JPS6037636B2 - Carbon dioxide laser emission device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide laser emitting device suitable for medical equipment such as a laser scalpel and a laser blood vessel anastomosis device.

(Prior art) Conventionally, carbon dioxide lasers have been used in medical equipment such as laser scalpels and blood vessel anastomosis devices. A weak output of about 5 to 100 watts is sufficient.

As described above, since the required output levels of the two types are significantly different, they are generally configured as dedicated machines for each type. By the way, when both incision and anastomosis are performed alternately in a series of surgeries, it goes without saying that it is extremely desirable to be able to use a single device for both operations.

However, the light output can be adjusted from skin order to 1 skin order.
If you try to change the number of digits or more, the following problems will occur. Generally, this type of device uses a beam splitter to split the laser light emitted from the laser oscillation unit into working light and monitor light, detects the monitor evening light, and controls the light output based on the detection signal. .

Therefore, if the division ratio of the beam splitter is set to, for example, monitor evening light/work light = 1/10, the work light will be
When the sail is on, the monitor light is 1 w~lw. Light energies on the order of mw can be easily detected using highly sensitive thermopiles or fish-electronic elements, and therefore the working light
It is possible to stably control output on the order of OWW.
However, if we consider the case where the working light is reduced to about one book, the light energy of ]w will enter the optical sensor, and the high-sensitivity optical sensor will be faced with a situation where it will be burnt out. For this reason, it is usually not possible to continuously control a wide light output range over the skin w~1 sail using a single optical sensor. One way to solve this problem is to prepare two types of beam splitters with split ratios of monitor light/work light, for example 1/10 and 10/1, and use the former for high output and the former for low output. The method is to switch and use the latter.

In this way, the energy range of the monitor light is narrowed and control can be performed with one optical sensor. However, to obtain a beam splitter with the required splitting ratio,
It is expensive because it requires a complicated coating process, and it also has the problem that the cost increases significantly because two types have to be prepared. (Object of the Invention) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a light attenuator or a light energy limiter that can be inserted and removed at the light entrance of an optical sensor, and can be inserted or removed according to the magnitude of the light output. Laser light in a wide range from low output to high output.In addition to narrowing the optical detection energy range, the insertion and removal of the optical energy limiter is detected and the reference setting value of the control system is changed based on the detection signal. The object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost carbon dioxide laser emission device that can stably obtain the following.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail based on the drawings.

(Embodiment) Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a carbon dioxide laser discharge tube, 2 is a high voltage generator, and 3 is a discharge current controller, which allows the laser oscillation unit to operate. It is configured.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a beam splitter consisting of a partially transmitting mirror, which splits the laser light Po emitted from the laser oscillation section into working light P and monitor light P2.

The working light P is focused by an optical system (not shown) and irradiated onto an affected area, etc., and is used for incision of living tissue and blood vessel anastomosis. On the other hand, the monitor light P2 is detected by the optical sensor 5. When the energy of the monitor light P2 is relatively large, an optical attenuator such as a partially transmitting mirror or a slit or hole is provided at the entrance of the optical sensor 5. A light energy limiter 6 made of a flat plate is inserted to reduce the energy of the detection light P3 reaching the optical sensor 5. 7a and 7b are position detectors of the optical energy limiter 6, such as microphones.

It consists of a switch, an optical power plastic, a magnetic sensor, etc., and detects when the optical energy limiter 6 is in the normal insertion or removal position (not in the middle of insertion or removal). 8 is a setting value switch that outputs a reference signal e or e2 predetermined by the detection signal of the position detector 7a or 7b, and 9 is a set value switch that outputs the reference signal e or e2 that is determined in advance by the detection signal of the position detector 7a or 7b; This is a deviation amplifier that compares the values and feeds back a control signal to the discharge current controller 3.

Further, 10 detects when the optical energy limiter 6 is not at the normal insertion/removal position, that is, when it is at an intermediate position during insertion/removal, and issues a signal to shut off the high voltage generator 2. - An intermediate position detector that stops the oscillation. In this embodiment configured as described above, the beam splitter 4
Even if P2/P is fixed to, for example, 1/10, if the optical power is large, the optical energy limiter 6 is inserted to make the detection light P3 of low energy, and if the optical output is small, the optical energy limiter is inserted. Since the monitor light P2 can be directly used as the detection light P3 without using the sensor 6, only one type of beam splitter is required, and moreover, a low-cost, low-energy, high-sensitivity light detection element can be used as a light sensor. .

Moreover, since the basic setting values for controlling the oscillator are automatically selected in accordance with the insertion and removal of the optical energy limiter 6, malfunctions caused by insertion and removal of the limiter can be prevented. Furthermore, since the oscillation is stopped during the insertion and removal of the optical energy limiter 6, the laser beam will not inadvertently damage living tissue. FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a mirror 11 consisting of a total reflection mirror is used in place of the beam splitter.

In this case, when working, the shutter 1 is removed from the optical path of the laser beam and the emitted laser beam Po is used as working light Po', and when not working, the shutter 1 is inserted into the optical path to completely reflect Po. This is the monitor light Po''.Generally, the continuous irradiation time of the laser beam is short, so the stabilized discharge current immediately before irradiation is maintained during irradiation, that is, when not monitoring.Hold for this purpose A circuit 12 is provided between the deviation amplifier 9 and the discharge current controller 3.
Items with the same reference numerals as those in the figures indicate the same items. In this embodiment configured as described above, the light energy controller 6 is inserted and removed depending on the magnitude of the light output, so that the light energy can be controlled using a small energy light sensor.
Eliminates the need for expensive beam splitters.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to stably output laser light in a wide range from low output to high output, and also to reduce the number of expensive beam splitters. Since the optical sensor can be an inexpensive low-energy photodetecting element, the cost can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent malfunctions due to insertion and removal of the optical energy limiter, and improve operability and safety. The gas laser emitting device according to the present invention is extremely effective when applied to a laser scalpel and a device for vascular anastomosis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Carbon dioxide laser discharge tube, 2...
High voltage generator, 3... Discharge current controller, 4...
... Beam splitter, 5... Optical sensor, 6... Light energy controller, 7a, 7b... Position detector, 8
. . . Set value switch, 9 . . . Deviation amplifier, 10 . . . Intermediate position detector, 11 . . . Maizu figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A laser oscillation section consisting of a carbon dioxide gas discharge tube, a high voltage generator, and a discharge current controller, and means for dividing the laser light emitted from the laser oscillation section into working light and monitor light. means for switching between working light and monitor light; a photodetector for detecting the monitor light; an optical attenuator or optical energy limiter removably installed in a light entrance of the photodetector; and the optical attenuator. position detection means for detecting the position of the optical attenuator or optical energy limiter; and a position detection means for detecting the position of the optical attenuator or optical energy limiter, and and means for comparing the output reference signal and the detection signal of the photodetector and outputting a control signal to be fed back to the discharge current controller. Carbon dioxide laser emission device. 2. The position detection means is characterized in that when the optical attenuator or the optical energy limiter is not in the normal insertion/removal position, the position detection means outputs a signal that cuts off the high voltage generator and stops laser oscillation. A carbon dioxide laser emission device according to claim 1.