LIGHT EMITTING HANDS FREE DEVICE
A light emitting device for a human having a scalp with hair, the device includes a flexible arcuate base configured to contour a portion of the scalp. The base has a width between 20 mm and 120 mm and includes an interior and an interior surface. At least one array of teeth is coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least one array of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp. Each tooth is configured to part the hair when the at least one array of teeth is pressed against the scalp. An array of at least one of light emitting diodes and laser diodes coupled to the based proximate the at least one array of teeth.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/066,016, filed Oct. 20, 2014, entitled LIGHT EMITTING HANDS FREE DEVICE, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to light emitting hands free devices to stimulate hair growth.
BACKGROUNDLaser emitting combs and helmets have been devised to treat hair loss or otherwise stimulate new hair growth. Such devices, however, either provide for a single angle and/or position that therapeutic light can be emitted to the scalp, such as in a stationary helmet in which light may be obstructed by the user's existing hair, or require the user to remember which areas of the scalp were treated as the device is moved over the scalp, such as in a hair comb. In either case, there is a difficulty in ensuring that the entire scalp is treated with light with limited user involvement.
Helmet devices having lasers extending from the helmet toward the scalp have been devised to provide for hand-free light treatment of the scalp. However, such devices are not movable about that the scalp, they simply press down onto the scalp or hair when the helmet is worn by the user. Thus, helmet devices provide no mechanism to part the user's existing hair such that the light reaches the scalp, but rather are limited to delivering light to wherever the helmet is positioned on the scalp, which may be obstructed by the user's hair.
SUMMARYThe present application provides a light emitting device for a human having a scalp with hair, the device includes a flexible arcuate base configured to contour a portion of the scalp. The base has a width between 20 mm and 120 mm and includes an interior and an interior surface. At least one array of teeth is coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least one array of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp. Each tooth is configured to part the hair when the at least one array of teeth is pressed against the scalp. An array of at least one of light emitting diodes and laser diodes coupled to the based proximate the at least one array of teeth.
In another embodiment, a hair growth system for use with a human scalp having hair is included, the system includes a base configured to contour the scalp, the base including an interior and an interior surface and has a width of between 20 mm and 120 mm. At least two arrays of teeth are coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least two arrays of teeth is pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp. Each tooth is configured to part the hair when the at least two arrays of teeth are pressed against the scalp. An array of laser diodes is disposed within the interior between the at least two arrays of teeth. A control unit is in communication with and remote to the base, the control unit being configured to activate the array of laser diodes.
In yet another embodiment, the system includes a flexible arcuate base configured to contour the scalp, the base including an interior and an interior surface and having a width between 20 mm and 120 mm. At least two arrays of teeth coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least two arrays of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp. Each tooth is configured to part the hair when the at least two arrays of teeth are pressed against the scalp. An array of laser diodes is disposed within the interior between the at least two arrays of teeth. The base is movable from a first position on the scalp to a second position of the scalp without the at least two arrays of teeth losing contact with the scalp. A resilient element is coupled to at least one of the at least two arrays of teeth, the resilient element configured to facilitate the movement of one of the at least two arrays of teeth from a first position away from the interior surface to a second position adjacent the interior surface. An image capture element is coupled to the base, the image capture element being configured to capture one or more images of the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp. A control unit in communication with and remote to the base is included, the control unit being configured to activate the array of laser diodes; the control unit includes a processor configured to compare the captured one or more images of the scalp and determine the extent of follicle density and compile the one or more images of the scalp and determine whether substantially the entirety of the scalp has been exposed to light emitted from the array of laser diodes.
As used here, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “over” and “under,” “front and rear,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
The base 12 may include a power panel 16 extending at least a portion of the length of the base 12, and in one configuration, substantially the entire length of the base 12. In the embodiments shown in
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In an exemplary method of use of any of the above-described embodiments, the user positions the interior surface 26 over a front portion of the scalp and activates the device 10 with the on/switch 18, or remotely, as discussed in more detail below, which activates the timer 20 to count down from a predetermined treatment time. For example, the diode arrays 30 may be activated for 3 minutes, or any duration, and then turn off. During those three minutes, the teeth arrays 28 may vibrate to aid in the part of the hair and/or provide gentle massage to the scalp. In a particular configuration, neither the teeth 22 nor the user's hair obstruct the pathway of light emitting from the diodes 24. After the predetermined about of time, an alert may sound to indicate to the user that the predetermined time period has concluded. The user may then pivot or otherwise move the device 10 to a different orientation of the scalp, for example the front of the scalp, the middle of the scalp (as shown in
Continuing to refer to
The software application in the control unit 36 may be in communication with the image capture element 42 and may activate the image capture element 42 either automatically when the device 10 is activated or manually by the user. In an exemplary configuration, when the user uses the device 10, the image capture device 42 captures an image of a section of the scalp. The image of the scalp is then analyzed to determine an average density of hair follicles and/or extent of hair growth in that imaged section. Each time the user uses the device 10 and treats the scalp with laser and/or light 26 diodes, the image capture element 42 captures an image of the treated section and compares it overtime. The change in follicle density is calculated overtime such and displayed on the display of the control unit such that the user can track the progress of treatments. For example, images captured by the image capture element 42 may be compiled to determine if the entire scalp and/or the desired portion of the scalp has been treated with light therapy and the extent of hair growth/follicle density on the scalp as a whole or a target portion of the scalp. The application may further be configured to calculate the change in follicle density and/or extent of hair growth based on a number of factors. For example, the application may include an algorithm that correlates the extent of hair growth and/or follicle density based on at least one of a frequency of use of the base 12, a duration of time per each use of the base 12, and the one or more captured images of the scalp. The user may further able to track his/her progress over time to identify areas of the scalp that may require longer treatment times or a different light intensity. The base 12 may further include a reservoir 46 configured to store a hair growth stimulating fluid. The control unit 36 may be in communication with the reservoir 46 and configured to dispense fluid from the reservoir 46 either out through an aperture in the base 12 in fluid communication with the reservoir 46, or alternatively out through one or more teeth 22, which may have apertures at their respective distal ends in communication with the reservoir 46.
Moreover, the user data may be stored in the application and a user profile generated based on the data, such that multiple users may use the device 10 and a user specific treatment program may be tailored for the individual needs of the user. For example the algorithm may determine for a particular user that the treatment time may need to be increased proximate the top of the scalp, as opposed to the front or back, and initiate a treatment program targeted toward hair growth in that particular region. To further determine that that the device 10 is moved or otherwise pivoted at a desired velocity about the scalp, the base 12 may include an accelerometer 44 in communication with the processor 40 to record the speed and/or acceleration at which the device is moving. If the device is moved above or below a predetermined speed, the device may vibrate or otherwise alert the user through a sound from the device or alert from the Smartphone 36 to increase or decrease the speed of parting the user's hair with the teeth array 28.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A light emitting device for a human having a scalp with hair, comprising:
- a flexible arcuate base configured to contour a portion of the scalp, the base having a width between 20 mm and 120 mm, the base including an interior and an interior surface;
- at least one array of teeth coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least one array of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp, each tooth being configured to part the hair when the at least one array of teeth is pressed against the scalp; and
- an array of at least one of light emitting diodes and laser diodes coupled to the based proximate the at least one array of teeth.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one array of teeth includes at least two arrays of teeth, and wherein the at least two arrays of teeth and the array of at least one light emitting diodes and laser diodes are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the array of at least one light emitting diodes and laser diodes is disposed between the at least two arrays of teeth.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least two arrays of teeth are removeably coupled to the interior surface.
4. The device of claim 3, further including a resilient element disposed between the interior surface and one of the at least two arrays of teeth, the resilient element configured to facilitate the movement of one of the at least two arrays of teeth from a first position away from the interior surface to a second position adjacent the interior surface.
5. The device of claim 1, further including a proximity sensor coupled to the base, the proximity sensor being configured to automatically activate the array of at least one of light emitting diodes and laser diodes when the user's scalp is a predetermined distance away from the proximity sensor.
6. The device of claim 1, further including an image capture element coupled to the base, the image capture element being configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp.
7. The device of claim 1, further including a reservoir within the base configured to retain a hair growth stimulating fluid.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes a battery configured to be charged by an inductive charging element.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the base defines a substantially watertight seal around the array of at least one of light emitting diodes and laser diodes.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the base defines a length, wherein the at least one array of teeth and the array of at least one light emitting diodes and laser diodes span substantially the entire length of the base.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one array of teeth is configured to part the hair of the scalp when the base is moved from the first position on the scalp to the second position of the scalp.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one array of light emitting diodes and laser diodes includes light emitting diodes, and wherein the light emitting diodes are configured to emit light in the wavelength range of at least one 610-690 nm, 400-500 nm, 800-900 nm, and 1000-1200 nm.
13. A hair growth system for use with a human scalp having hair, comprising:
- a base configured to contour the scalp, the base including an interior and an interior surface, the base having a width of between 20 mm and 120 mm;
- at least two arrays of teeth coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least two arrays of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp, each tooth being configured to part the hair when the at least two arrays of teeth are pressed against the scalp;
- an array of laser diodes disposed within the interior between the at least two arrays of teeth; and
- a control unit in communication with and remote to the base, the control unit being configured to activate the array of laser diodes.
14. The system of claim 13, further including a proximity sensor coupled to the base, the proximity sensor being configured to at least one of automatically activate the array of laser diodes when the user's scalp is a predetermined distance away from the proximity sensor and enable activation of the array of laser diodes by the control unit.
15. The system of claim 13, further including an image capture element coupled to the base, the image capture element being configured to capture one or more images of the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit includes a processor configured to determine an extent of hair growth based on at least one of a frequency of use of the base, a duration of time per each use of the base, and the one or more captured images of the scalp.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit includes a processor configured to compile the one or more images of the scalp and determine whether substantially the entirety of the scalp has been exposed to light emitted from the array of laser diodes.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the base includes a reservoir configured to store a hair growth stimulating fluid, and wherein the control unit is in communication with the reservoir and configured to dispense fluid from the reservoir.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the base includes an accelerometer, and wherein the accelerometer is in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is configured to measure the speed at which the base is moved about the scalp.
20. A hair growth system for use with a human scalp having hair, comprising:
- a flexible arcuate base configured to contour the scalp, the base including an interior and an interior surface, the base having a width between 20 mm and 120 mm;
- at least two arrays of teeth coupled to the interior surface, each tooth in the at least two arrays of teeth being pressed against the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp, each tooth being configured to part the hair when the at least two arrays of teeth are pressed against the scalp;
- an array of laser diodes disposed within the interior between the at least two arrays of teeth;
- the base being movable from a first position on the scalp to a second position of the scalp without the at least two arrays of teeth losing contact with the scalp;
- a resilient element being coupled to at least one of the at least two arrays of teeth, the resilient element configured to facilitate the movement of one of the at least two arrays of teeth from a first position away from the interior surface to a second position adjacent the interior surface;
- image capture element coupled to the base, the image capture element being configured to capture one or more images of the scalp when the base is contoured about the scalp; and
- a control unit in communication with and remote to the base, the control unit being configured to activate the array of laser diodes; the control unit includes a processor configured to:
- compare the captured one or more images of the scalp and determine the extent of follicle density; and
- compile the one or more images of the scalp and determine whether substantially the entirety of the scalp has been exposed to light emitted from the array of laser diodes.
21. The device of claim 1, wherein the base is movable from a first position on the scalp to a second position of the scalp without the at least one array of teeth losing contact with the scalp.
22. The system of claim 13, wherein the base is movable from a first position on the scalp to a second position of the scalp without the at least two arrays of teeth losing contact with the scalp.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 16, 2015
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
Inventors: David MICHAELS (Boca Raton, FL), Randy VELIKY (Lighthouse Point, FL), James SMERIGLIO (Jupiter, FL), Alena MICHAELS (Boca Raton, FL)
Application Number: 14/885,108