JPH0230697B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a laser treatment device that produces acupuncture effects using semiconductor laser light.

Conventional Structure and Problems Conventionally, acupuncture and moxibustion have been used to treat affected areas of the human body, and it has recently been found that acupuncture and moxibustion effects can be obtained by performing these treatments with laser beams. Unlike traditional treatment methods, this laser treatment does not require needles to be inserted into the human body, does not give a hot sensation like moxibustion, and is easy to handle. A device using this has been developed. However, with conventional equipment, the laser beam irradiated externally
There were many problems with safety, hygiene, and handling.

As a conventional example, there is a device 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this device, a lens 1 and a reflecting mirror 2 are installed in the optical path of a light beam from a semiconductor laser 4, and the laser beam is focused into parallel light beams and irradiated to the outside. Although this does not pose a problem for the skin of the human body, there is a risk of adverse effects on the eyes if the eyeballs are accidentally irradiated with it. Further, since the laser beam can be irradiated freely by the switch 3, the operator must be careful in handling the device, and the operability cannot be said to be good. Furthermore, since the laser beam is a parallel beam, it can only irradiate to a certain depth under the skin of the human body, making it impossible to adjust to the depth of the affected area and making it impossible to increase the acupuncture effect any further. Also,
When irradiating the affected area with a laser beam, it is difficult to maintain a constant irradiation position without contacting the human skin.In order to fix the irradiation position, it must come into contact with the skin, but at this time, it is difficult to maintain a constant irradiation position without contacting the patient's skin. etc., the contact parts of the device become dirty, which is not good for hygiene, and requires cleaning.However, in conventional devices, the irradiation port is integrated with the main body, making it difficult to perform ultrasonic cleaning, etc., which causes hygiene problems. be. As mentioned above, conventional devices have many drawbacks.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a laser treatment device that eliminates many of the drawbacks found in conventional devices and is superior in terms of safety and hygiene and is easy to handle.

Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, at least one lens for condensing the irradiation beam of a semiconductor laser to one point is removably attached to the axis of the irradiation beam, and a removable cover member is provided on the holding member. be.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The structure and operation of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 of the embodiment. Laser treatment device main body 29
A support stand 30 is fixed to the support stand 30, and semiconductor lasers 6a to 6d are attached to the support stand 30 (hereinafter collectively referred to as LD6). Cylindrical lenses 7a to 7d (hereinafter referred to as cylindrical lenses 7) are installed opposite the LD 6 and function to focus the laser beam of the LD 6 into parallel light beams. A four-pyramid reflector 8 is fixed at the center of the cylindrical lens 7, which changes the angle of the laser beam that has passed through the cylindrical lens 7, and changes the angle of the laser beam that has passed through the cylindrical lens 7.
The laser beams emitted from the are focused in the same direction. These use four LD6s to increase the output of the laser beam, but if the desired output can be obtained with one LD,
The reflecting mirror 8 does not have to be a four-pyramidal shape, and if there is no need to change the direction of the laser beam in the design, this reflecting mirror 8 is not necessary.

A lens holding member 10 is provided at the top of the LD 6 and is rotatable around the pillar 9. A first condenser lens 11 and a second condenser lens 12 are attached. Further, at one end of the lens holding member 10, a V
Grooves 13 to 15 are provided, and a ball 16 is fitted into the V grooves 13 to 15. The ball 16 slides within the guide 17 and is urged against the lens holding member 10 by a leaf spring 18 to fit into the V groove. 13-1
5 to fix the lens holding member 10. When the ball 16 enters the V-groove 13 and the lens holding member 10 is fixed, the first condenser lens 11 is located on the laser beam axis, and when the ball 16 is in the V-groove 14, the second condenser lens 11 is located on the laser beam axis.
When the condensing lens 12 is located in the V-groove 15, the lens holding member 10 itself is located on the laser beam axis and is configured to cut off external irradiation of the laser beam.

These switching operations can be performed using a knob 19 at the other end of the lens holding member 10. The knob 19 is covered with a non-conductive material such as resin. Next, the cover member 20 has conductive protrusions 21a, 21.
b is provided, and the protrusions 21a, 21b are connected to the main body 29.
The cover member 20 can be attached to the main body 29 by inserting the cover member 20 into the grooves 22a and 22b and rotating the cover member 20. Further, a button 23 is biased on the main body 29 by a spring 24, and a pin 25 of the button 23 fits into a hole 26 of the cover member 20, so that when the cover member 20 is attached to the main body 29,
Rotation becomes impossible.

Furthermore, the main body 29 has conductive leaf springs 27a, 27.
b is provided, and the plate springs 27a, 27b contact the protrusions 21a, 21b of the cover member 20, and the main body 29
It is energized and fixed. Due to this contact, the protrusion 21
a, 21b bring about conduction between the plate springs 27a, 27b. Also, one end of the leaf springs 27a, 27b is wired to a control circuit (not shown), and the protrusion 2
1a and 21b are wired to touch sensors 28a and 28b embedded in the cover member 20. When both the touch sensors 28a and 28b are brought into contact with human skin in this state, the touch sensors 28a and 28b
A signal flows between 8a and 28b, a control circuit (not shown) operates, and a laser beam is emitted from the LD 6.
Next, when the cover member 20 becomes dirty with dirt from human skin, etc., press the button 23 of the main body 29 against the spring 24 and remove the pin 25 from the hole 26 of the cover member 20 to rotate the cover member 20. It is possible to perform ultrasonic cleaning or the like in a state where it is removed from the main body 29.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the touch sensor 28b
If the wiring of the protrusion 21b is cut in the middle, and the touch sensor 28b and the protrusion 21b are electrically connected by contact with the lens holding member 10 (in this case, the lens holding member 10 is made of a conductive material). When the first or second condensing lens 11, 12 of the lens holding member 10 is on the laser beam axis, the lens holding member 10 is in contact with the cutting lines 29, 30, and the touch sensor 28b and the control circuit (Fig. (not shown) is in a conductive state and the laser beam is irradiated, but
When the first and second condensing lenses 11 and 12 are not on the laser beam axis, the lens holding member 10
1, 32 and the wiring is disconnected, so the laser beam is not irradiated. That is, when external irradiation is not required, even if the touch sensors 28a and 28b are brought into contact with the human skin, the LD 6 does not operate, resulting in power savings and no erroneous irradiation. By switching the condensing lens, the focal plane can be set to the surface of the skin or to the inside of the body.

In the above embodiment, (1) the externally irradiated laser beam is not a parallel beam but a beam that is focused through a lens, and the beam that passes the focal point spreads, and the output is significantly different from the focal length. It will be spread and safety will increase. (2) It is said that the effective irradiation position is 4 to 8 mm below the human skin, but since several lenses with different focal lengths can be incorporated and any lens can be installed with a single touch, an appropriate irradiation depth can be achieved. The effect is great. (3) When not in use, the lens holding member 10 prevents external irradiation of the laser beam, so even if the touch sensors 28a and 28b are touched by mistake, there is no erroneous irradiation and it is safe. Furthermore, the configuration in which the lens holding member 10 cuts off the conduction of the touch sensor 28b eliminates unnecessary irradiation inside the main body 4, resulting in safety and power savings. (4) The cover member 20 can be easily attached and detached from the main body 4, and has a locking mechanism when attached, so it is safe and will not come off during operation.
Also, remove it and clean the contact area with the affected area (ultrasonic cleaning, etc.)
It is hygienic to do so.

Effects of the Invention As described above, in the present invention, the cover member that comes into contact with the human body can be easily attached and detached from the main body, and since it has a locking mechanism when attached, it is safe and will not come off during operation. Easy to clean and replace, hygienic and easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a conventional laser treatment device using a lens, Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of a conventional laser treatment device using a reflecting mirror, and Figs.
The figures relate to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tip of a laser treatment device according to an embodiment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the same, FIG. 5 is a top view of the same, and FIG. 6 is a LD mounting part. 7 is a top view showing the lens holding member and the touch sensor portion, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the cover member and the main body locking portion. 6... Semiconductor laser, 10... Lens holding member, 11... First condensing lens, 12... Second condensing lens, 16... Ball, 20... Cover member, 28... Touch sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. At least one semiconductor laser, at least one lens that focuses the irradiation beam of the semiconductor laser onto one point, and the lens is attached and detached from the axis of the irradiation beam of the semiconductor laser. a lens holding member held in a fixed position; a locking means for stopping the lens holding member at a certain position; a removable cover member covering the lens holding member; and a detection means for detecting contact of a human body with the cover member. A laser treatment device equipped with 2. The lens holding member is configured such that a part of the lens holding member blocks the semiconductor laser irradiation beam when the lens attached to the lens holding member is removed from the irradiation beam axis of the semiconductor laser. The laser treatment device according to scope 1. 3. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens holding member turns on and off conduction of the detection means provided on the cover member by the operation of attaching and detaching the lens. 4. The lens holding member is provided with at least two lenses having different focal lengths.
The laser treatment device described in Section 1.