Patent Application
20190183575
The invention relates to a cutting element for use with a hair cutting device for cutting (e.g. shaving) hair on a body of a subject, and a hair cutting device comprising the same.
Shaving devices for cutting or shaving hair on a body of a subject typically make use of one or more blades that cut hairs as the blade is moved across the skin of the subject. The blades can be static within the device, for example as in a wet razor, whereas in other types of devices, for example electric shavers, one or more blade elements can be actuated (e.g. rotated or oscillated) in order to produce a cutting action.
However, an alternative type of shaving device has been proposed in WO 2014/143670 that makes use of laser light. In particular, a laser light source is provided that is configured to generate laser light having a wavelength selected to target a predetermined chromophore to effectively cut a hair shaft. A fibre optic is located on a shaving portion of the device that is positioned to receive the laser light from the laser light source at a proximal end, conduct the laser light from the proximal end toward a distal end, and emit the light out of a cutting region of the fibre optic and toward hair when the cutting region is brought in contact with the hair.
To achieve a close shave, the cutting element of the shaving device (i.e. the fibre optic in the case of the device in WO 2014/143670) needs to be brought very close to, or into contact with, hair to be cut. Since both the fibre optic of the cutting element and the hair to be cut are generally cylindrical in shape, the surface area via which light can couple from the fibre optic to the hair is very small.
In order to increase the efficiency of the energy transfer from the fibre optic to the hair and, hence, to improve the cutting efficiency of the shaving device, the amount of light able to contact the hair from the fibre optic should ideally be increased.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved cutting element and hair cutting device that have an improved cutting effectiveness.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device, the cutting element comprising 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, wherein 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. An advantage of a cutting face having such a structure is that out-coupled light is able to couple to hair before the hair comes into contact with the cutting face, and before the effect of frustrated total internal reflection can cut the hair. Thus, the arrangement can cause the cutting of hair to be initiated sooner, thereby improving the cutting efficiency of the cutting element. Furthermore, the out-coupled light that couples to the hair may cause the hair to deform, thereby increasing the area of contact between the hair and the cutting face of the cutting element, and improving the cutting effect resulting from frustrated total internal reflection.
The structure of the cutting face may be such that at least some of the light allowed to couple out through the sidewall is directed back into the optical waveguide. In this way, light is effectively “recycled”, and losses of light through out-coupling into the surrounding medium are reduced.
The structure of the cutting face may be configured to increase the numerical aperture of light propagating through the optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the structure of the cutting face may comprise a serrated structure. The numerical aperture of light may be considered to be the same as the maximum possible angle of incidence of the light.
The cutting face may comprise a plurality of indentations formed therein. Each of the plurality of indentations may be configured such that light coupling out through a first wall of the indentation is refracted towards a second wall of the indentation. In this way, out-coupled light is caused to pass through a cavity or recess formed in the indentation, into which a hair may be moved to initiate cutting thereof.
Each of the indentations may comprise one of a wedge-shaped indentation, a V-shaped indentation a cone-shaped indentation, or a channel. Each indentation may be configured to receive at least a portion of a strand of hair within the indentation.
Each indentation may comprise an apex having an apex angle of between approximately 20 and 80 degrees. A refraction angle of light out-coupling from the indentation may be approximately equal to a total internal reflection angle of the optical waveguide.
The structure of the cutting face may comprise a rough surface, such that a portion of the light propagating through the optical waveguide and incident on the cutting face is caused to couple out through the cutting face. The rough surface may comprise a plurality of indentations and protrusions. Each indentation and protrusion may have a respective depth and height less than the wavelength of the light intended to propagate through the optical waveguide. In this way, a very small amount of light is able to couple out from the optical waveguide, which may couple to a hair to initiate cutting or melting.
The optical waveguide may be an optical fibre. The optical fibre may comprise a fused silica or quartz fibre.
The cutting element may further comprise a plurality of protrusions formed on the cutting face of the optical waveguide, the protrusions configured to guide hair towards the cutting face. This helps to ensure that hairs are cut during a single pass of the cutting element, and increases the chance that all hairs will be guided into a desired position (e.g. in an indentation or into an area of out-coupled light) in the cutting face.
According to a second aspect, 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 coupled to the light source to receive laser light. The cutting element may comprise a cutting element as described above.
Other advantageous features will become apparent from the following description.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As noted above, the present invention provides an improvement in the cutting ability and efficiency of a laser light-based shaving device, for example as described in WO 2014/143670. In particular, it has been recognised that by increasing the amount of light able to couple to hair from the cutting element, the hair can be cut more cleanly and effectively, reducing the need for a user of the shaving device to repeatedly use the shaving device over the same area of his or her skin and, consequently, reducing the risk of pain or irritation of the skin.
It will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to shaving devices (e.g. razors or electric shavers), and any other type of device that is used to cut hair (e.g. hair clippers), even if those devices do not necessary aim to provide a ‘clean shave’ (i.e. to remove hair at the level of the skin).
The hair cutting device 2 comprises a cutting element 4 that enables hair to be cut as the hair cutting device 2 is moved over the skin of a subject. The cutting element 4 is an optical waveguide 4 that is arranged on the hair cutting device 2 so that the optical axis of the optical waveguide 4 (i.e. the line along which light typically propagates through the optical waveguide 4) is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the hair cutting device 2 is moved so that hairs contact the sidewall of the optical waveguide 4 (the sidewall corresponding to the long edge of the optical waveguide 4) as the hair cutting device 2 is moved across the skin of the subject. In some embodiments, the optical waveguide 4 is an optical fibre, although those skilled in the art will be aware of other types of optical waveguide that can be used according to the invention, such as a slab waveguide, a strip waveguide or a photonic crystal waveguide. An optical fibre comprises a core, and in some embodiments also comprises a cladding, which may or may not fully encompass the core (e.g. part of the core may be exposed).
A light source 6 is provided in the hair cutting device 2 that generates laser light at one or more specific wavelengths. The light source 6 is optically coupled to the optical waveguide 4 so that the laser light generated by the light source 6 is coupled into the optical waveguide 4 (and specifically coupled into an end of the optical waveguide 4 so that the laser light propagates through the optical waveguide 4).
The light source 6 is configured to generate laser light at one or more specific wavelengths that can be used to cut or burn through hair. In particular, each wavelength corresponds to the wavelength of light absorbed by a chromophore that is found in hair. As is known, a chromophore is the part of a molecule that provides the molecule with its colour. Thus, the laser light will be absorbed by the chromophore and converted into heat which will melt or burn the hair or otherwise destroy the bonds in the molecules of the hair, and it is this melting or burning that provides the cutting action of the hair cutting device 2.
Suitable chromophores that can be targeted by the laser light generated by the light source 6 include, but are not limited to, melanin, keratin and water. Suitable wavelengths of laser light that can be used include, but are not limited to, wavelengths selected from the range 380 nm (nanometres) to 500 nm and 2500 nm to 3500 nm. Those skilled in the art will be aware of the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by these chromophores, and thus also the specific wavelengths of light that the light source 6 should generate for this purpose, and further details are not provided herein.
In some embodiments the light source 6 can be configured to generate laser light at a plurality of wavelengths (either simultaneously or sequentially), with each wavelength being selected to target a different type of chromophore. This can improve the cutting action of the optical waveguide 4 since multiple types of molecules in the hair may be burnt using the laser light. Alternatively multiple light sources 6 can be provided that each generate laser light at a respective wavelength, and each light source 6 can be coupled to a respective optical waveguide 4 to provide multiple cutting elements 4 in the device 2.
The hair cutting device 2 also comprises a control unit 8 that controls the operation of the hair cutting device 2, and in particular is connected to the light source 6 to control the activation and deactivation of the light source 6. The control unit 8 may activate and deactivate the light source 6 in response to an input from a user of the hair cutting device 2. The control unit 8 can comprise one or more processors, processing units, multi-core processors or modules that are configured or programmed to control the hair cutting device 2.
As noted above,
The graph in
As is known, the optical waveguide 4 acts as a waveguide for the light coupled from the light source 6 through the occurrence of total internal reflection, since the refractive index of air is lower than that of the optical waveguide 4. However, if an object that has a refractive index higher than the optical waveguide 4 is put into contact with the optical waveguide 4, then the total internal reflection is ‘frustrated’ and light can couple from the optical waveguide 4 into that object. Thus, in order for light to be coupled into a hair from the optical waveguide 4 (to provide the cutting action according to the invention), the optical waveguide 4 should preferably have the same or a lower refractive index than hair at the point at which the hair contacts the optical waveguide 4. Thus, the optical waveguide 4 should preferably have the same or a lower refractive index than hair at least at the cutting face 14 portion of the optical waveguide 4. Preferably the refractive index of the optical waveguide 4 at the cutting face 14 is the same as that of hair since that provides the best coupling of light from the optical waveguide 4 to the hair. Light may still be able to couple from the optical waveguide 4 into an object (e.g. a hair) brought into contact with the cutting face 14 of the optical waveguide even if the refractive index of the optical waveguide is higher than that of the object, due to a high numerical aperture in the cutting face.
Thus, in some embodiments, the refractive index of the optical waveguide 4 at least at the cutting face 14 is equal to or lower than 1.56. More preferably the refractive index of the optical waveguide 4 at least at the cutting face 14 is equal to or lower than 1.55. Even more preferably, the refractive index of the optical waveguide 14 at least at the cutting face 14 is equal to or lower than 1.54, since this refractive index is below the refractive indices identified in
In some embodiments, a lower bound for the refractive index of the optical waveguide 4 at the cutting face 14 can be 1.48, 1.51, 1.53 or 1.54.
A range of values from which the refractive index of the optical waveguide 4 is selected can be formed from any combination of the upper and lower refractive index bounds set out in the preceding paragraphs.
The optical waveguide/fibre 4 can be made from any suitable material or combination of materials. For example optical waveguides/fibres can be composed of or comprise silica, fluoride glass, phosphate glass, chalcogenide glass, crown glass (such as BK7) and/or crystals (such as yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) or sapphire).
As noted above, the optical waveguide/fibre 4 and strands of hair to be cut by the cutting device are generally cylindrical in shape, and the optical waveguide and a strand of hair are typically oriented such that they are approximately perpendicular to one another when cutting is taking place. Therefore, the surface area of the optical waveguide 4 that can come into contact with a strand of hair, and therefore transfer energy to the hair to effect cutting of the hair, is very small. Therefore, it has been recognised that structuring the cutting face 14 in such a way that allows some of the light propagating through the optical waveguide 4 to couple out from the optical waveguide into a surrounding medium helps to initiate the melting or cutting of hair.
In
The optical waveguide 4 is shown in contact with a hair 18 and the skin 20. The portion of the sidewall of the core 16/optical waveguide 4 that is intended to contact hairs during use forms the cutting face 14. As described above, the refractive index of the core 16 is the same or lower than the refractive index of hair.
The cutting face 14 of the optical waveguide 4 includes a structure which, in this embodiment, comprises a plurality of indentations 22. The structure of the cutting face 14 allows light to couple out through the sidewall to increase the amount of light able to couple to hair 18.
Exemplary paths of light beams 24 propagating through the optical waveguide 4 are shown in
By forming the indentations 22 as shown in
In one example, the optical waveguide 4 comprises an optical fibre formed from quartz or fused silica, and has a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.22. In such a waveguide, to achieve the effect described above (i.e. the light is deflected towards the maximum support angle of incidence), each indentation 22 is formed as a V-shaped indentation, forming a prism having an apex (i.e. the vertex at the bottom of the indentation, opposite to the opening of the indentation), with an apex angle selected based on the material from which the optical waveguide 4 is formed and the medium surrounding the optical waveguide). A suitable apex angle can be calculated for a given optical waveguide 4 in a given surrounding medium from the following expression:
where φ is the apex angle in degrees, NA is the numerical aperture of light entering the optical waveguide, n1 is the refractive index of the optical waveguide, and n0 is the refractive index of the surrounding medium.
The table below shows examples of apex angles of indentations for optical waveguides of different materials in different surrounding media (air and water), and with different apertures, calculated using the above expression, for light having a wavelength of 450 nm.
In general, therefore, the apex angle may be between approximately 20 degrees and approximately 80 degrees. For a dry shaving scenario (e.g. when the surrounding medium is air) the apex angle may be between approximately 20 degrees and approximately 60 degrees and, and for a wet shaving scenario (e.g. when the surrounding medium is water), the apex angle may be between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 80 degrees. It will be appreciated that, while the above values have been given for surrounding media including air and water, other surrounding media may be used, such as gels and/or foam. In such cases, the apex angle of each indentation may be chosen using the above expression.
In other examples, the indentations may be cone-shaped indentations, or axicons, or may be wedge-shaped indentations. In some embodiments, the indentations may comprise channels formed in the cutting face 14 of the optical waveguide 4. The optical waveguide may, of course, be formed from any other suitable material and, for other materials, the apex angle of the indentations 22 may be different. In general, however, regardless of the material from which the optical waveguide 4 is formed, the indentations have apex angles of between around 20 degrees and around 80 degrees.
In some embodiments, the indentations may be micro-indentations (i.e. indentations having a width in the order of 10−6 metres) and, in other embodiments, the indentations may be nano-indentations (i.e. indentations having a width in the order of 10−9 metres). In some examples, the indentations have a width of greater than approximately 25 micrometres (μm). An indentation having a width of at least 25 μm is large enough to receive a strand of hair.
An enlarged view of one of the indentations 22 is shown in
While
In an alternative embodiment, the structure of the cutting face 14 may comprise a rough or uneven surface instead of a plurality of regular indentations. Such an uneven surface may be formed by applying a controlled roughness to the cutting face 14 of the optical waveguide 4, for example in the form of a Fresnel lens. An uneven surface on the cutting face 14 of the waveguide 4 causes a small amount of the light incident on an inner surface of the cutting face to couple out through the cutting face into the surrounding medium (for example air, or hair if close enough to the cutting face).
An example light beam 26 is shown propagating through the optical waveguide 4 (from left to right in
The cutting element may, in some embodiments further comprise means for manipulating or guiding hair before the hair is affected by light coupling out from the optical waveguide 4.
Protrusions 32 may also be formed on the cutting face 14 of the optical waveguide 4 shown in
The protrusions 32 may, in some embodiments, be formed as an integral part of the optical waveguide 4. In other embodiments, the protrusions may form part of a supporting structure for supporting the optical waveguide 4 on the cutting device 2. In some embodiments, the protrusions 32 may further manipulate the skin from which the hairs to be cut are growing, so as the push hairs out the skin to cause an improved closeness in the shaving or hair cutting activity.
In some examples, at least some of the protrusions 32 may have a width and/or a depth in the order of a few tens of microns (10−6 metres).
Therefore, the optical waveguide 4 described above improves the cutting efficiency by initiating the cutting of hairs before frustrated total internal reflection causes total cutting of the hairs. As a result, the cutting of hair by the optical waveguide is more effective, and can reduce the need to move the cutting device repeatedly over the same portion of hair.
Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16184989.8 | Aug 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/070988 | 8/21/2017 | WO | 00 |
