FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention seeks to automate the manual procedure of electrolysis (typically performed with a stylus) by applying automation along with mathematical estimation of the 3D scan of a small skin surface area along with vector estimates of the proposed location of the root of the hair. This estimation is combined with capabilities of a miniature robotic arm that give the electrode the capability to be insert at an angle matching the vector of hair growth direction. Either Galvanic electrolysis and/or Thermolysis is used to destroy the hair matrix, with a pincet (similar function as performed by the invention described by Dieny, Sabon, Joisten) adjacent to the electrolysis used to remove the hair.

BACKGROUND

Currently the procedure of hair removal is a grueling and long process requiring a lot of skill and human time. US has an educational specialization that produces workers able to perform the procedure. This procedure is the only one approved by FDA that allows for permanent hair removal. It is also the only one for which there is substantial body of evidence, attesting to the fact. By applying modern robotics, scanning and extrapolation methods the invention seeks to provide an automated solution which may be implemented in the countries where this practice may be otherwise prohibitively expensive due to the cost of manpower, or otherwise too risky because of lack of formal training.

Although the industry has been revolutionised with advent of patch electrodes, the problem of burns, incorrect application and working on some non-2D areas still persists. Additionally, there are claims that hairs are suboptimal as a conductor for the electrical impulses, hence there is little to no evidence of the hair matrix being destroyed. The existing procedures (patent US6039746, US 20090125015 A1) for dealing with hair removal automatically have not been confirmed to have permanent effect on hair removal. The issue with the stylus technology (US 7488317 B2,

US4598709, US4216775) is the duration of time it takes to remove the hairs, and the procedure is very manual. There have been previous attempts to address this (US 5797904 A), however this invention differs from them in that it seeks to address this by combining the ability of an experienced electrolysis professional, with stylus technology, with recent advances in robotics and scanning capabilities (US 9056396 B1 , or as as used for radiography US 8322249 B2). The method described in this patent allows user to get best of both worlds: ability to remove the hair permanently, as approved by FDA, and fewer professional time wasted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1

Demonstrates the proposed composition of the stinger, note however that there are various ways to create a telescopic stinger and the proposed solution of it is non-central to device functioning (other telescopic mechanisms can be used instead, e.g. the invention of Tucker III)). Note that cathode tends to be the most fragile part of the mechanism, and hence the tip of the stinger is a replaceable part. You will note a small pincet (in this design it is magnetic) on the top which pulls out the hair after the energy has been delivered to the hair matrix. The attachment point for the stinger has conductive elements, which provide current after the tip is connected.

Option A represents the solution to ideal embodiment, as is not currently possible to achieve due to the state of telescopic technology, and Option B represents a cheaper and more practical solution.

A is the wire to transmit required energy for galvanic or thermolysis to the tip.

B/C represent wires attached to each end of the pincet, when applying the pinching movement they are of opposite charge, in case of release the charge is identical. Typically this would imply the one of the wires has a reversible charge attached to it.

D is a pincet, similar to F, however if in case of F the likely solution represents a replaceable pincet (they are replaceable along with the tip, and the energy is supplied to them via the contacts through the replaceable tip), D is a permanent fixture of the proposed design and doesn't need to be replaced.

E is a stinger, similar to G. Due to hygiene and flexibility it tends to be highly breakable, needing to be replaced frequently. E is on the end of the element that is inserted directly into the swinging arm of option B, whereas in option A the stinger gets attached to the telescoping arm I via the tip H.

H clicks on to the telescoping arm. Each component (F and G) are in direct contact with the wires that go through I, allowing current to flow.

I is a telescopic arm that once alignment is achieved extends a certain distance to inject G into the hair, and pinch the hair with F (similar function to the invention of Sealfon, Erol Ogut, except the angle of attack varied).

Figure 2

Note that it is assumed that to increase the mobility of the device it is assumed that components run on direct current, enabling the CPU to invert +/- via the circuit board and reverse the direction of the motor.

Figure 2a describes the readily implementable version of positioning mechanism for device

A represents a rotating joint allowing 360 degree rotation of the arm around the device, represents a joint rotating 180 degrees

B represents a telescoping arm

C/E represents a joint with nearly 360 degree rotation (save for the attachment point to the upper part of the appendage)

E is a joint that plays the function on injecting the stinger F into the root of the hair, the projected motion of E will have the desired stinging effect. Note, that as the stinger no longer travels in a straight line (as is the case with alignment mechanisms 2b and 2c), the complexity of the computation increases. However, as the actual distance traveled is only a couple of millimeters, given sufficient distance of D, the arch of the swing approximates the straight line with sufficient accuracy. Sufficiency of distance is calculated based on the hair root depth and diameter. D is the fixed length arm, which generates the path of travel. For example for distance of D equal to 1 cm, the moving the distance of 2 mm (approximate position of hair under the skin surface), would require a 10 degree swing. However this would lose about 2 mm in height (the angle of attack, and actual spot hit). In this respect using a 2 cm distance for D is a lot better as the loss in height would represent loss of about 1 mm. All of this can be taken into account when computing the end trajectory of the movement, and serves only as an example of considerations taken into account during the design phase. These calculations are best performed using Lobachevskian (otherwise known as hyperbolic) geometry.

F represents the replaceable stinger, along with the pincet, as described in Figure 1 Option B Figure 2b describes the preferred implementation of the device where,

A represents a rotating joint allowing 360 degree rotation of the arm around the device

B represents a joint rotating 180 degrees

C/E represents a telescoping arm, E performs the "stinging" function injecting the stinger into the root of the hair.

D represents a joint with nearly 360 degree rotation (save for the attachment point to the upper part of the appendage)

F represents the replaceable stinger (including inbuilt pincet as illustrated in Figure 1 Option A) that is aligned with the entry vector

Figure 2c outlines a potential alignment mechanism without using the mechanical arms based on two concentric semicircles (perhaps semi-arches makes for a better description), aligned one inside of the other, allowing the stinger to be moved into necessary position. Each circle acts as a rail for the stinger to slide on, as a result the desirable alignment is achieved, and the sting can be implemented using the telescopic technology as described in Figure 2b (component E).

Figure 3

Demonstrates the approximation of the skin surface, and hair as performed by the software. The black lines in the image are vectors of entry by the device.

Figure 4

Demonstrates an example of the way the device looks from outside

The light indicator illustrate the stage of processing of the device (in accordance to the colour scheme in Figure 6), the USB port serves both to deliver power (although this is not a pre-condition for functioning of the device) and instructions for the internal CPU

Figure 5

Demonstrates the internal composition of the device, where

A is the robotic arm as described in Figure 2

B are the scanner unit(s) which scan the surface area and transmit(s) the information to the computer via C. As there is a progression of miniaturisation of scanners with increasing technical capabilities, currently it is unclear whether two scanners are needed, or one would be sufficient. C is the USB entry/exit port with which the devices interfaces with the computer and software D is the CPU unit that relays the instructions to the motors operating the arm with the stinger E represents elastic bandages attached to the device that enable good contact with the skin and fixation of device in one spot

F is positively charged surface area in direct contact with the skin Figure 6

Represents the steps performed by the device. The dotted line presents the ideal functioning of the device, that currently may be problematic to implement without sufficiently powerful processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The scanner functions

Scan the surface area to accurately estimate the location of each point of the hair matrix with accuracy (e.g. 0.01 mm) that will allow sufficient resolution to do the subsequent computations and procedure accurately.

The scanner will identify the colour of the hair, and its thickness, as well as its location, position and direction of growth.

The scanner then exports the results to USB connected computer, that processes the information. The software

Having the software outside of the device allows for easy implementation of additional functions, such as identification of position of follicle on the body (to calibrate the strength of the pulse delivered), as well as adjustment of the pulse based on pain experience in real time.

Based on the existing hair data, and surface of the skin (colour, thickness, vector of growth) it will extrapolate the location of the hair matrix. The software produces a sequence of instructions for location of the stinger, location of the two semi-spheres inside, and the amount of extension of the telescopic stinger, amount of energy applied, extraction/contraction of the telescopic stinger as a set of procedures for each hair in the area.

The telescopic sting then injects the cathode at an angle parallel to the vector of hair growth (with minimum degree of error) to reach the hair matrix that lies about some distance below the surface (which is estimated based on thickness and colour of the hair, as well as the location on the body). It emits a positive charge once inserted.

The location of the hair matrix is calculated based on a mathematical function, or extrapolation of hair growth, at an angle to the skin surface.

The alignment mechanism

The ideal embodiment of the alignment mechanism is described in Figure 2, where the alignment is achieved through movement of the first semicircle and a mechanical arm, once the correct point is located the second telescoping mechanism aligns the sting into the correct vector alignment. Using the telescopic stinger, or the swing of the arm, the cathode extends forward by desired distance and emits an electrical and/or thermal pulse that destroys the hair matrix. Subsequently it retracts, and mechanism returns to the original position. However given the limitations that currently exist on using extremely compressed telescopic arms, and the need for the machine to operate in extremely small space, a different solution has been put forward: one there the distance between skin and stinger is minimised allowing for greater angular access to areas where the hair grow at an angle that is less than 45 degrees (see figure 2a)

USB stick computer (eg SheevaPlug)

This provides the computation of scan, calculation and subsequent alignment of the items (position of the hair matrix, vector of entry, the position of the first semi-sphere, extension of the sting, the position of the clamp, location of the next follicle)

The power source and CPU

The device uses DC to power the motors driving the alignment mechanism, and the cathode. It contains a small CPU unit that relays the computations performed by USB computer to the mechanism (e.g. motor A runs for 5 seconds in clockwise direction, supply electricity to the cathode for 10 seconds).

The CPU also detects (via amp meter, or similar) if there is a stinger/cathode connected, and will not start operations without it.

While preferred components have been described, the device is not limited by these components, or the shape. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the other embodiments and examples may perform similar function and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.