Method and apparatus for the stimulation of hair growth

Abstract: A system for producing hair growth stimulation using light energy, topical compositions, and combinations thereof. By using photomodulation resulting from cellular responses to exposure to specific wavelengths of light, optionally in conjunction with topical compositions and procedures for enhancing the penetration of such compositions, hair follicles are activated to produce hair growth. (end of abstract)

Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP - Mclean, VA, US
Inventor: David H. McDaniel
USPTO Applicaton #: #20060129209 - Class: 607088000 (USPTO)
Related Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light Application

Method and apparatus for the stimulation of hair growth description/claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060129209, Method and apparatus for the stimulation of hair growth.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application Ser. No 09/819,081, filed Feb. 15, 2001, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/203,178, filed Nov. 30, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a system and method for the stimulation of hair growth, using a novel combination of photothermal, photochemical and photomodulatory alone or by also applying a drug or a cosmeceutical composition, naturally occurring chromophore, or other light-activated chromophore to or into the hair follicle hair bulb, hair bulge, hair stem cell or surrounding tissue and exposing the composition to electromagnetic radiation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are several known techniques for attempting to reduce or eliminate hair growth in human skin. A few of these known techniques such as topical minoxidil or the commerically available product "Rogaine" are scientifically proven and widely accepted as effective. However, their degree of efficacy varies greatly.

[0004] There are several processes which may be used for producing preferential damage of the hair but relatively few are known which stimulate hair growth. In one process the target may be natural melanin pigment in the hair shaft and surrounding supporting tissues. In another process the target may be an external chromophore or contaminant. Most of these processes tend to damage the hair, either by producing heat or by photo-acoustical shock waves. These known processes have varying degrees of effectiveness, but require multiple treatments and, in their current form, produce only partial permanent hair reduction.

[0005] In recent years the use of light sources to reduce or eliminate unwanted hair growth has been developed. One known technique selects a wavelength of laser light that is well-absorbed by the naturally occurring "native" pigments in the hair shaft (and perhaps some pigment in parts of the hair duct or hair follicle cells).

[0006] Another known technique uses a short pulsed laser to produce a wavelength that may be absorbed by a "foreign" material or "skin contaminant". Aspects of this technique are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,423,803, 5,817,089, 5,425,728, 5,226,907, and 5,752,949, all of which are incorporated by reference. This contaminant may be applied directly onto the skin and may be introduced into the empty space surrounding the hair shaft. One contaminant that has been used is carbon graphite in particulate form. The graphite particles have a diameter that is small enough to enable the particles to drop from the surface of the skin into the free empty spaces between the duct and the hair shaft. The energy from a laser may then interact with the contaminant particles. This causes injury to surrounding tissues whose function is to support the growth of the hair shaft. This tends to reduce or eliminate hair growth.

[0007] These contaminant particles are not physically incorporated into the hair shaft or into the surrounding hair follicle, hair bulge or hair duct cells. Nor do these contaminant particles chemically, immunologically, biologically or otherwise interact, react or complex with the hair shafts or tissue cells. The contaminant particles simply physically occupy the space surrounding the hair shaft.

[0008] Another known hair removal technique is to use a pulsed electromagnetic radiation source to produce a wavelength that may be absorbed by hair, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,380, which is incorporated by reference.

[0009] There are problems with present light and laser hair removal techniques. Known melanin targeting systems work reasonably well and are reasonably safe only when the color of the hair is very dark and when the skin is very light and not tanned. Virtually all light sources which tend to target melanin are also inherently absorbed by the overlying and surrounding skin. At present, these light sources cannot be safely used at optimal very high power settings for people with darker skin or even people with a dark tan.

[0010] Dying the hair allows increased damage to the hair target, helps confine damage to the hair target, and enables the use of power settings that are not so high as to damage surrounding and overlying skin. Treatments which target melanin inherently do not work well on light hair, since there is not enough natural pigment to absorb enough energy to damage hair even if the power is quite high. Using hair dye enables this obstacle to be overcome.

[0011] A known hair removal process which uses a 1064 nm laser to produce a wavelength that may be absorbed by a skin contaminant appears to be safe on all skin colors, including darker skin colors. However, this safety is a consequence of there being very little melanin absorption. It is therefore necessary to add graphite particles in oil contaminant lotion before laser treatment. This graphite particle lotion does not enter into the hair shaft itself. Instead, the graphite lotion tends to occupy empty spaces surrounding the hair shaft as it sits in the hair duct. This presents a problem. Either an insufficient or sub-optimal number of graphite particles penetrate into the hair duct, or an insufficient amount of damage is caused by the graphite particles. Consequently, many treatments tend to be required before an acceptable result is achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a method for stimulating hair growth in which the a hair growth structure is exposed to a source of electromagnetic radiation having a dominant emissive wavelength of from about 390 nm to about 1600 nm. By way of definition, the dominant emmisive wavelength is the primary wavelength emitted by the source of electromagnetic radiation, i.e., that wavelength is emitted at a greater intensity than any other wavelength. Photostimulating the hair growth structure is then performed by maintaining the exposure of the hair growth structure to the source of electromagnetic radiation for a clinically effective duration and at a clinically effective light intensity. Clinically effective durations and intensities are further described in the detailed description of the invention and examples and can include single pulses from a single source of electromagnetic radiation, multiple pulses from a single source of electromagnetic radiation, multiple pulses from multiple sources of electomagnetic radiation, single pulses from multiple sources of electromagnetic radiation, simultaneous pulses from multiple sources of radiation, and combinations thereof.

[0013] The exposure to electromagnetic radiation may be enhanced by way of the use of penetration enhancing agents or photomodulating agents. Exemplary of such agents, whose function is to enhance are selected from the group consisting of at least one of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin F, Retin A (Tretinoin), Adapalene, Retinol, Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, a growth factor, echinacea, an antibiotic, an antifungal, an antiviral, a bleaching agent, an alpha hydroxy acid, a beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, antioxidant triad compound, a seaweed derivative, a salt water derivative, an antioxidant, a phytoanthocyanin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a phytonutrient, a botanical product, a herbaceous product, a hormone, an enzyme, a mineral, a genetically engineered substance, a cofactor, a catalyst, an antiaging substance, insulin, trace elements (including ionic calcium, magnesium, etc), minerals, minoxidil, a hair growth stimulating substance, a hair growth inhibiting substance, a dye, a natural or synthetic melanin, a metalloproteinase inhibitor an inhibitor of AP-1 or c-Jun, proline, hydroxyproline, an anesthetic substance, chlorophyll, copper chlorophyllin, chloroplasts, carotenoids, bacteriochlorophyll, phycobilins, carotene, xanthophyll, anthocyanin, and derivatives, subcomponents, and analogs of the above, both natural and synthetic, and mixtures thereof. The list is meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive, as those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, based on the disclosure herein, that other compounds are capable of treating the upper layers of the skin, hair structures, and surrounding tissue to enhance treatment with electromagnetic radiation.

[0014] Further, physical procedures may be performed to permit greater penetration of electromagnetic radiation into target hair structure, skin, and surrounding tissue in preparation for treatment. Such procedures include, but are not limited to: enzyme peel, microderm abrasion, solvent stripping, tape stripping, scrubbing, laser ablation, laser vaporization, chemical peeling, electrical stimulation, laser treatments using high peak power and short pulse durations, ultrasound, or combinations thereof.

[0015] Finally, the source or sources of electromagnetic radiation for use with the present invention are essentially unlimited. The criteria for selection of the source is treatment-dependent and is only limited to emitters of electromagnetic radiation in the range of from about 300 nm to about 1600 nm, either directly or after mechanical or electrical filatration of the radiation. Most preferred among such emitters, due to their cost and availability are light emitting diodes (LED's), lasers, flashlamps, fluorescent lights, dye lasers, diode lasers, and incandescent sources filtered to produce a dominant emissive wavelength in the desired range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematical illustration of various treatment regimens, including the low level light method of the present invention which may also incorporate the use of topical formulations.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematical representation of treatment regimens pertaining to the use of low level light according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of an LED array of the present invention having multiple panels of arrays.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a graphical illustration of the absorption spectrum of human fibroblast overlayed with the wavelengths used by narrowband, multichromatic LED emitters of the present invention and also the absorption spectrum of indocyanine green (ICG).

[0020] FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration of the absorption spectrum of human fibroblast overlayed with the wavelengths used by narrowband, multichromatic LED emitters of the present invention and also the absorption spectrum of protophorphyrin IX, one of the active chromophores in acne bacteria.

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