t t oencoded i n s t r u c t i o n s .

L i g h t s o u r c e 1 8 ( a s W e l l a s t h e e n t i r e l i g h t p u l s ea p p l i c a t o r ) m a y t a k e a n y kn oWn form s u c h a s t h o s e d i sc l o s e d i n US. P a t . N o . 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 a n d US. P a t . N o . 5 , 8 8 5 ,2 7 3 . T h u s , l i g h t s o u r c e 1 8 m a y b e a Xenon ? a s h l a m p .

10

1 5

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

60

6 5

6L i g h t 2 0 g e n e r a t e d b y s o u r c e 1 8 i s d i r e c t e d t h r o u g h a n

a r r a y o f o p t i c a l elements 22 t h a t may n c l u d e one o r m o r er e ? e c t o r s , l e n s e s , a n d ? l t e r s ( n o t s e p a r a t e l y s h o W n ) . W h e r ea n a d j u s t a b l e ? l t e r i s i n c l u d e d , c o n t r o l u n i t 1 4 m a y b ec o n n e c t e d t o t h e ? l t e r f o r o p e r a t i v e l y m o d i f y i n g t h e a c t i o nt h e r e o f . F o r i n s t a n c e , i n t h e c a s e o f a n a d j u s t a b l e n e u t r a ld e n s i t y ? l t e r , c o n t r o l u n i t 1 4 may i n d u c e a c h a n g e i n t h e? l t e r d e n s i t y t o c o n t r o l t h e i n t e n s i t y , a n d t h e r e f o r e t h ep o W e r , o f t h e l i g h t a p p l i e d t o a s e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e .

I n t h e c a s e o f m ul t i p l e W a v e l e n g t h s o f l i g h t b e i n gp r o d u ce d , a n a d j u s t a b l e ? l t e r may b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e o p t i c a le l e m e n t s 2 2 a n d / o r t h e a p p l i c a t o r i n t e r f a ce 2 6 . T h e s e ? l t e r scan block u n d e s i r e d Wavelengths and a l l o W d e s i r e d W a v el e n g t h s t o p a s s . LoW nd ? l t e r s t h a t b l o c k l o W e r o r s h o r t e rW a v e l e n g t h s , h i g h e n d ? l t e r s t h a t b l o c k h i g h e r o r l o n g e rWavelengths o r band p a s s ? l t e r s t h a t block s o m e h i g h o rsome loW end W a v e l e n g t h s m a y b e u t i l i Z e d .

L i g h t 24 l e a v i n g t h e o p t i c a l a r r a y 2 2 i s d e l i v e r e d o ra p p l i e d t o a s k i n s u r f a c e v i a an a p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c ee l e m e n t 2 6 e x e m p l a r i l y t a k i n g t h e f o r m o f a c r y s t a l . US.P a t . N o . 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 a n d US. P a t . N o . 5 , 8 8 5 , 2 7 3 d i s c l o s ek i n d s o f a p p l i c a t o r s o r i n t e r f a c e s u t i l i Z a b l e i n t h e d e v i c e o fF I G . 1 ( o r 2 ) . A p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c e e l e m e n t 2 6 mayf u n c t i o n i n p a r t t o c o o l t h e s k i n s u r f a c e p r i o r t o , d u r i n g ,a n d / o r a f t e r a l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e d u r e . C o o l i n g may b ea c c o m p l i s h e d b y u s i n g a c r y s t a l - t y p e a p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c e2 6 , W i t h o r W i t h o u t a l a y e r o f g e l , a s d e s c r i b e d i n U S . P a t .N o . 6 , 2 8 0 , 4 3 8 a n d US. P a t . N o . 5 , 8 8 5 , 2 7 3 .

The elements o f FIG. 1 a r e encased i n o r mounted t o ah o u s i n g 2 8 o f a s i Z e a n d c o n ? g u r a t i o n e n a b l i n g t h e p u l s eg e n e r a t i o n d e v i c e t o b e h a n d h e l d a n d e a s i l y m a n i p u l a t e d f o rp u r p o s e s o f o p t i c a l l y t r e a t i n g d i f f e r e n t s k i n s u r f a c e s o f t h eindividual u s e r .

The d e v i c e o f F I G . 1 i s p r e p r o g r a m m e d t o p r o d u c e l i g h tp u l s e s i n a n y o f s e v e r a l s e t t i n g s , e a c h s e t t i n g b e i n g d e ? n e db y a r e s p e c t i v e c o m b i n a t i o n o f p a r t i c u l a r o p e r a t i o n a l p a r a me t e r s i n c l u d i n g p u l s e d u r a t i o n , i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l , p u l s en u m b e r , a n d i n t e n s i t y o r t o t a l e n e r g y . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h ed e v i c e may h a v e a p l u r a l i t y o f s e t t i n g s , f o r i n s t a n c e , h i g h ,m e d i u m , a n d l o W , W h i c h v a r y i n t h e number o f a p p l i e dp u l s e s ( e . g . , 3 , 2 , 1 ) , t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o n ( 9 m s e c , 7 m s e c , 5m s e c ) , t h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l ( 2 5 0 m s e c , 3 0 0 m s e c , 3 5 0m s e c ) , a n d / o r t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a p p l i e d ( 3 5 J / c m 2 , 2 0 J / c m 2 ,10 J / c m 2 ) . A s e r c o u l d s t a r t With a l o W s e t t i n g t o s e eW h e t h e r t h e h a i r f a l l s o u t a n d i f n o t , t r y t h e n e x t h i g h e rs e t t i n g . U s u a l l y , i t i s p r e f e r a b l e t o u s e t h e l o W e s t s e t t i n gW h i c h a c c o m p l i s h e s t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t .A o r e advanced o r complex d e v i c e i s i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G .2 . T h i s d e v i c e i n c l u d e s a h o u s i n g 30 h a v i n g m a n u a l l y

a c t u a t a b l e i n p u t e l e m e n t s 3 2 , 3 4 , 3 6 , a n d 3 8 , s u c h a s r o t a r ykn obs o r a s o l i d - s t a t e touch s c r e e n , W h i c h enable a user t oi n d i v i d u a l l y s e l e c t m u l t i p l e o p e r a t i n g p a r a m e t e r s . I n p u t e l ements o r s e l e c t o r s 3 2 , 3 4 , 3 6 , and 38 a r e a n i n t e r - p u l s ei n t e r v a l s e l e c t o r , a p u l s e number s e l e c t o r , a p o W e r o r e n e r g ys e l e c t o r , a n d a p u l s e d u r a t i o n s e l e c t i o n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .A n o t h e r s e l e c t o r ( n o t s h o W n ) c o u l d b e f o r i n t e n s i t ya d j u s t m e n t , W h i l e a f u r t h e r s e l e c t o r m a y b e p r o v i d e d f o ra d j u s t i n g a l i g h t s o u r c e 42 o r a ? l t e r i n o p t i c a l e l e m e n t s 48a n d / o r a n a p p l i c a t o r 5 2 f o r m o d i f y i n g t h e W a v e l e n g t h b a n dd e l i v e r e d t o t h e t a r g e t s k i n s u r f a c e . S e l e c t o r s 3 2 , 3 4 , 3 6 , a n d38 a r e o p e r a t i v e l y t i e d t o a c o n t r o l u n i t 40 such a s am i c r o p r o c e s s o r o r h a r d - W i r e d l o g c i r c u i t . C o n t r o l u n i t 4 0r e g u l a t e s t h e o p e r a t i o n o f l i g h t s o u r c e 42 such a s a convent i o n a l ? a s h l a m p , e i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y v i a a p u l s eg e n e r a t o r 4 4 . L i g h t 4 6 f r o m s o u r c e 4 2 i s t r a n s m i t t e d a l o n ga p a t h t h r o u g h o p t i c a l e l e m e n t s 4 8 o p t i o n a l l y i n c l u d i n g o n eo r m o r e r e ? e c t o r s , l e n s e s , a n d ? l t e r s ( n o t s e p a r a t e l y s h o W n ) .L i g h t 50 a t a n o u t p u t o f t h e o p t i c a l a r r a y 48 i s a p p l i e d t o as k i n s u r f a c e v i a a p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c e e l e m e n t 5 2 . A p p l ic a t o r o r i n t e r f a c e element 52 m a y t a k e t h e fo rm o f a c r y s t a l



27/93

US 6 , 8 2 4 , 5 4 2 B27

block o r a t r a n s p a r e n t o r t r a n s l u c e n t p o u c h ? l l e d With at r a n s p a r e n t o r t r a n s l u c e n t ?uid such a s a g e l o r a l i q u i d . I nt h e c a s e o f a g e l , t h e pouch ( 5 2 ) may b e p r o v i d e d W i t hp e r f o r a t i o n s o n a s k i n - c o n t a c t i n g s u r f a c e f o r e x u d i n g t h e g e lo f c o o l i n g p u r p o s e s . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , a s shoWn i n F I G . 2 , t h el i g h t p u l s e d e v i c e may b e p r o v i d e d W i t h a ? u i d d i s p e n s e rsuch a s a spray noZZle 54 connected t o a valve 56 doWns t r e a m o f a p r e s s u r i Z e d c o o l a n t r e s e r v o i r 5 8 . I n r e s p o n s e t oan o p e r a t i o n o f a manua l a c t u a t o r 60 o r i n response t os i g n a l s f r o m c o n t r o l u n i t 4 0 , v a l v e 5 6 e n a b l e s a ? o W o fc o o l a n t from r e s e r v o i r 58 t o n o Z Z l e 54 f o r a p p l i c a t i o n t o as e l e c t e d s k i n s u r f a c e . I n t h e e v e n t t h a t a p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c ee l e m e n t 5 2 i s a bag o r p o u c h , r e s e r v o i r 58 a n d v a l v e 5 6 m a ybe c o n n e c t e d t o t h e a p p l i c a t o r o r i n t e r f a c e e l e m e n t f o rs u p p l y i n g a g e l o r ? u i d c o o l a n t t h e r e t o .

I n one embodiment o f t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 2 , s u i t a b l e f o rp r o f e s s i o n a l b u t n o t h ome u s e , i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l s e l e c t o r32 p r o v i d e s f o r i n t e r v a l s i n a r a n g e from 1 msec and 2s e c o n d s , W h e r e a s p u l s e number s e l e c t o r 34 i s e n a b l e d f o rp u l s e s e q u e n c e s o f o n e t o t e n p u l s e s . I n a d d i t i o n , p o W e rs e l e c t o r 3 6 p e r m i t s t r e a t m e n t e n e r g i e s b e t W e e n 1 J o u l e p e rs q u a r e c e n t i m e t e r o f s k i n s u r f a c e and 200 J o u l e s p e r s q u a r ec e n t i m e t e r , W h i l e p u l s e d u r a t i o n s e l e c t o r 3 8 e n a b l e s p u l s e so f 1 msec t o 2 s e c o n d s i n l e n g t h . T o t a l p u l s e s e q u e n c ed u r a t i o n , f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e ? r s t p u l s e t o t h e t e r m in a t i o n o f t h e ? n a l p u l s e , r a n g e s from 1 msec t o 38 s e c o n d s .The v a r i o u s p u l s e s e q u e n c e p a r a m e t e r s may b e s e l e c t a b l efrom s e t s o f d i s c r e t e v a l u e s o r , a l t e r n a t i v e l y , from c o n t i n uo u s ranges.

I n t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 2 , t h e v a r i o u s p a r a m e t e r s a r et y p i c a l l y n o t c o m p l e t e l y i n d e p e n d e n t i n a s m u c h a s t h e t o t a lenergy s e l e c t e d W i l l f u n c t i o n a s a c o n s t r a i n t o n t h e rangesa v a i l a b l e f o r t h e o t h e r p a r a m e t e r s , t h a t i s , t h e t o t a l e n e r g ys e l e c t e d W i l l s e r v e t o r e g u l a t e o r c i r c u m s c r i b e t h e r a n g e sa v a i l a b l e t o t h e u s e r f o r t h e o t h e r p u l s e s e q u e n c e p a r a m e t e r s .W here t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 2 h a s n o i n t e n s i t y a d j u s t m e n tc a p a b i l i t y , a s e l e c t i o n o f t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a n d t h e p u l s ed u r a t i o n m a y d e t e r m i n e t h e number o f p u l s e s . S i m i l a r l y , as e l e c t i o n o f t h e t o t a l e n e r g y a n d t h e number o f p u l s e s m a yd e t e r m i n e t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o n . I f t h e i n t e n s i t y i s a n a d j u s t a b l ep a r a m e t e r , once t h e t o t a l e n e r g y h a s been c h o s e n , t h e u s e rW i l l b e a b l e t o s e l e c t t h e m a g n i t u d e s o f tWo o f t h e t h r e ep a r a m e t e r s , p u l s e d u r a t i o n , i n t e n s i t y a n d n u m b e r o f p u l s e s .The i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l i s r e l a t e d t o t h e r a t e a t W hich r a d i a n te n e r g y i s a p p l i e d t o a s k i n s u r f a c e a n d m a y a c c o r d i n g l y b es u b j e c t e d t o some programmed c o n t r o l . L o n g e r p u l s e d u r at i o n s a n d / o r d e l a y s W i l l d e l i v e r e n e r g y a t a s l o W e r r a t e ( t o t a le n e r g y i s d i s t r i b u t e d o v e r l o n g e r t i m e ) a n d t h e r e f o r e b e s a f e rt o u s e W i t h h i g h e r e n e r g y l e v e l s . P r e f e r a b l y , t h e t o t a l e n e r g yi s a l W a y s a s e l e c t a b l e p a r a m e t e r a n d i s b e s t s e l e c t e d p r i o r t ot h e s e t t i n g o f t h e o t h e r p a r a m e t e r s . H o W e v e r , t h e d e v i c e o fF I G . 2 m a y be preprogrammed t o l i m i t t h e r a t e a t W hichr a d i a n t e n e r g y i s a p p l i e d t o a s k i n s u r f a c e , Which W i l l f o r c er e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e u s e r s a b i l i t y t o s e l e c t p u l s e p a r a m e t e rv a l u e s .

I n a n a l t e r n a t i v e embodiment o f t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 2 ,s u i t a b l e f o r h ome u s e , i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l s e l e c t o r 3 2e n a b l e s a s e l e c t i o n o f i n t e r v a l s r a n g i n g fr om 200 msec t o 2s e c o n d s , W h i l e poWer s e l e c t o r 3 6 e n a b l e s t r e a t m e n t e n e r g i e sb e t W e e n 1 J / c m 2 a n d 4 0 J / c m 2 . P r e f e r a b l y , t h e p u l s e d u r a t i o nand t h e number o f p u l s e s a v a i l a b l e f o r s e l e c t i o n a r er e s t r i c t e d s o a s t o prevent t h e u s e r f r o m d e l i v e r i n g energy a tt o o h i g h a r a t e . I f t h e u s e r s e l e c t s a l a r g e p u l s e number, t h ep u l s e d u r a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r i l y s h o r t , W h e r e a s a s m a l l numbero f p u l s e s f o r c e s a l o n g e r p u l s e d u r a t i o n i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v et h e s e l e c t e d t o t a l e n e r g y . I t i s p r e f e r a b l e t o u s e a l a r g e rnumber o f p u l s e s a n d a s m a l l e r p u l s e d u r a t i o n i n o r d e r t ol i m i t t h e r a t e a t W hich l i g h t e n e r g y i s a p p l i e d t o a s k i ns u r f a c e . P u l s e number s e l e c t o r 34 m a y t h e r e f o r e e n a b l e as e l e c t i o n o f t h r e e t o t e n p u l s e s p e r p ul s e s e q u e n c e , W h i l e

10

1 5

25

40

45

55

6 5

8p u l s e d u r a t i o n s e l e c t o r 38 e n a b l e s a s e l e c t i o n o f p u l s e sl a s t i n g 1 mse c t o 10 m s e c . The v a r i o u s p u l s e sequencep a r a m e t e r s m a y b e s e l e c t a b l e from s e t s o f d i s c r e t e v a l u e s o r ,a l t e r n a t i v e l y , f r o m c o n t i n u o u s r a n g e s .

Aperson u s e s t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 1 o r 2 t o a p p l y p u l s e s o fl i g h t t o a s k i n s u r f a c e f o r p u r p o s e s o f e f f e c t i v e l y s e v e r i n g o rd e s t r o y i n g h a i r ? b e r s beloW t h e s u r f a c e o f t h e s k i n t ot e m p o r a r i ly p r e v e n t h a i r s f r o m g r o W i n g t h r o u g h a n d t h u sbecoming v i s i b l e on t h e s k i n . The u s e r ? r s t performs ac a l i b r a t i o n o r i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n procedure t o determine an app rop r i a t e p u l s e s e t t i n g a n d a h a i r - r e g e n e r a t i o n p e r i o d f o r t h a ts e t t i n g . The t e r m h a i r - r e g e n e r a t i o n p e r i o d i s u s e d h e r e i n t od e n o t e t h e t i m e i t t a k e s f o r h a i r t o r e a p p e a r on t h e s k i ns u r f a c e a f t e r a p u l s e s e q u e n c e h a s been a p p l i e d t o t h a ts u r f a c e a t a s e l e c t e d s e t t i n g .

During t h e c a l i b r a t i o n o r i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n s t a g e , t h e u s e rs h o u l d ? r s t s e l e c t a l o W - e n e r g y p u l s e s e q u e n c e t o d e t e r m i n eW h e t h e r t h a t s e q u e n c e i s e f f e c t i v e i n removing t h e h a i r o f as e l e c t e d s k i n r e g i o n . The i n d i v i d u a l m a y ?nd t h a t a g i v e ns e t t i n g d o e s n o t a d e q u a t e l y remove t h e h a i r ( e . g . , some h a i r sdo n o t f a l l o u t ) o r r e q ui r e s a t o o f r e q u e n t t r e a t m e n t . I n s u c hc a s e s , t h e i n d i v i d u a l s h o u l d r e t r y t h e c a l i b r a t i o n o r i n i t i a li Z a t i o n p r o c e d u r e u s i n g a h i g h e r - e n e r g y s e t t i n g .

Using t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 1 , a n i n d i v i d u a l W i l l ? r s t s e l e c ta loW s e t t i n g t o d e t e r m i n e W h e t h e r t h a t loW s e t t i n g i se f f e c t i v e i n h a i r r e m o v a l . I f n o t , a n e X t h i g h e r o r m e d i u ms e t t i n g may b e t r i e d . G e n e r a l l y , h i g h e r s e t t i n g s W i l l b e u s e do n l y a s t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s W a r r a n t , f o r i n s t a n c e , i f t h e h a i r? b e r s a r e t h i c k a n d t h e s k i n i s l i g h t .

I n d e t e r m i n i n g o p t i m a l s e t t i n g s W i t h t h e d e v i c e o f F I G . 2 ,a u s e r should choose i n i t i a l parameter v a l u e s Which i nc o m b i n a t i o n r e s u l t i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f s m a l l amounts o fe n e r g y . T h u s , Where one o r more s e l e c t e d p u l s e p a r a m e t e r sa r e a s s o c i a t e d W i t h h i g h t re a t m e n t e n e r g i e s , o t h e r p u l s ep a r a m e t e r s s h o u l d be s e l e c t e d t h a t a r e a s s o c i a t e d W i t h loWt r e a t m e n t e n e r g i e s .

Where a l l t h e p u l s e p a r a m e t e r s a r e i n d e p e n d e n t l ya d j u s t a b l e , l o W e r t r e a t m e n t e n e r g i e s W i l l g e n e r a l l y r e s u l tf r o m s e t t i n g s i n v o l v i n g f e W p u l s e s ( s a y , 1 3 i n s t e a d o f 8 1 0p u l s e s ) , l o n g i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l s ( 3 0 0 m s e c o r m o r e ) , s h o r tp u l s e d u r a t i o n s ( 2 0 m s e c o r l e s s ) , l o W l i g h t i n t e n s i t y ( i fs e l e c t a b l e , f o r e x a m p l e , v i a a n a d j u s t a b l e n e u t r a l d e n s i t y? l t e r ) , a n d l o W t o t a l e n e r g i e s ( l e s s t h a n 4 0 J o u l e s p e r s q u a r ec e n t i m e t e r o f s k in s u r f a c e ) . I f a g i v e n s e t t i n g p r o v e s t o b ei n e f f e c t i v e , t h e u s e r m i g h t a d j u s t s e l e c t o r 32 o r 38 t od e c r e a s e t h e i n t e r - p u l s e i n t e r v a l o r i n c r e a s e t h e p u l s e l e n g t h ,t h e r e b y e f f e c t i v e l y i n c r e a s i n g t h e p o W e r o r r a t e a t Which t h er a d i a n t e n e r g y i s d e l i v e r e d t o t h e t a r g e t s k i n s u r f a c e . A l t e rn a t i v e l y o r a d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e u s e r m i g h t i n c r e a s e t h e numbero f p u l s e s v i a s e l e c t o r 34 o r i n c r e a s e t h e a p p l i e d e n e r g y v i as e l e c t o r 3 6 . These a d j u s t m e n t s W i l l r

Documents

Jay, M.D. v. Spectrum Brands Holdings et. al