Abstract: A breastfeeding supporting system and a corresponding method are disclosed, the breastfeeding supporting system (1) comprising a nipple shield (10) adapted to be positioned at least partly over the areola and nipple of a breast of a breastfeeding woman, a capacitive pressure sensing unit (20) for sensing a capacity of at least part of a surface of the nipple shield, a processing unit (40) adapted to process the sensed surface capacity to derive at least one parameter of an infant interacting with the nipple of the breastfeeding woman. The breastfeeding supporting system and corresponding method eliminate at least some concerns related to breastfeeding.

Abstract: There is provided a guard structure for use in a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the guard structure comprising one or more guard elements, wherein the one or more guard elements are arranged such that in use in the hair cutting device the one or more guard elements space an optical waveguide in the hair cutting device from the skin of the subject, and wherein the one or more guard elements are shaped and/or formed to minimise or reduce the coupling of light from the optical waveguide to the guard structure.

Abstract: There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element comprises an optical waveguide having a sidewall, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair. The cutting element also comprises a hair support structure configured to restrict lateral movement of a hair in contact with the cutting face, relative to the optical waveguide. The hair support structure comprises a plurality of movement restrictors extending from the cutting face. Each movement restrictor comprises a ridge protruding from the cutting face of the optical waveguide, these ridges are arranged parallel to one another. A hair support structure for use with a cutting element, and a hair cutting device including such a cutting element are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element comprises an optical waveguide having a sidewall which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair. The cutting face has a structure comprising a plurality of indentations configured to allow light to couple out through the sidewall to increase the amount of light able to couple to hair. A hair cutting device comprising a light source and the cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating laser light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; and a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled to the light source to receive laser light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; wherein at least a portion of the cutting face is provided with a first coating or layer that is formed from or comprises a lipophilic material; and wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of the optical waveguide that can contact the skin of the subject has a second coating or layer that is formed from or comprises a lipophobic material.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (1) for treating skin (5). The cold plasma device (1) comprises a cold plasma generator (3) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating said skin (5), and a manipulator (10) adapted to manipulate said skin (5) to increase exposure of bacteria on said skin to said reactive species during use of the device.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (13) for treating a surface (6) with cold plasma. The device (13) has a cold plasma generator (14) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating the surface (6). The device (13) also includes a treatment head (5) that is positionable relative to the surface (6) such that the reactive species are imparted toward the surface (6) during treatment. The device (13) is also provided with an air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) and a controller (9) configured to control operation of the air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) after the treatment has been completed such that remaining by-products of the cold plasma are dissipated.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating laser light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in hair; and a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled to the light source to receive laser light, wherein a portion of a side wall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair, and wherein at least at the cutting face the optical waveguide has a refractive index that is equal to or lower than the refractive index of hair and higher than the refractive index of skin.

Abstract: A hair styler uses ultrasound at an ultrasound frequency of at least 1 MHz to get a non-chemical hair styling. Advantageously, the ultrasound frequency is between 1 and 100 MHz, preferably between 3 and 10 MHz, and more preferably between 3 and 5 MHz. The ultrasound energy is preferably applied at a power that is at least 1 W/cm2, and preferably does not exceed 10 W/cm2, such as 6 W/cm2. The invention may be used for hair curling and for hair straightening. A hair straightening method comprises temporarily straightening hair, and applying ultrasound to temporarily straightened hair to obtain straightened hair. Advantageously, ultrasound is applied during a period of between 5 seconds and 2 minutes, and preferably during about 10 seconds.

Abstract: Hair growth stimulating device to obtain a non-chemical hair growth stimulation comprising an ultrasound transducer (UST), and a driver (DE) for the ultrasound transducer, wherein the driver is arranged for having the ultrasound transducer (UST) generate an ultrasound signal having a frequency not exceeding 100 kHz, preferably 20 kHz, at a power not exceeding 500 mW/cm2, preferably 250 mW/cm2. The frequency may be subject to a frequency sweep not exceeding 20%, preferably 10%. Pulses having a pulse width between 10 ms and 500 ms may be used.

Abstract: A carrier and an apparatus for optical detection of a sample in a sample chamber includes en optical structure for refracting an input light beam into the adjacent sample chamber and for collecting an output light beam from light that originates in the sample chamber from the input light beam. The optical structure includes grooves in the surface of the carrier in which the Input light beam is transmitted Over a short distance through a sample. The optical structure can also be used for a wetting detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier (11) and an apparatus (100) for optical detection in a sample (1) in a sample chamber (2). The carrier (11) comprises an optical structure (50) for refracting an input light beam (L1) into the adjacent sample chamber (2) and for collecting an output light beam (L2) from light that originates in the sample chamber (2) from the input light beam. Preferably, the optical structure (50) comprises grooves in the surface (12) of the carrier (11) in which the input light beam is transmitted over a short distance through a sample. The optical structure (50) can also be used for a wetting detection.