JPH0237774B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to laser application machines such as laser scalpels and laser processing machines, and more particularly to a holding device for a laser probe that guides laser light generated by a laser generator to a target site.

b. Prior art and its problems For example, a laser scalpel, as is well known, uses YAG laser light or CO ₂ laser light to incise, coagulate, and stop bleeding in living tissue, or to incise and vaporize affected areas such as polyps and ulcers. It consists of a laser generator for generating laser light, and a light guide connected to the laser generator for guiding the laser light generated by the laser generator to the target site. These days, lightweight and highly flexible laser fibers are often used as this light guide path.
Using a laser probe that uses the gap between the Teflon tube and the laser fiber to supply air,
A laser scalpel has been put into practical use that performs the above-described laser treatment by introducing this laser probe into a body cavity through a channel of an endoscope.
This type of laser scalpel usually uses a laser probe that is several meters to several tens of meters long so that treatment can be performed even at a sufficient distance from the laser generator.

By the way, when using such a long laser probe to guide the laser beam to the target area using an endoscope channel, the laser probe itself is highly flexible, so it may sag midway and come into contact with the floor. Unfortunately, the laser probe may become contaminated, and if the operator handles the laser probe without being aware of this, the inside of the endoscope channel or the operator's hands may become contaminated, resulting in the patient's surgery being contaminated. A serious problem arises in that even the site becomes contaminated.
In addition, when not performing laser treatment, in order to prevent the laser probe from getting in the way of the surgeon, the laser probe is wound in a loop with the incident end connected to the laser generator, and the upper surface of the laser generator is covered. However, if the laser probe was touched carelessly, it would slip from the top of the laser generator to the floor, become contaminated, and even fall onto the floor. Various problems arise in that a surgeon, assistant, nurse, etc. may step on the laser probe without noticing it and damage it.

To solve this problem, conventionally, multiple laser probe holding members were suspended from the ceiling of the operating room, and the holding members held the laser probe to avoid contact with the floor. However, in this case, it is necessary to install a sterilized holding member in the chamber where laser treatment is performed each time, and since the position of the holding member is fixed, the holding member cannot be used even when laser treatment is not performed. The laser probe held in the
This method has the disadvantage that the degree of freedom for nurses, etc. is limited.

Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-185843, Figures 6 and 7,
As shown in FIG. 8, a first support 6a is rotatably connected by a shaft 8 to a support 6a provided at one longitudinal end of a recess 5 formed on the four sides of the upper surface of the laser generator 1. The support column 7 is held in an almost vertical state by a stay 16, and a groove 9 opened in the upper end surface along the longitudinal direction of the first support column 7 and a groove 9 are formed.
A second column 12 whose side surfaces except the upper end surface are closed with a cover plate 11 having an elongated hole 10 and which is slidably inserted into the groove 9, and the elongated hole 1 at the lower end of the second column 12.
0, and a first holding part 1 that holds and fixes the laser probe 3 formed at the upper end.
4 and the second holding part 1 that fits and holds the handpiece.
5, when the laser generator 1 is not in use, the second support 12 is inserted into the first support 7, and the first support 7 is accommodated in the recess 5, and the cover 6 is
A laser device is disclosed in which the laser generator 1 is not exposed to the outside by closing the laser generator 1 . However, in such a holding structure, the laser probe 3 is held in the first holding part 14 that protrudes from the laser generator 1 in a substantially vertical direction, and the hand piece is fitted and held in the second holding part 15. For,
When using a long laser probe 3, the bent midway portion may come into contact with the floor surface or directly contact the outer wall of the laser generator 1, causing the laser probe 3 to
The laser probe 3, which is connected to the outlet body 2 of the laser generator 1 through the connector 4, can be directly extended to the surgical site in case the laser probe 3 becomes contaminated or when performing laser treatment. It is still unavoidable that 3 sag in the middle and come into contact with the floor surface and become contaminated. Moreover, the first holding part 14 that holds and fixes the laser probe 3 and the second holding part 15 that fits and holds the handpiece cannot be sterilized and are always in a contaminated state. If the surgeon directly manipulates the laser probe or handpiece, the surgeon's hands become contaminated and the channel of the endoscope becomes contaminated, resulting in contamination of the patient's surgical site, which is a major practical problem. It had a point.

c. Purpose The present invention was made to solve these problems, and when a long laser probe is used in a laser application machine, it may hang down on the floor and become contaminated, or the laser generator may be contaminated. To provide a laser probe holding device capable of holding a laser probe without contamination due to contact with an outer wall surface and without interfering with an operator, an assistant, a nurse, etc. when the laser probe is not in use. With the goal.

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a T-shaped groove in cross section made of a magnetic material is formed on the outer wall surface of the laser generator, and a flange with a permanent magnet embedded in the T-shaped groove can be detachably attached. A plurality of probe elastic holders are arranged in the diametrical direction of the outer circumference of the extensible/bendable tube, one end of which is fixed to this flange, and the laser probe is spirally moved along the outer circumference of the extensible/bendable tube. A structure is adopted in which the laser probe is held in a loop shape at the tip of an extensible and bendable tube which is held in a compressed state when the laser probe is not in use.

d Configuration of Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective views of one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the stretchable and bendable tube according to the present invention in a stretched state, and FIG. 4 is the − of FIG. 3.
5 is a sectional view taken along the line. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line.

In the figure, numeral 1 is a laser generator. This laser generator 1 is provided with a handle 17 for transportation and an outlet body 2 through which the laser beam generated here is guided, and this outlet body 2 has a built-in focusing lens for condensing the laser beam. A laser probe 3 is connected via a connector 4. This laser probe 3
The device is introduced into the body cavity through an endoscope channel, and although details are not shown, it has a double structure in which a laser fiber made of quartz, bromo-thallium iodide, etc. is inserted into a Teflon tube. Air can be supplied using the gap between the laser fiber and the laser fiber.

On the other hand, a T-shaped structure 18 having a T-shaped cross section and made of a magnetic material such as iron or stainless steel is formed on a part of the upper outer wall surface of the laser generator 1.
By inserting the flange 20 in which the permanent magnet 19 shown in the figure is embedded along this T-shaped groove 18, the flange 20 is magnetically attached by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, and the flange 20 is prevented from coming out in any direction other than the insertion direction. It has a structure that connects it detachably.

One end of a telescopic and bendable tube 21 is fixed to the flange 20, and a stopper 22 is fixed to the other end of the telescopic and bendable tube 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the stretchable and bendable tube 21 has a shape in which convex portions 23 and concave portions 24 are alternately repeated on its outer periphery, and is usually made of synthetic material such as vinyl chloride, urethane, polyethylene, etc. Convex portion 23 made of resin
The thickness of the recess 24 is made thinner than that of the recess 24, or the center of the recess 24 is formed with a crease, and each recess 24 expands, contracts, and bends slightly to create a free length and shape. It is designed so that it can be fixed in place. In addition, the convex portion 2 of the expandable and bendable tube 21
A plurality of first probe elastic holders 25 made of a rubber-like elastic material such as silicone or urethane are fitted in the outer periphery of the protrusion 23 in the radial direction and have an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusion 23.・Flexible tube 2
Similarly, on the outer periphery of the convex portion 23 at the tip of the convex portion 2
A second probe elastic holder 26 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter and made of a rubber-like elastic material such as silicone or urethane is fitted in the radial direction. Note that the first probe elastic holder 25 and the second probe elastic holder 26 can be fitted into any position and angle of the convex portion 23 of the extendable/bendable tube 21 by expanding the inner diameter. . As shown in FIG. 4, the first probe elastic holder 25 has a circular opening 28 slightly larger than the diameter of the laser probe 3 in the radial protrusion 27, and a radial opening 28 communicating with the circular opening 28. A tapered opening 29 that gradually widens is attached, and the boundary between the opening 28 and the opening 29 is formed to be slightly smaller depending on the diameter of the laser probe 3. The probe elastic holder 25 is pressed against the tapered opening 29 of the probe elastic holder 25, inserted into the circular opening 28, and held along the outer periphery of the expandable/flexible tube 21. In this case, by arranging the laser probe 3 to be held by the first probe elastic holder 25 in a spiral manner along the outer circumference of the extendable/bendable tube 21, the extendable/bendable tube 21 can be moved to any desired position. Even if the laser probe 3 is expanded, contracted, or bent at an angle, it can be freely followed without breaking. As shown in FIG. 5, the second laser probe elastic holder 26 further has a dango-shaped opening 30, which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the laser probe 3, in the protrusion 27a on the opposite side, and a radially communicating opening 30. Tapered opening 2 that gradually expands
9a is attached, and the boundary between the dango-shaped opening 30 and the tapered opening 29a is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the laser probe 3, and the tip of the laser probe 3 where the tip is not held is looped. By pressing against the tapered opening 29a,
The laser probe 3 can be elastically held and fixed in the dango-shaped opening 30.

e Effect of the embodiment In the device of the present invention configured as described above, the connector 4 is connected to the outlet body 2 of the laser generator 1.
The sterilized laser probe 3 connected via the flexible tube 21 is connected to a plurality of elastic first probes at an arbitrary portion thereof so as to have an appropriate slack and form a spiral shape along the outer periphery of the expandable and bendable tube 21. Holder 25
By pressing against the tapered opening 29 attached to the laser probe 3, the dimension of the boundary where the tapered opening 29 and the circular opening 28 meet expands to be larger than the diameter of the laser probe 3, and the laser probe 3 is inserted through the circular opening 28. is retained. Furthermore, the excess unheld portion of the tip of the laser probe 3 is made into a loop shape with an appropriate diameter to form a second
By pressing the tapered opening 29a attached to the probe elastic holder 26, the tapered opening 29a is opened.
The dimension of the boundary where the and the dango-shaped opening 30 are in contact with each other is larger than the diameter of the laser probe 3,
It is inserted into the dango-shaped opening 30 and is elastically retained and fixed. The expandable and bendable tube 21 has one end fixed to a flange 20 which has a permanent magnet embedded in its bottom and is removably connected to a T-shaped groove 18 formed on the outer wall surface of the laser generator 1. After being sterilized, when the laser generator 1 is not in use, as shown in FIG.
When using a long laser probe 3 with most of the part compressed, the middle part may bend and come into contact with the floor, or the laser probe 3 may come into direct contact with the outer wall of the laser generator 1. There is no contamination, ensuring safety for patients, and sufficient work space and freedom for surgeons, assistants, nurses, etc. Also,
When performing laser treatment using the laser generator 1, the laser probe 3 is
By stretching and bending the extensible/bendable tube 21, which is held in a spiral shape along the outer periphery, to an appropriate position and direction of the target area, the extensible/bendable tube 2
Each concave portion 24 of 1 expands, contracts, and bends little by little to be fixed in a free length and shape, and the laser probe 3 spirally moves along the outer periphery of the expandable/bendable tube 21 without breaking. A loop is formed at the distal end of the extensible/bendable tube 21, and the required amount of the laser probe 3, which is elastically held by the dango-shaped opening 30, is released from the dango-shaped opening 30 to channel the endoscope. By inserting the tube into the patient's body, it is possible to prevent contamination of the operator and the channel of the endoscope, thereby ensuring safety so that there is no contamination of the patient.

f Effect As described above, according to the present invention, even a long laser probe does not have the middle part hanging down on the floor and becoming contaminated, being stepped on and being damaged, or coming into direct contact with the outer wall surface of the laser generator. Since there is no contamination caused by the laser application, safety can be ensured so that there is no contamination of the patient when using the laser application device. Furthermore, when the laser application machine is not in use, the laser probe can be elastically held and fixed in a loop shape at the tip of the extensible/bendable tube, allowing the surgeon or assistant to tighten the extensible/bendable tube. - Not only does it allow nurses, etc. to have more freedom, but it also has excellent effects such as being extremely easy to sterilize because it can be attached and detached.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views of one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the stretchable and bendable tube according to the present invention in a stretched state, and FIG. 4 is the − of FIG. 3.
5 is a sectional view taken along the line. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line. Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views showing conventional examples. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device with the support column protruding, Figure 7 is a side view of the device with the support support protruding, and Figure 8 is the same cross-sectional view. It is a diagram. 1: Laser generator, 3: Laser probe, 1
8: T-shaped groove, 19: permanent magnet, 20: flange, 21: expandable/flexible tube, 25, 26: probe elastic holder.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a laser application machine that guides laser light generated by a laser generator to a target area using a laser probe, a magnetic T-shaped groove formed on the outer wall surface of the laser generator, and a magnetic T-shaped groove that can be detachably attached to the T-shaped groove. A flange that is connected and has a permanent magnet embedded in the bottom,
A laser probe holding device for a laser application machine, comprising a telescopic and bendable tube having one end fixed to the flange, and a plurality of probe elastic holders arranged around the outer circumference of the telescopic and bendable tube. .