Skin Wound Healing and Hair Growth Device

Abstract

Disclosed is a device that can heal skin wounds and grow hair by irradiating light from light emitting diodes (LED). The device is provided with: an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means which generates ultra-narrowband red light with peak wavelength range 620-660 nm and FWHM 10 nm or less; an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means which generates ultra-narrowband green light with peak wavelength range 500-540 nm and FWHM 10 nm or less; an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means which generates ultra-narrowband blue light with peak wavelength range 440-480 nm and FWHM 10 nm or less; and an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means which generates ultra-narrowband red to near infrared light with peak wavelength range 700-2500 nm and FWHM 10 nm or less. In this way, cell growth factors such as HGF and KGF are acted upon by irradiating the affected area with ultra-narrowband monochromatic light of FWHM 10 nm or less, which has excellent effects in healing skin wounds and growing hair.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A device comprising:
 a source of ultra-narrowband red light having a half-band width of 10 nm or less;   a source of ultra-narrowband green light having a half-band width of 10 nm or less; and   a switch wired to alternately switch between the red light source and the green light source.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the red light has a peak wavelength of 620 to 660 nm, and wherein the device more strongly induces proliferation of leptin, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the red light has a peak wavelength of 630 to 650 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the red light source provides an ultra-narrowband red light to near-infrared light having a peak wavelength of 700 to 2500 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the green light has a peak wavelength of 500 nm to 540 nm, and wherein the device more strongly induces proliferation of HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor), which contributes to angiogenesis and skin wound healing, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a source of ultra-narrowband blue light having a peak wavelength of 440 to 480 nm and a half-band width of 10 nm or less, and wherein the device more strongly induces proliferation of KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor), which is a keratinocyte growth factor, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the ultra-narrowband light sources. 
     
     
         23 . A device comprising:
 a first light source which provides ultra-narrowband light of a first color, the light of the first color having a half-band width of 10 nm or less;   a second light source which provides ultra-narrowband light of a second color, the light of the second color also having a half-band width of 10 nm or less; and   a switch wired to alternately switch between the two light sources.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a third light source which provides ultra-narrowband light of a third color, the light of the third color also having a half-band width of 10 nm or less, and wherein the switch is wired to avoid powering all three light sources at the same time. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the ultra-narrowband light sources, and wherein the device more strongly induces proliferation of HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor), which contributes to angiogenesis and skin wound healing, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein one of the light sources produces a green light having a peak wavelength of 500 nm to 540 nm, and wherein the device more strongly induces proliferation of KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor), which is a keratinocyte growth factor, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein one of the light sources produces a blue light having a peak wavelength of 440 to 480 nm. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein one of the light sources produces a red light to near-infrared light having a peak wavelength of 700 to 2500 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein one of the light sources produces a red light having a peak wavelength of 630 to 650 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein one of the light sources produces a red light having a peak wavelength of 600 to 900 nm, and wherein applying the ultra-narrowband red light to a head for a predetermined time at a predetermined power level so that the irradiation energy is not greater than a predetermined value, thereby changes the mRNA expression levels of cytokines secreted from hair papilla cells and promoting hair restoration. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the light sources comprise at least one light-emitting diode (LED) to reduce the irradiation energy. 
     
     
         32 . A device comprising:
 an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means for generating an ultra-narrowband red light having a half-band width of 10 nm or less; and   a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the ultra-narrowband light irradiation means.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , further comprising an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means for generating an ultra-narrowband green light having a peak wavelength of 500 to 540 nm and a half-band width of 10 nm or less; and
 a switching means for alternately switching the red light irradiation and the green light irradiation.   
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , further comprising an ultra-narrowband light irradiation means for generating an ultra-narrowband blue light having a peak wavelength of 440 to 480 nm and a half-band width of 10 nm or less. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the following holds:
 the ultra-narrowband light irradiation means for generating an ultra-narrowband red light generates red light having a peak wavelength of 620 to 660 nm and a half-band width of 10 nm or less;   the ultra-narrowband light irradiation means for generating an ultra-narrowband red light generates red light to near-infrared light having a peak wavelength of 700 to 2500 nm and a half-band width of 10 nm or less;   the device more strongly induces proliferation of leptin, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width;   the device more strongly induces proliferation of HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor), which contributes to angiogenesis and skin wound healing, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width;   the device more strongly induces proliferation of KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor), which is a keratinocyte growth factor, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width;   the device more strongly induces proliferation of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), which is a vascular endothelial growth factor, compared to the irradiation of light with a broad half-band width;   the device applies the ultra-narrowband red light to a head for a predetermined time at a predetermined power level so that the irradiation energy is not greater than a predetermined value, thereby changing the mRNA expression levels of cytokines secreted from hair papilla cells and promoting hair restoration;   the device applies the ultra-narrowband red light to a head for a predetermined time at a predetermined power level so that the irradiation energy is not greater than a predetermined value, thereby changing the mRNA expression levels of cytokines secreted from hair papilla cells and promoting hair restoration, wherein the cytokines are HGF (Hepatocyto Growth Factor), IGF (Insulin-like growth factors), leptin, and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), which are cell growth factors, and the mRNA expression levels of all of these cytokines are increased within 24 hours after light irradiation.   the device applies the ultra-narrowband red light to a head for a predetermined time at a predetermined power level so that the irradiation energy is not greater than a predetermined value, thereby changing the mRNA expression levels of cytokines secreted from hair papilla cells and promoting hair restoration, wherein the cytokine is TNF-α, which is an inflammatory cytokine, and the mRNA expression level of which is decreased within eight hours.