Hair loss abstract
A device for retarding hair loss and for stimulating its regrowth
comprising an electrical pulse generator (3, 4) connected to at
least one electrically conducting cable (2, 20) extending within
a shaped structure to be applied to a person's skull.
Hair loss claims
I claim:
1. A device for retarding hair loss and for stimulating its regrowth,
comprising:
an electrical pulse generator connected to an electrically conducting
cable extending within a shaped structure to be applied to a person's
skull, said cable being distributed in the form of loops, said generator
providing to said cable electrical pulses for generating a pulsating
electromagnetic field around said cable having an intensity of at
least one gauss in proximity to the conducting cable, and wherein
the intensity of said field is essentially negligible at approximately
5 mm from a surface of said conducting cable.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical pulses
have a duration of about 2 milliseconds and are repeated with a
frequency of about fifty pulses per second.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of said
conducting cable (20) which is to face the user's skull is protected
by a plastic film.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a sealed
plastic bag enclosing said conducting cable.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a pump connected
to said bag for inflating said bag.
Hair loss description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for retarding hair loss and
for stimulating its regrowth.
DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
Devices of the aforesaid type are known comprising one or more
moving members for mechanically massaging the scalp and in particular
those parts of the head where hair loss is greatest.
Satisfactory retarding of hair loss cannot be obtained with known
devices.
Moreover these devices are uncomfortable to handle, they are relatively
heavy and are tiring to use as they have to be held in contact with
the head for relatively long periods.
Apparatus have recently been proposed which have proved of some
interest in retarding hair loss and stimulating its growth, such
apparatus using pulsating electrostatic fields (see for example
the articles by W. Stuart Maddin published in the International
Journal of Dermatology, July-August '90, vol. 29 No 12, and December
'92, vol. 31, No. 12). These apparatus comprised helmet provided
with electrically conducting plates connected to large pulsating
electrostatic field generators.
Although the impedance of the output circuit of this apparatus
is so high as to limit the delivered current to a value which is
completely harmless even if the scalp makes direct contact with
the plates, this does not eliminate the unpleasant and dangerous
effect deriving therefrom. It is also difficult to adjust the depth
of action of the electrostatic field, consequently requiring a relatively
complicated and costly regulator circuit. The electrostatic apparatus
of the aforesaid type also has a very low maximum energy efficiency
when powered by 12 volt batteries or the like, this voltage being
converted into a much higher voltage to achieve the desired results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the
aforesaid type which is easy and comfortable to use without risk,
is of small overall size, is easily adjustable by a normal user,
and in particular is effective in retarding hair loss and stimulating
its regrowth.
A further object is to provide a low-cost device of simple construction.
These and further objects which will be apparent to an expert of
the art are attained by a device in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying
figures, which are provided by way of non-limiting example and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the device;
and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a support element 1 with which there are associated
a plurality of electromagnetic wave generator elements 2 (six are
shown in the example) connected electrically to a regulator member
3 and a powering member 4.
In the illustrated embodiment the support element 1 is in the form
of a helmet or hat (in the figure it is shown in schematic view
from above) and comprises two stiffening parts 1A, 1B.
The hat 1 is formed for example of plastics material or fabric,
and comprises a plurality of seats (not shown) for housing and retaining
the generators. These latter consist for example of a cable arranged
in "daisy" loops.
The powering member 4 can be a usual battery or a usual plug for
connecting the device to the electric mains.
The regulator member 3 is of conventional type for the expert of
the art and will not be described in detail.
Depending on the type of power supply and generators 2, the member
3 is arranged to feed the generators with power such as to generate
waves having an intensity of at least 1 gauss in proximity to the
generators.
The regulator member 3 also comprises a conventional interface
3A by which the user can set the desired frequency and intensity.
Using the interface 3A the user can also choose the type of electromagnetic
wave, which can for example be sinusoidal or semisinusoidal, trapezoidal,
triangular, periodic or in trains of adjustable length and frequency,
or in waves which alternate at adjustable frequency.
It should be noted that the regulator member 3 and powering member
4 could advantageously be combined into a single component. The
regulator member could also comprise a usual programmable electronic
circuit, for example of the microprocessor type, for powering the
generators 2 such as to generate a periodic sequence of electromagnetic
waves of preset variable intensity, frequency and type. In this
manner it is possible to program, for a set period for example of
thirty minutes, an electromagnetic wave sequence for example of
the following type: for the first ten minutes continuous sinusoidal
waves at 50 hertz and 4 gauss, for the next ten minutes triangular
waves at 40 hertz and 3 gauss lasting one minute followed by a 30
second pause, and for the last ten minutes waves as for the first
ten minutes.
Advantageously said circuit is programmed by the device manufacturer
such that the user is able only to turn the device on and off, hence
simplifying the use of the device. The circuit could also contain
different preset electromagnetic wave sequences according to user
problems. The circuit could also be of the type for memorizing a
user sequence of electromagnetic waves.
It has been found experimentally that the useful frequency and
intensity of the electromagnetic waves generated by the generators
range from 10 to 100 hertz and from 1 to 100 gauss respectively.
The device has been tested on persons with hair loss problems and
baldness. After only a short treatment period (a few days) most
of the persons subjected to the test showed a decrease in hair loss
and, in the case of some persons, a partial regrowth of hair in
the regions from which it had been lost.
A modification (not shown) to the aforedescribed embodiment comprises
an element for supporting a structure grippable by the user and
carrying one or more generators.
In this case the user can concentrate the electromagnetic action
onto a particular region of the scalp. The regulator and powering
members could then be housed in said grippable structure or be connected
to it by a cable.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment (those elements in common with
the aforedescribed embodiment being indicated by the same reference
numerals) comprising a single generator in the form for example
of a conventional flexible electric cable wound into a plurality
of turns 2A and associated with the support element 1 for example
by sewing.
A container 10 for the regulator member 3 and powering member 4
is connected to the stiffening part 1A of the element 1 and comprises
a usual switch 10A for switching on the device.
Instead of the simple switch 10A the container 10 can comprise,
if necessary, an interface 3A (not shown) similar to the preceding.
The regulator member 3 is advantageously of the aforedescribed
programmable type. The powering member 4 can be a battery or a simple
electric cable 10B for connection to the domestic electricity supply.
Advantageously the stiffening parts 1A, 1B can be lengthened or
shortened to adjust the size of the hat-shaped support element 1
to the size of the user's head. For this purpose each of the two
parts 1A, B comprises, for example, portions 1C which can be snap-connected
together in conventional manner.
In a further preferred embodiment (for simplicity shown only partly
by dashed lines on FIG. 2), with the inner face of a structure shaped
in the form of a helmet or head cover there is associated a single
electric cable arranged starting from the centre of the helmet in
such a manner as to form a plurality of loops or lobes 20. In each
lobe the cable is arranged so that it returns about itself so that
the magnetic field generated by a part of the cable is partly nullified
by the field generated by that cable part adjacent to it.
The cable associated with the helmet is connected to an electronic
circuit arranged to generate a sequence of current pulses for example
of 2 milliseconds duration at a frequency of fifty pulses per second.
The intensity of these pulses is such that the cable associated
with the electronic circuit generates an electromagnetic field with
an intensity of about 2 gauss in proximity to the cable and of negligible
intensity at about 5 millimeters therefrom.
The electronic circuit for generating the current pulses is of
conventional type to the expert of the art and is therefore not
described in detail hereinafter, it being sufficient to note that
it is advantageously of microprocessor type powered by a usual battery,
for example of twelve volts, via a usual voltage stabilizer circuit,
and is connected to a usual power circuit connected to the cable
within the helmet, all these being within the scope of an expert
of the art as stated.
Advantageously the electronic circuit is activated by pushing a
pushbutton switch, and is deactivated automatically after a predetermined
adjustable time period, for example thirty minutes.
Because of the particular lobe arrangement of the electric cable
generating the magnetic field and the limited intensity of this
latter, it has been found that the magnetic field acts only on the
scalp so as not to stimulate those parts of the body not concerned
with the application and not waste energy, hence without creating
any danger for the user. Moreover in this manner a magnetic field
is obtained which is distributed uniformly over the entire skull
and extends for only a few millimeters from the conductor.
Preferably the lobes 20 of the electric cable generating the electromagnetic
field are inserted into plastic bags (not shown) inflatable manually
by the helmet user using a conventional pump associated with the
helmet. The cable can adhere internally to that face of the bag
which comes into contact with the scalp. In this manner the electric
cable emitting the magnetic field is always in contact with the
scalp, even for varying user skull dimensions.
Finally it should be noted that the illustrated embodiments are
given by way of example only, and that numerous modifications are
possible all falling within the same inventive concept.
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