METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AESTHETIC SKIN TREATMENTS
An apparatus for aesthetic manipulation of the skin having a large pulsator with plurality of light emitting diodes of at least two different wavelengths and a small pulsator with one light emitting diode. A frequency modulating means automatically modulates the emitting frequency of the light emitting diodes to a plurality of different frequencies. A power output modulating means modulates the power output of the light emitting diodes. A phase switching means allows selection between a plurality of operating phases, each operating phase operating the frequency modulating means and power output modulating means in a different predetermined manner. Calibration means connected in circuit with the light emitting diodes calibrates the power output of the light emitting diodes. A vibration means vibrates the large pulsator. A vibration switching means selectively activates the vibration means.
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1. Field of the Invention
The claimed invention generally relates to devices for aesthetic manipulation of the skin. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to a method and apparatus for aesthetic manipulation of the skin accomplished by modulation of the frequency, wavelength and output of light emitting diodes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As segments of the population, such as the “baby boomer” generation, get older, the market for products that help reduce the signs of aging has drastically increased. One of the major areas of concern for many people is the reduction of wrinkles in facial skin. Many different types of facial creams have been developed over the years that claim to reduce wrinkling of the skin, but people have still sought better ways of addressing the problem. One of the newer approaches even includes injecting a form of botulism under the skin to smooth out wrinkles. However, people still seek new products that provide improved results with as little cost, time and pain involved as possible.
There also have been several different devices developed to address the problem of reducing wrinkles in the skin. The following brief descriptions of previously issued United States Patents provide a representation of the devices in the prior art that have been created to address the problem of reducing wrinkles in the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,373 issued to Vogel discloses a facial ironer for heating a subject's skin after an emollient has been previously applied. A heating element transfers heat to a soleplate that is manipulated over the skin providing a facial treatment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,949 issued to Kim discloses a heated massage therapy device having a hand-held housing, a mechanical vibration generator disposed within the housing and at least one source of infrared radiation disposed within the housing. The heated massage therapy device provides a thermally efficient and effective means of applying infrared radiation in combination with mechanical vibration to selected portions of a user's anatomy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,482 issued to Everett discloses a hand-held, self contained irradiator powered by batteries. The applicator end provides many diodes that emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible and/or infrared portions of the spectrum. A series of switches are provided so that the user may select which one or ones of the diodes to activate to provide particular wavelengths or colors of radiation to be emitted from the applicator end to be used to treat particular body surface areas for the relief of pain or other problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,497 issued to Anderson discloses a method for treating wrinkles in skin involving the use of a beam of pulsed, scanned or gated continuous wave laser or incoherent radiation. The method comprises generating a beam of radiation, directing the beam of radiation to a targeted dermal region between 100 microns and 1.2 millimeters below a wrinkle in the skin, and thermally injuring collagen in the targeted dermal region.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,397 issued to Gebhard discloses a facial iron comprising a heating element and separate charging base. The facial iron heating element has a spoon shaped heating surface for applying heat to a users skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,915 issued to Hwang discloses a control method and device of a portable beautifying apparatus. The method and device use galvanic ion current, far infrared ray, and vibration to beautify the human skin.
While some of these devices discussed may provide a certain amount of noticeable results in reduction of wrinkles of the skin, there still remains a need for a non-invasive apparatus that produces improved wrinkle reduction in the skin. To answer this need, the claimed invention provides a method for aesthetic skin treatments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo satisfy the need for an apparatus that reduces the appearance of wrinkles in the skin, the claimed invention provides a method for aesthetic skin treatments. It has been previously known that placing LEDs emitting light of differing wavelengths adjacent the skin of a subject can provide beneficial results to the subject. However, varying the wavelength of the light alone and maintaining other characteristics of the light emitted by the LEDs unchanged produces minimal results. The wavelengths of the LEDs employed in the claimed invention are used as carriers to transfer modulation of the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs to provide an aesthetic skin treatment to the skin.
A primary object of the claimed invention is to provide a new method for aesthetic skin treatments that provides improved results over previous devices.
Another object of the claimed invention is to provide a new method of aesthetically treating the skin that does not require a medical professional to perform the method.
A further object of the claimed invention is to provide an apparatus that modulates the emitting frequency of an electrical light source during an aesthetic skin treatment.
An even further object of the claimed invention is to provide a method that modulates the power output of an electrical light source during an aesthetic skin treatment.
To accomplish these objects as well as others that will become apparent after reading this specification and viewing the appended drawings, a new method for aesthetic skin treatments is provided. The preferred method generally involves the use of a device comprising a control console, a large pulsator having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a small pulsator having a single LED. The term pulsator is being used to denote a probe or applicator that conveys pulsated light from the LEDs within the large pulsator and small pulsator.
The control console generally comprises a session timer display with controls, a massage control, a small pulsator control, a pause control, a large pulsator control, a Phase I control, a Phase II control and a Phase III control. The session timer has a two digit LED timer display controlled by two timer select controls that are provided for an operator to set the number of minutes that a particular session will last. The massage control 70 allows an operator to activate a vibration means within the large pulsator to provide a massaging action to the subject's skin when the large pulsator is being used.
The small pulsator has a single 625 nm wavelength LED at 40 mW centrally located at the tip that is powered by a power supply cord removably connected to the control console. The small pulsator is used in applications where the area of skin that is targeted for aesthetic skin treatment is small. The tip of the small pulsator is preferably covered with a sanitary cover.
The large pulsator and vibration means are supplied power by a power supply cord that is removably connected to the control console. The large pulsator has a head with 12 radially spaced 940 nm wavelength LEDs at 20 mW about the head and a 625 nm wavelength LED at 160 mW is located at the center of the head. The large pulsator is used in application where a general area of skin is targeted for aesthetic skin treatment. The head of the large pulsator is preferably covered with a sanitary cover.
The circuitry within the control console provides a frequency modulating means and a power output modulating means that control the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs within the large pulsator and small pulsator. An operator of the apparatus can choose among three phases where the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs are varied for different periods of time to achieve certain desired results. The modulation of the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs provide a pulsating effect that manipulates the skin of a subject being treated.
Turning now to the drawings,
The session timer has a two digit LED timer display 50 controlled by two timer select controls 60 that are provided for an operator to set the number of minutes that a particular session will last. An audible alarm 160 is also provided that can be programmed to notify the operator of a predetermined time interval, signaling that the operator should reposition the pulsator to a different portion of the skin targeted for aesthetic treatment to assist the operator in applying an even aesthetic skin treatment to a subject. Preferably, the audible alarm is programmed to beep every 10 seconds during use of the large pulsator and every 18 seconds during the use of the small pulsator. However, the microcontroller can be programmed to allow an operator of the apparatus 10 to change the audible alarm time intervals to meet particular needs.
The massage control 70 allows an operator to selectively activate a vibration means 170 within the large pulsator 30 to provide a massaging action to the subject's skin when the large pulsator 30 is being used.
The small pulsator 40 shown in
The pause control 90 allows an operator to selectively temporarily pause a session, stopping the session timer 50 and turning off the large pulsator 30 and small pulsator 40.
The large pulsator 30 shown in
The circuitry 135 within the control console housing 140 provides a frequency modulating means and a power output modulating means that control the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs within the large pulsator 30 and small pulsator 40. The Phase controls 110-130 modulate the emitting frequency of the LEDs in the small pulsator 40 and large pulsator 30 for different time intervals at the following frequencies:
Phase I 73 Hertz for 1 second, 292 Hertz for 1 second, and 584 Hertz for one second.
Phase II 73 Hertz for 2 seconds, and 584 Hertz for 1 second.
Phase III 73 Hertz for 4 seconds, and 584 Hertz for 1 second.
The Phase controls 110-130 also modulate the power output of the LEDs in the large pulsator 30 and small pulsator 40 to the following radiant light levels at the surface of the skin:
The apparatus 10 is used by first switching on the power switch to the apparatus 10. When power is initially provided to the apparatus 10, the microcontroller 150 sets the apparatus 10 to Pause mode, the phase controls to phase I operation, the massage control 70 to off, and resets the session timer 50 to zero minutes. An operator then sets the various controls on the control console 20 to their desired settings in order to complete an aesthetic skin treatment session by first setting the session timer 50 to a desired session time interval. Next, the operator will select the phase control 110-130 desired for the particular session. The Phase controls can be changed at any time during a session by pressing the appropriate control. The associated LED indicator will illuminate reflecting the phase status within the microcontroller 150 with only one of the LED indicators being illuminated at a time. During operation of the apparatus 10, the microcontroller 150 continuously cycles through the emitting frequencies based upon the phase control selection.
The operator then selects the desired pulsator control 80, 100 for the particular session. If the large pulsator 30 is selected for a session, the operator has the option of selecting the massage control 70 to activate the vibration means 170 within the large pulsator 30. When either the large pulsator or the small pulsator is selected, the pause LED will go out indicating that the pause control has been deactivated.
The small pulsator 40 is used as shown in
The large pulsator 30 is used as shown in
Although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel apparatus be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.
Claims
1-41. (canceled)
42: An apparatus for exposing human tissue to an electrical light source emitting light with at least two different wavelengths, the apparatus comprising:
- a modulator for modulating an emitting frequency and a power output of the electrical light source to aesthetically manipulate human tissue, the modulator automatically modulating the emitting frequency of the electrical light source to a first emitting frequency and to a second emitting frequency, the modulator modulating the first emitting frequency for a first interval of time and modulating the second emitting frequency for second interval of time, wherein the first emitting frequency is different than the second emitting frequency, and wherein a first operating phase includes the first time interval and the second time interval, and the modulator automatically modulating the emitting frequency of the electrical light source to a third emitting frequency and to a fourth emitting frequency, the modulator modulating the third emitting frequency for a third interval of time and modulating the fourth emitting frequency for fourth interval of time, wherein the third emitting frequency is different than the fourth emitting frequency, and wherein a second operating phase includes the third time interval and the fourth time interval; and
- a phase switcher for selecting between the first operating phase and the second operating phase, wherein the first operating phase is different than the second operating phase.
43: The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a mobile hand held probe, wherein electrical light source is located in the mobile hand held probe.
44: The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a non-mobile panel, wherein electrical light source is located in the non-mobile panel.
45: The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the non-mobile panel comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
46: The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first emitting frequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and the second emitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz.
47: The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the modulator modulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
48: The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the modulator modulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
49: The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a calibrator connected in circuit with the plurality of light emitting diodes for calibrating the power output of the light emitting diodes.
50: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first emitting frequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and the second emitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz.
51: The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the modulator modulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
52: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the modulator modulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
53: The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a wireless transmitter at the modulator for transmitting modulated light signals to a wireless receiver at the electrical light source.
54: The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the phase switcher is located at the electrical light source.
55: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the electrical light source emits light at least one wavelength producing ultraviolet light.
56: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the electrical light source emits light at least one wavelength producing infrared light.
57: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first interval of time is equal to the second interval of time.
58: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first emitting frequency is equal to the third emitting frequency.
59: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first operating phase and the second operating phase provide an equal power output, wherein the equal power output is delivered via at least one of different emitting frequencies and different emitting frequency intervals.
60: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the phase switcher automatically cycles through the first operating phase and the second operating phase.
61: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the phase switcher automatically cycles through the first operating phase, the second operating phase, and a third operating phase.
62: A method of exposing human tissue to light of at least two different wavelengths, the method comprising:
- modulating a first emitting frequency of the light for a first time interval;
- modulating a second emitting frequency of the light for a second time interval, wherein the first emitting frequency is different than the second emitting frequency, wherein the second time interval occurs subsequent to the first time interval, and wherein a first operating phase includes the first time interval and the second time interval;
- modulating a third emitting frequency of the light for a third time interval;
- modulating a fourth emitting frequency of the light for a fourth time interval, wherein the third emitting frequency is different than the fourth emitting frequency, wherein the fourth time interval occurs subsequent to the third time interval, and wherein a second operating phase includes the third time interval and the fourth time interval;
- modulating a power output of the light; and
- switching between the first operating phase and the second operating phase.
63: The method of claim 62, wherein the first time interval is equal to the second time interval.
64: The method of claim 62, wherein the third time interval is equal to the fourth time interval.
65: The method of claim 62, wherein the first emitting frequency is equal to the third emitting frequency.
66: The method of claim 62, wherein the second emitting frequency is equal to the fourth emitting frequency.
67: The method of claim 62, wherein the second emitting frequency is equal to the third emitting frequency.
68: The method of claim 62, further comprising modulating a fifth emitting frequency of the light for a fifth time interval, wherein the first operating phase further includes the fifth time interval.
69: The method of claim 62, wherein the switching between the first operating phase and the second operating phase occurs automatically.
70: The method of claim 62, further comprising switching between a third operating phase and at least one of the first operating phase and the second operating phase.
71: The method of claim 62, wherein the first emitting frequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and the second emitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz.
72: The method of claim 71, wherein the power output is modulated to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
73: The method of claim 62, wherein the power output is modulated to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2.
74: The method of claim 62, wherein the power output is modulated to a first power output in the first operating phase and to a second power output in the second operating phase.
75: The method of claim 74, wherein the first power output is equal to the second power output.
76: The method of claim 74, wherein the first power output has a different duty cycle than the second power output.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2008
Applicant: Skincare Technology, Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Inventors: Charles T. Walneck (Cary, IL), Tami L. Brennan-McClure (Cary, IL), James H. Santee (Cary, IL)
Application Number: 11/960,361
International Classification: A61B 18/18 (20060101); A61N 5/06 (20060101);