JPH0113386B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] In laser treatment using a medical laser device, the present invention measures the difference in the amount of reflection between a normal area and an affected area and automatically adjusts the amount of laser light irradiated to the affected area. The present invention relates to a laser treatment device that has a function to set parameters.

[Technical background and problems of the invention]

Currently, various devices using laser light have been proposed. For example, there is a laser treatment device for removing birthmarks such as birthmarks, spots, and freckles as shown in FIG. 1, which is used in the field of plastic surgery.

That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates an apparatus power supply, and reference numeral 2 indicates a laser oscillation source which operates upon being supplied with energy from the apparatus power supply 1 via a cable 1A to oscillate a laser beam. The output end of the laser oscillation source 2 is connected via a connector 3 to a light guiding member 4 that includes a flexible optical fiber with a light guiding function.
An applicator 6 having a light emitting section is connected to the output end side of the light guiding member 4 via a connector 5.

The device with such a configuration guides the laser light oscillated by the laser oscillation source 2 to the applicator 6 via the light guide member 4, and emits it from the tip of the applicator 6. 6 in your hand and irradiate the affected tissue of the living body with the laser light emitted from the applicator 6.
To instantaneously cauterize affected tissue such as a birthmark using laser light energy.

At this time, the issues are the reflectance of the wavelength of the laser light applied to the affected tissue and the irradiation amount of the laser light, which have a large influence on the therapeutic effect.

That is, among laser treatments that utilize the light absorption characteristics of affected tissue cells to thermally destroy them, the difference in the amount of laser light absorption from normal cells poses a problem.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional structural diagram showing the affected tissue in the case of pigmented nevi such as age spots and freckles. In the figure, 21 is normal skin tissue, 22 is the affected nevus, and 23
24 is the epidermis, 24 is the dermis, and 25 is colored cells or colored substances.

The color of the affected nevus 22 is different from that of normal skin because there are many colored cells made of melanin in the dermal layer, which are unevenly distributed.The so-called tattoo is created by replacing the melanin granules with dye. It is.

Therefore, a laser device intended for nevus treatment can also erase tattoos. It can be said that they are the same in terms of their mechanism of action.

By the way, as can be seen from FIG. 2, not all affected nevi 22 are abnormal.

That is, a nevus is a state in which colored cells are mixed in normal tissue, and the color tone, such as black or brown, varies depending on the proportion of the mixed cells. Therefore, it is sufficient to treat only colored cells.

Now, when laser light is instantaneously irradiated to the affected nevus 22 in FIG. By maintaining a certain value, colored cells can be selectively destroyed, and laser therapy takes advantage of this fact.

Therefore, it is important to establish such conditions, and to do so, it is necessary to know the reflectance of normal tissues and colored cells in the affected tissue to the irradiated laser beam, and to adjust the ratio of colored cells. It is necessary to irradiate the laser beam by the amount of irradiation.

By the way, since the normal skin tissue 21 adjacent to the affected nevus 22 generally exhibits almost the same reflectance as the normal cells within the affected nevus 22, by knowing the reflectance of the normal area around the nevus, the affected nevus 22 The normal cells within the affected nevus 22 can be determined, and the reflectance of the normal area can be used as the reflectance of the normal cells within the affected nevus 22.

Moreover, the reflectance of the affected nevus 22 is a combination of the reflectance of normal cells and colored cells within the affected nevus, so the reflectance of the affected nevus 22 and the reflectance of the normal skin tissue 21 are different. The difference includes an element that represents the reflectance of colored cells, and by considering the reflectance of the normal area and the affected area, it becomes a clue to know the irradiation dose for the most effective laser treatment of the affected area.

However, it is easy to select a laser beam with a wavelength that absorbs a large amount of energy for colored cells containing melanin, etc., but it is difficult to determine the relationship between the laser beam reflectance and the normal area for each affected area. It is difficult to investigate.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a laser treatment device that selectively destroys only colored cells or colored substances, and has a treatment mode and a measurement mode. The reflectance can be measured by applying it to the skin, and the reflectance difference is calculated from the data obtained from the measurement.The optimum irradiation time is automatically given based on the calculated reflectance difference, and the treatment mode is set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser treatment device that can easily perform optimal treatment by irradiating laser light for this amount of time.

[Summary of the invention]

That is, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a laser oscillation device, a light guide member that guides the output laser light of the laser oscillation device to an irradiated object and introduces reflected light from the irradiated object, and a light guide member that guides the output laser light of the laser oscillation device to an irradiated object and introduces reflected light from the irradiated object, and a , a measuring device that measures the reflected light introduced by this light guide member, and a reflectance difference that is calculated using the output obtained in the first measurement by this measuring device and the output obtained in the next measurement. a device that instructs the irradiation time of a preset rated output laser beam corresponding to the determined reflectance difference, and a device that instructs the laser oscillation device to emit a weak laser beam for a predetermined time upon receiving the measurement instruction. and a controller that generates a control output that causes the oscillation of the laser beam, and when a treatment instruction is given, causes the laser device to oscillate a laser beam of the rated output during the irradiation time of the rated output laser beam as instructed, mode, measure the laser light reflectance of the normal skin around the affected area and the laser light reflectance of the affected area, find the reflectance difference, and use the rated laser beam to treat the affected area based on this reflectance difference. The irradiation time that provides a therapeutic effect is obtained, and in the treatment mode, the rated output laser beam is generated during this irradiation time, making it possible to easily carry out measurement and optimal treatment.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained in Figs. 3 and 4.
This will be explained with reference to the figures.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this device. In the figure, 31 is a laser device with a built-in power supply for laser oscillation, and 32 is a device that controls the laser beam oscillation of this laser device 31 and the energy of the output laser beam. It is a controller.

33 is a start button that instructs the controller 32 to oscillate a laser beam; 34 is the controller 32;
35 is an external setting device for manually setting the laser beam irradiation time; 36 is an external setting device for manually setting the laser beam irradiation time;
37 is a light guide made of an optical fiber or the like that guides the laser light emitted from the laser device 31 to the irradiated part and introduces the reflected light from the irradiated part;
38 is a calculation circuit that receives the reflected light from the irradiated area introduced by the light guide 36 and measures the amount of reflection; The output is stored, and then the measurement output input from the reflection amount measuring device 37 is subtracted to find the difference between these two measurement outputs.
Reference numeral 39 denotes a irradiation dose setting device, and the irradiation dose setting device 39 has data on the optimum laser beam irradiation time for treating the affected area, which is determined clinically in advance according to this difference, and the value of the difference outputted by the calculation circuit 38. An irradiation time value corresponding to is given to the controller 32.

Further, when the measurement button 34 is pressed and a measurement instruction is received, the controller 32 controls the laser device 31 to oscillate a laser beam with an energy level low enough to not affect the irradiated area for a certain period of time. output, and when the start button 33 is operated, the laser beam at the rated output is applied for a period of time given by the irradiance setting device 39 or the external setting device 35;
It has a function to control oscillation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the detailed configuration of the light guide 36. The light guide 36 uses flexible light guide materials 36a and 36b such as optical fibers.
One end of one of 6a and 36b is connected to the laser device 3.
It is connected to the output end of No. 1 to guide the laser beam.

The other end is connected to the reflection amount measuring device 37, and the other ends of the light guiding materials 36a, 36b are bundled and connected to the applicator 6 described above.

Therefore, the laser beam emitted from the laser device 31 is sent to the applicator 6 via one of the light guides 36a, and is emitted from the applicator 6 to the outside.

The other light guiding material 36b is for inputting the light incident on the applicator 6 to the reflection amount measuring device 37, and when the applicator 6 approaches the irradiated area A, the output laser beam of this applicator 6 changes. A part of the light is reflected from the surface of the irradiated area A, and the reflected light enters the light guide material 36b via the applicator 6, and the entered light passes through the light guide material 36b to the reflection amount measuring device 37.
given to.

Next, the operation of this apparatus having the above configuration will be explained. This device corresponds to the difference in reflectance between normal cells and colored cells and irradiates a laser beam with the rated output for a time corresponding to the difference, so that the difference in reflectance can be measured in the measurement mode. Measurement button 3
When pressing 4, a weak energy laser beam is oscillated, so the operator first applies the applicator 6 to the normal skin adjacent to the affected area.
Press measurement button 34. Then, in response to an instruction from the measurement button 34, the controller 32 provides a control output to the laser device 31 to oscillate a weak energy level laser beam for a predetermined period of time. Thereby, the laser device 31 generates a weak laser beam for the predetermined period of time.

This laser light is transmitted to the light guide material 36 of the light guide 36.
The light is guided to the applicator 6 via the tube a, and the normal skin of the object to be irradiated is irradiated from the applicator 6. The laser beam is then reflected on the normal skin surface, returns to the applicator 6, is guided to the light guide material 36b of the light guide 36 by an optical system (not shown) in the applicator 6, and passes through the light guide material 36b. The light is incident on the reflection amount measuring device 37. Reflection measuring device 3
7 measures the amount of reflection on normal skin from the amount of incident light, and provides the measured value to the calculation circuit 38.

The calculation circuit 38 thereby stores this measured value.

Since the laser beam oscillation disappears after a predetermined time has elapsed, the operator applies the applicator 6 to the affected area when the laser beam is no longer emitted.
Then, the measurement button 34 is pressed again. Then, the laser device 31 is driven and controlled in the measurement mode via the controller 32, so that the laser device 31 again oscillates a weak laser beam for a predetermined period of time and irradiates it to the affected area via the light guide 36 and applicator 6. .

Then, the reflected light of the irradiated laser beam from the affected area is guided to a reflection amount measuring device 37, and the reflected light at the affected area is measured based on the amount of light, and the measured value is input to the calculation circuit 38.

Then, the calculation circuit 38 subtracts the measured value of the amount of reflection of the affected area from the measured value of the amount of reflection of the normal skin, and provides the result of the subtraction to the irradiation amount setter 39. Upon receiving this subtraction result, the irradiation amount setter 39 provides the controller 32 with a laser beam irradiation time corresponding to the value of the subtraction result.

That is, in this device, during treatment, the laser device 31 is driven at the rated output to irradiate the affected area, so the irradiation time with the best therapeutic effect corresponding to the difference in reflectance between normal skin and the affected area is set clinically in advance. and instructs the controller 32 to set an irradiation time corresponding to the reflectance difference.

Next, after checking the condition of the affected area and confirming that it is safe to irradiate the laser beam, the operator points the applicator 6 at the affected area and presses the start button 33.

As a result, the controller 32
The laser device 31 is controlled so as to irradiate the laser beam with the rated output for the designated time of 9. Therefore, the laser device 31 oscillates a laser beam with a rated output for the specified time, and this laser beam is irradiated from the applicator 6 to the affected area via the light guide 36.

As a result, the affected area is irradiated with laser light of the rated output for a time corresponding to the reflectance difference, and treatment is achieved. While the laser beam of the rated output is being irradiated, in order to protect the reflection amount measuring device 37, for example, a shutter or the like is provided on the light incident side of the reflection amount measuring device 37 to close it so that it will not be destroyed by the laser beam. Of course, it is possible to have a structure like this.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the present invention includes a laser oscillation device, a light guide member that guides the output laser light of the laser device to an irradiated object and introduces reflected light from the irradiated object, and a A measuring device that measures the reflected light introduced by the member, and a device that stores the output obtained in the first measurement with this measuring device and calculates the reflectance difference using the output obtained in the next measurement. , a device that instructs the irradiation time of a preset rated output laser beam corresponding to the determined reflectance difference, and a device that causes the laser oscillation device to oscillate a weak laser beam for a predetermined time upon receiving the measurement instruction. It is composed of a controller that generates a control output, and when a treatment instruction is given, causes the laser device to oscillate a laser beam of the rated output during the irradiation time of the instructed rated output laser beam, and also gives a measurement instruction and guides the laser device. A weak laser beam is irradiated by directing the optical member to the normal area around the affected area and the affected area, and the laser beam reflectance of the normal skin around the affected area and the laser beam reflectance of the affected area are measured. The difference is calculated, and the irradiation time that provides the optimal treatment effect for treating the affected area with the rated output laser light is obtained in accordance with this reflectance difference, and is given to the controller.If a treatment instruction is given, during this irradiation time, Since the laser device oscillates a laser beam with the rated output, measurements can be carried out simply by providing measurement instructions and setting the position of the light guide member relative to the irradiated object, and this also allows the rated output laser beam to be applied to the affected area. The irradiation time required to obtain the optimal treatment is set, and if a treatment instruction is given, the laser beam can be irradiated at the rated output during this irradiation time, making measurement and treatment for the optimal treatment extremely easy. In addition, the irradiation time is automatically set based on clinical data to the irradiation time that provides the optimal therapeutic effect depending on the condition of the affected area, so it does not cause damage to normal tissue or It is possible to provide a laser treatment device that does not cause the inconvenience of having to repeatedly treat an affected area.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope without changing the gist thereof.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a laser treatment device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of an affected tissue such as a birthmark, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a diagram for explaining the structure of the light guide portion. 6... Applicator, 31... Laser device, 3
2...Controller, 33...Start button, 34
...Measurement button, 35...External setting device, 36...Light guide, 37...Reflection amount measuring device, 38...Calculation circuit, 39...Irradiance setting device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser oscillation device, a light guide member that guides the output laser light of the laser oscillation device to the irradiated object and introduces the reflected light from the irradiated object, and in the measurement mode,
A measuring device that measures the reflected light introduced by this light guide member, and a measuring device that stores the output obtained from the first measurement with this measuring device and calculates the reflectance difference using the output obtained from the next measurement. A device that instructs the optimal irradiation time of a preset constant output laser beam corresponding to the determined reflectance difference, and a device that instructs the laser oscillation device to emit a weak laser beam for a predetermined time upon receiving the measurement instruction. generates a control output that causes oscillation,
A laser treatment device further comprising: a controller that causes the laser device to oscillate a laser beam at the rated output during the instructed optimum irradiation time with the rated output laser beam when a treatment instruction is given.