JPS6051903B2 - Dental treatment equipment using laser light - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present application relates to a dental treatment device that performs dental treatment using a laser beam, particularly a carbon dioxide laser beam. When the laser beam comes out of the treatment area, the laser beam generator uses the reflected light from the treated area to stop the mechanism of the laser beam generator, preventing unexpected obstacles other than dental treatment, and allowing safe dental treatment. This is what I did.

In recent years, in the field of dental treatment, dental treatment procedures using laser light such as carbon dioxide gas have been widely practiced.
Laser handle is the treatment tool! There is a do piece.

This laser handpiece is equipped with a lens system inside the cylindrical body, which focuses the laser beam from the laser beam generator to optimize the optical path within the handpiece body and guide it to the tip. is guided out from the tip and irradiated to the five affected areas. Further, the laser light generating device includes a laser oscillator controlled by a switching circuit, and for example, a foot switch causes the laser oscillator to single-shotly generate laser light through the switching circuit, and transmits the laser light to the laser 4-handpiece. In the present application, in such a configuration, when the laser beam leaves the treated area and the amount of reflected light decreases below a certain value, the switching circuit is activated to 0FF via the photoelectric conversion element. The device is configured so that safe dental treatment can be performed by stopping the oscillation of laser light from the laser oscillator.The embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings below. This is a laser handpiece that is equipped with a lens 2 inside and configured to condense laser light using this lens system and guide it out from its tip, and a guide piece 3 for setting the irradiation position is provided at the tip. It is stretched.

On the outer periphery of this handpiece main body θ, a light guide fiber 4 made of an optical fiber bundle is arranged along its length,
The rear end portion is attached to a connector 5, and the intermediate portion is supported by a support piece 6. The distal end of the handpiece body 1 is formed to have a small diameter, and the distal end of the light guide fiber 4 is tiltably attached to the narrow diameter section 1'' via an inclination angle adjustment mechanism 7. This tilt angle adjustment mechanism 7
has protruding shafts 8 and 9 protruding in the angular direction on the outer periphery of the front and rear ends, respectively,
Vibrator 10 into which the tip of the optical fiber 4 is inserted
, a support piece 12 fixed to the outer periphery of the tip of the narrow diameter portion 1'' and having a pair of opposing upright ribs 11 that freely support the front end protruding shaft 8; The screw shaft 14 is screwed into the lower end of an adjustment knob 15 which is rotatably fitted onto a support shaft 13 that stands upright at the rear of the diameter section 1'' and has a screw shaft 14 protruding from its center. It consists of a nut 16 and an elevating piece 17 which rotatably supports the rear end protruding shaft 9 of the vibrator 9 at its upper end. Therefore, the inclination angle of the vibrator 10 can be adjusted by rotating the adjustment knob 15.
Further, the lens system is set so that the laser beam is focused at the tip of the guide piece 3. By the way, at the focal point of the lens system, the energy of the laser beam is the strongest,
The energy of the laser light is attenuated by moving away from it, so in dental treatment using laser light, the focal point of the laser light with the most energy is used to, for example, perforate teeth or incise the gums. Treatment is performed, and treatments such as cauterizing the tooth cuttings are performed at locations where the energy is weaker, away from the focal point.

For example, when performing drilling treatment on a tooth by grasping the hand piece A whose lens system is adjusted so that the laser beam is focused at the tip of the guide piece 3, the tip of the guide piece 3 is is applied to the affected area and treatment begins.

In this case, in order to effectively input the reflected laser beam from the treatment affected area into the optical fiber 4, the adjustment knob 15 of the inclination angle adjustment mechanism 7 is rotated in advance so that the vibrator can be adjusted as shown in FIG. 10 is adjusted so that the distal end opening surface of the guide piece 3 is oriented toward the distal end of the guide piece 3. Therefore, during the treatment of the affected area, the reflected light of the laser beam irradiated to the affected area is directed to the optical guide fiber 4 within the range of the area 1. In this state, the amount of reflected light is large, so the generation of laser light is maintained. When the axial direction of the vibrator 10 deviates from this l region 1, the amount of reflected light input to the optical fiber 4 decreases, and the photoelectric conversion element generates an inactivation signal and stops generating laser light. For example, after cutting a tooth with a cutting bar, in order to cauterize the cut part and make it smooth, the irradiation position is moved away from the tip of the guide piece 3, and as shown in FIG. When using a laser handpiece, in order to effectively input the reflected light from region 1'' into optical fiber 4, adjust adjustment knob 15 to set the inclination angle of vibrator 10 smaller than in the case of Fig. 1-. Rotate the lifting member 17 to position it downward.

In this case as well, when the axial direction of the vibrator 10 deviates from the region 1'', the amount of reflected light input to the optical fiber 4 decreases, and therefore the generation of laser light stops.

As described above, the angle of incidence of the reflected light with respect to the optical fiber is adjusted by the inclination angle adjustment mechanism 7, and the reflected light is effectively guided in the normal treatment state, and when the amount of reflected light decreases when the state is out of this state. , which stops the generation of laser light.

The laser handpiece A described above is provided with a connector 18 near its front end, and a cooling gas hose 19 is connected to this connector.

However, there is a risk that the laser beam will be blocked by evaporated gas or smoke generated when drilling or cautery is performed by irradiating the laser beam onto the treated area, making it impossible to obtain the irradiation energy effectively. In order to prevent this risk, sterilized air or nitrogen gas is connected to the cooling gas hose 19, guided into the handpiece body 1, and then blown out from the opening at the tip of the handpiece A. urge Therefore, it is possible to prevent evaporated gas or combustion smoke from slipping into the handpiece, and this ejected gas further reaches the treated area, cooling the affected area and making the location of the affected area clearer, making it easier to confirm the treatment status. useful for. The above describes the configuration in which the inclination angle of the vibrator 10 is adjusted by the inclination angle adjustment mechanism 7, but for example, a laser handpiece dedicated to drilling or incising the treated area or a laser handpiece dedicated to finishing the cutting part is described. In this case, the inclination angle adjustment mechanism 7 can be omitted, and in that case, as shown in FIG. The optical fiber 4 is inserted into the guide hole 20 and fixed therein. In addition, FIG. 5 shows that the handpiece body 1 is further provided with a cooling gas supply hole 21 integrally, and also has a through hole 22 that communicates the supply hole 21 with the inside of the handpiece body 1. The inside of the and said guide hole 2
According to this configuration, the cooling gas supplied into the supply holes 21 passes through the through holes 22 to the handpiece body 1. It is guided inside and ejects from its tip opening, and
A part of the cooling gas is further guided into the guide hole 21 through the through hole 23 and ejected from the opening at its tip, so that the reflected light input to the optical fiber 4 is caused by evaporated gas or smoke. This ensures reliable input of reflected light.

Figure 6 shows that when the irradiation energy is the same, similar effects can be obtained even if the irradiation is divided into n equal parts and irradiated repeatedly n times, and when the same irradiation energy is irradiated once. In view of the fact that the cooling effect can be effectively obtained, the applicant developed this method earlier (Japanese Patent Application No. 162,613/1982).
A block diagram is shown in which a laser beam generating device B is equipped with five control devices C for controlling the generation of the laser beam. Hereinafter, the laser beam generating device B developed by the applicant will be briefly explained. Then, 30 is a switching circuit, 31
is a high voltage generation circuit, 32 is a carbon dioxide laser oscillator, 3
3 is a foot switch, 34 and fθ35 are selector switches,
36 is one switching terminal 34 of the first switching switch 34
a and a common terminal 35c of the second changeover switch 35; 37 is the second changeover switch 35;
A square wave oscillation circuit is operated by an input from the switching terminal 35a of the circuit, and generates a square wave at a preset repetition period upon input. 38 is a circuit that differentiates and inverts the repetitive pulses from the square oscillation circuit 37, as described above. A trigger generation circuit 39 generates a trigger pulse with a repetition period, and a pulse width setting circuit 39 generates a pulse with a preset pulse width at the rising edge of the trigger pulse from the trigger pulse generation circuit 39. It has a width variable adjustment function, and a repetitive pulse from this pulse width setting circuit 39 is inputted to the switching circuit 30 as a switching pulse.

Note that the other switching terminal 34b of the first switching switch 34
and the other switching terminal 35b of the second switching switch 35.
are connected to the switching circuit 30, respectively. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the foot switch 35 is operated while the first changeover switch 34 is set to one of the changeover terminals 34a and the second changeover switch 35 is changed to one of the changeover terminals 35a. Then, square wave oscillation circuit 3
7, a square wave is generated at a preset repetition period, and the trigger generation circuit 38 differentiates and inverts the square wave, generates a trigger pulse at the above repetition period, and then changes the pulse width. A setting circuit 39 uses the rising edge of the trigger pulse to generate a repetitive pulse having a preset pulse width t.

Now, if the repetition period of the pulse is T, the time rate is expressed as t/T x 100%, and the repetitive pulse with the pulse width corresponding to this time rate is sent from the pulse width setting circuit 39 to the timer 36. The set time length is then input to the switching circuit 530, and the switching circuit 30 is controlled to open and close by the repeated pulses, so that the carbon dioxide laser oscillator 32 repeatedly emits laser light corresponding to the above-mentioned time rate. This is supplied to laser handpiece A. 3. The control device C includes a photoelectric conversion element 40 that receives the reflected light input to the optical guide fiber 4, an amplifier 41, a Schmitt trigger circuit 42, and when the amount of reflected light input to the optical guide fiber 4 is less than a predetermined value. and a relay circuit 43 that outputs an inactive signal 4 to the switching circuit 30. However, when the foot switch 33 is operated during dental treatment, the laser handpiece A
Laser light is introduced into the area to start treatment, and at the same time, reflected light from the treated area is input to the photoelectric conversion element 40 via the light guide fiber 4.

When the tip of the optical fiber 4 is correctly directed to the regions 1 to 1'', the amount of reflected light greater than a predetermined value is always obtained, so the switching circuit 10 operates normally regardless of the control device C. In this state, if the laser beam from the laser handpiece A deviates from the treated area, the light guide fiber 4 also deviates from the light receiving area 1 to 1'', so the amount of reflected light guided to the light guide fiber 4 decreases to a predetermined value. Therefore, the relay circuit ζ path 43 of the control device C emits a deactivation signal for the first time to turn the switching circuit 30 to OFF, and the laser oscillator 32 becomes deactivated and the laser beam to the laser handpiece A is turned off. Input disappears. Therefore, if the laser handpiece is operated incorrectly and the laser beam misses the treated area,
Since laser light irradiation is immediately stopped, unexpected damage can be prevented and safe dental treatment can be achieved. At the same time, evaporative gas or burning smoke that covers the treated area can be eliminated, making treatment operations easier. This has the advantage that the laser beam control operation using reflected light can be performed reliably and easily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present application, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are overall side views of the laser handpiece, FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view of the main parts, and FIG. 4 is a top view of the main parts. , FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the main parts of the laser handpiece showing another embodiment,
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a laser beam generator equipped with a control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light guide fiber into which the laser light reflected from the treated area is inputted, and a light guide fiber that inputs the laser light reflected from the treated area, on the outer periphery of the handpiece body that directs the laser light from the tip via a lens system, and supports the tip of the light guide fiber. and a tilt angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the tip, a laser oscillator is controlled by a switching circuit, and a laser beam from the laser oscillator is guided into the laser handpiece. a laser light generator;
and a control device that has a photoelectric conversion element that receives reflected light from the optical guiding fiber, and that generates an inactivation signal to control the switching circuit to be inactive when an amount of reflected light less than a predetermined value is input. A dental treatment device that uses a distinctive laser beam. 2. A dental treatment device using a laser beam according to claim 1, wherein a light guide fiber is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body. 3. The tilt angle adjustment mechanism includes a pipe that inserts and supports the tip of the optical fiber, a support piece that tiltably supports the tip of the pipe, and a support piece that supports the rear end of the pipe and rotates an adjustment knob. 3. An apparatus for dental treatment using a laser beam according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an elevating and lowering part that is moved up and down by a. 4. An optical fiber that inputs the laser beam reflected from the treated area is disposed on the outer periphery of the handpiece body that directs the laser beam from the tip via a lens system, and a cooling gas is provided inside the handpiece body. a laser handpiece comprising a supply means for supplying;
A laser oscillator is controlled by a switching circuit, and includes a laser beam generator that guides the laser beam from the laser oscillator into the laser handpiece, and a photoelectric conversion element that receives reflected light from the optical fiber, 1. A dental treatment device using a laser beam, comprising: a control device that controls the switching circuit to be inactive by generating an inactivation signal when the following amount of reflected light is input. 5. A dental treatment device using a laser beam according to claim 4, wherein a light guide fiber is integrally provided along the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body. 6. The laser beam dental treatment device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cooling gas supply means is integrally provided along the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body. 7. Claims 4 and 5 in which cooling gas is supplied to the inside of the handpiece body at the tip thereof.
6. A dental treatment device using a laser beam according to item 6. 8 A guide hole is provided along the outer circumferential longitudinal direction of the handpiece body through which the laser beam is guided from the tip via the lens system, and a light guide fiber is inserted into this guide hole to input the laser beam reflected from the treated area. , and the handpiece body includes a supply means for supplying cooling gas into the handpiece body, and a through hole that guides a part of the cooling gas supplied into the handpiece body into the tip of the guide hole. a laser handpiece comprising a laser handpiece, a laser light generating device that controls a laser oscillator by a switching circuit and guides the laser light from the laser oscillator into the laser handpiece, and receives reflected light from the optical fiber. A dental treatment device using a laser beam, comprising a photoelectric conversion element and a control device that generates a deactivation signal when an amount of reflected light less than a predetermined value is input to control the switching circuit to be deactivated. . 9. The laser beam dental treatment apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cooling gas supply means is integrally provided along the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body. 10. A dental treatment device using a laser beam according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cooling gas is supplied into the handpiece body at the tip thereof.