Abstract
A cap promoting hair growth is provided. In one embodiment, the cap covers the user's scalp while the hair growth is promoted by the vibration of micro-needle massage pad along with the illumination of laser beam with the growth factor applied to the user's scalp.
Claims
1. A hair-loss treatment apparatus, comprising a cap covering the user's scalp, at least one massage pad attached inside said cap by an attaching means, wherein said massage pad has a plurality of micro-needles of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp, a vibration means attached to said massage pad powered by an electrical source providing massage action to the user's scalp, whereby the treatment is carried out by combined action of vibrating massage pad and the stimulation of micro-needles to facilitate the blood flow of the user's scalp and increase the efficiency of drug delivery when medication is applied to the user's scalp.
2. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 1, said massage pad having a plurality of protrusions wherein each protrusion has at least one micro-needle on the tip reaching the scalp through existing hairs.
3. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 1, said massage pad can be detached from the cap for replacement and cleaning.
4. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said massage pad further includes a cavity holding growth factor, and said protrusion further include a capillary hole on the tip connecting to said cavity, whereby said growth factor is applied to the user's scalp during the massage action.
5. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 1, further including a laser illumination means placed in between said massage pad and the inside of the cap, wherein laser illumination means providing a broad area laser illumination to the scalp through said massage pad.
6. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 1, further including a laser illumination means mounted on said massage pad, providing local area laser illumination to the scalp.
7. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said massage pad is made of material transparent to the wavelength of the laser illumination.
8. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the wavelength of the laser illumination is at least one band selected between 500-1900 nm.
9. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the wavelength of the laser illumination is at least one band selected between 630-680 nm.
10. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the laser illumination means comprising at least one laser diode powered by said electrical source.
11. A hair-loss treatment apparatus, comprising a cap covering the user's scalp having at least one electrical connector providing electrical power and attaching means on the internal surface of said cap. at least one massage pad attached inside said cap through said attaching means, wherein said massage pad has a plurality of micro-needles of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp, a vibration means attached to said massage pad drawing power through said electrical connectors and providing massage action to the user's scalp, wherein said massage pad can be plugged inside said cap in a predetermined pattern to suit different hair loss user, whereby the treatment is carried out by combined action of vibrating massage pad and the stimulation of micro-needles to facilitate the blood flow of the user's scalp and increase the efficiency of drug delivery when medication is applied to the user's scalp.
12. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 11, said massage pad having a plurality of protrusions wherein each protrusion has at least one micro-needle on the tip reaching the scalp through existing hairs.
13. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 11, said massage pad can be detached from the cap for replacement and cleaning.
14. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said massage pad further includes a cavity holding growth factor, and said protrusion further include a capillary hole on the tip connecting to said cavity, whereby said growth factor is applied to the user's scalp during the massage action.
15. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 11, further including a laser illumination means placed in between said massage pad and the inside of the cap, wherein laser illumination means providing a broad area laser illumination to the scalp through said massage pad.
16. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 11, wherein each massage pad further including a laser illumination means, providing local area laser illumination to the scalp.
17. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said massage pad is made of material transparent to the wavelength of the laser illumination.
18. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the wavelength of the laser illumination is at least one band selected between 500-1900 nm.
19. A hair-loss treatment apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the wavelength of the laser illumination is at least one band selected between 630-680 nm.
20. A hair-loss treatment apparatus, comprising a cap covering the user's scalp having at least one embedded vibration means powered by a power source, at least one attaching means on the internal surface of said cap, said attaching means interconnecting to said vibration means, at least one massage pad attached inside of said cap by said attaching means, wherein said massage pad has a plurality of micro-needles of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp, whereby the treatment is carried out by combined action of vibrating massage pad and the stimulation of micro-needles to facilitate the blood flow of the user's scalp and increase the efficiency of drug delivery when medication is applied to the user's scalp.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a hair loss treatment apparatus 101 in the form of a cap or hat.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the attaching means is flexible allowing the massage pad to cover a predetermined area of user's scalp during the massage and stimulation process.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the vibration means is embedded in the cap and at least one microneedle massage pad is attached to the vibration means.
[0016] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein each microneedle massage pad has its own vibration means and the position of said microneedle massage pad in the cap can be rearranged as required.
[0017] FIG. 6A-C show microneedle pad with protrusions that can go through the hair on user's scalp to reach the surface of scalp and to provide stimulation, and the location of said pad in the cap can be rearranged as needed.
[0018] FIG. 7 shows the views of another preferred embodiment wherein the microneedle massage pad having protrusions further includes a cavity holding growth factor, while the surface of protrusion contacting the user's scalp further includes at least one capillary hole connecting to said cavity.
[0019] FIG. 8A-B show the explosive views of an hair-loss treatment apparatus in FIG. 3, further includes a laser illumination means.
[0020] FIG. 9A-C show anther preferred embodiment wherein each microneedle massage pad in a hair loss treatment apparatus further includes its own laser diode illumination means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a hair loss treatment apparatus 101 in the form of a cap or hat 102 having a massage pad 103 as the lining inside, said massage pad having a plurality of microneedles 104 of predetermined length on the surface contacting the user's scalp and at least one vibration means 105 powered by an electric source 106 such as a battery or external power source. Said massage pad is made of a soft or elastic material allowing itself to conform to the shape of the user's scalp while being firm enough to transmit the vibration action generated by said vibration means to the user's scalp, whereby said massage pad with microneedles can provide a massage action along with microneedling to stimulate the hair growth. A control means 107 can be used to control the level of vibration. The massage function can be prolonged while freeing the hands of the users. The external part of said cap or hat can be in any shape, form or thickness since it merely provides a cosmetic function and it also could help to hold said massage pad in place on the user's scalp.
[0022] In one embodiment showing in FIG. 2, where said hair loss treatment apparatus is in a form of a cap for covering the user's scalp, having a massage pad 103 mounted on the internal lining of said cap, wherein said massage pad has a plurality of microneedles 104 of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp, in which said massage pad is removable. Said massage pad is attached to the inside of the cap with an attaching means 201. Said attaching means can be adhesive or a device such as a Velcro strip or a spring or a mechanical connection so said massage pad can be replaced, cleaned or changed to a different one with a different microneedle length. Said massage pad has at least one vibration means 105 inside providing massage action powered by a power source such as a battery 106 connected through connector 202 and 109. Said massage pad is made of a material such as silicon rubber or fabric cushion that is soft enough to conform to the shape of the user's scalp while firm or elastic enough to transmit the massage action caused by said vibration means to the user's scalp through said massage pad. In another embodiment in FIG. 3, the attaching means connecting said cap and said massage pad in FIG. 2 is at least one spring or a flexible string or elastic rod 301. Such flexible attaching means allows said massage pad to jump around on the user's scalp during vibration so each microneedle could cover a small area during the massage and stimulation process, whereby the treatment is carried out by combined action of vibrating massage pad and the stimulation of micro-needles to facilitate the blood flow of the user's scalp and increase the efficiency of drug delivery when medication is applied to the user's scalp.
[0023] In another preferred embodiment showing in FIG. 4, where said hair loss treatment apparatus is similar to the device in FIG. 3 with at least one microneedle massage pad 404, but in this embodiment, the vibration means 401 powered by a power source such as a battery 106 is embedded in the cap instead of inside the microneedle massage pad. Through internal connections said vibration means sends vibration force to a plurality of attaching locations 402 where said microneedle massage pad 404 can be attached using the attaching means 403. In this embodiment, said microneedle massage pad being removable has a plurality of microneedles 104 of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp. Said attaching means can be adhesive or a device such as a Velcro strip or a spring or a mechanical connection that can be attach to selected attaching location 402 to transmit the vibration action of said vibration means to said microneedle massage pad and then to the scalp of user's scalp. Thus said microneedle massage pad can be replaced, cleaned or changed to a different one with a different microneedle length. Said massage pad is made of a material such as silicon rubber or fabric cushion that is soft enough to conform to the shape of the user's scalp while firm or elastic enough to transmit the massage action caused by said vibration means to the user's scalp through said massage pad.
[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention in FIG. 5, where said hair loss treatment apparatus is in a form of a cap for covering the user's scalp, having multiple massage pads 503 and each said massage pad attached to the internal lining of said cap with a attaching means 504, wherein each said massage pad has a plurality of microneedles 104 of predetermined length on its surface contacting the user's scalp. The massage action is provided by a vibration means 505 embedded in said cap powered by an electric source 106. Said vibration means having a plurality of connection means (not shown) can to send vibration action through said connection means to each massage pad through attaching locations 506 as in FIG. 5A, or each massage pad has its own embedded vibration means 505 and power connection 508 as in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. Power connection sockets 509 are distributed inside of said cap for power connection of 508. In this embodiment said massage pads 503 are removable from said cap and the location of each said pad can be rearranged as need. When a large area of scalp is covered, multiple massage pads could conform to the shape of the user's head better. Said attaching means can be adhesive or a device such as a Velcro strip or a spring or a mechanical connection so said massage pad can be replaced, cleaned or changed to a different one having a different microneedle length. Said massage pad is made of a material such as silicon rubber or fabric cushion that is soft enough to conform to the shape of the user's scalp while firm or elastic enough to transmit the massage action caused by said vibration means to the user's scalp through said massage pad.
[0025] FIGS. 6A and 6B shows embodiments wherein the massage pad has a plurality of protrusions 601 and each protrusion has at least one microneedle on the tip. Preferably it has several microneedles on the tip. The protrusions, like the teeth of a comb, could easily go through the hair of the user, and make the microneedles easier to reach the user's scalp. This feature will help users with partial hair loss. FIG. 6C shows two views of a hair loss treatment apparatus 600 comprising a cap 602 with multiple microneedle massage pads 503 that can be rearranged according to the need, and each massage pad can be detached from the cap for replacement and cleaning.
[0026] Hair growth factors or agents can be used together with the microneedle cap disclosed in this invention. These could be applied to the user's scalp before using the hair-loss treatment apparatus. One problem in using hair growth factors or agents has been that the applied layer dries in short time and it is inconvenient to re-apply, particularly when there is hair on the scalp. FIG. 7 shows a solution provided by the current invention wherein the massage pad 701, having protrusions 703 with microneedles 104 similar to FIG. 6B, further includes a cavity 702 holding growth factor, and the surface 705 contacting the user's scalp of said massage pad 701, such as said the tips of protrusions 703, further includes at least one capillary hole 706 connecting to said cavity 702, whereby said growth factor is gradually and slowly applied to the user's scalp during the massage action by the vibration means 707, and can be refilled from port 708. The speed of application can be controlled by the hole size of the capillary.
[0027] To further promoting the hair growth, assisting options can be added to the microneedle cap. One preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the said hair-loss treatment apparatus in FIG. 3 further includes a laser illumination means 801 placed in between said massage pad 103 and the inside lining of the cap. The laser illumination means 801 consisting a plurality of laser diodes 802 provides a broad area laser illumination to the scalp through said massage pad 103 and/or through the gap between the microneedle pads. The microneedle pad is made of transparent or translucent materials so the laser power will reach the scalp efficiently directly or by scattering. It is preferred to use a laser with visible or near-infrared wavelength for illumination. It is more preferably to select one or more wavelength band from a range between 500-1900 nm. It is even more preferably to select at least one band between 630-680 nm. Many materials are transparent to the wavelength can be used for making the microneedle pad. The microneedles 104 on the surface contacting the user's scalp are very tiny so illumination will not be affected. In yet another embodiment showing in FIG. 9, a laser illumination means comprising at least one laser diode powered by an electrical source is mounted on the microneedle massage pad, providing local area laser illumination to the scalp. By using a pad like 901, the microneedle massage pad location can be rearranged to work on different areas of the user's scalp as need as the embodiment in FIG. 6. This can be easily achieved by plugging the microneedle massage pad 901 through the power connector 906 for getting power for illumination means 902 and vibration means 905 from the power source such as a battery (not shown). 901 can be mounted to a cap such as 206 through the attaching means 904, which is similar as 504. 901 is similar to 701 having a cavity for hair growth factor, if needed. The laser illumination, the massage action and the microneedling along with the application of hair growth factors of the disclosed hand-free cap will maximize the purpose of promoting hair growth.
[0028] The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modification and variation are possible in light of above teaching. For example, optics can be used in certain cases to change the divergence of the illumination means for covering different size of user's scalp. Light source other than laser diodes can be used also to provide needed wavelength for illumination. Pressure means such as a cap holder can be used to make pressurized contact of the massage pad with the user's scalp. The cap can be modified as headwear like a helmet, a hat, or other shape. Moreover, this microneedling procedure is universal. When made flexible, as it can easily be, it is possible to use a large pad to cover other part of the body for stimulation and treatment. A string or other restrain means can be added to hold the cap or hat in place and add pressure of the microneedle massage pad to the user's scalp. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention. While specific values have been used and listed in the foregoing embodiments for the sake of easy to understand, they do not set limit on the invention teaching, which is properly described in the claims. The particular values and configurations discussed above can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
