JPH0549293B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a laser irradiation device used for treating the human body, processing objects in factories, and the like.

Structure of conventional examples and their problems In recent years, laser scalpel devices that use laser light such as CO ₂ laser have been put into practical use for ablation and incision of living tissue, and optical fibers made of halides and other materials that are easy to operate have been put into practical use. Devices with light guide paths are being put into practical use. Furthermore, in the future, optical fibers will be used more frequently for detailed surgeries and processing that take advantage of their operability and small diameter.

Now, in commonly used devices that use infrared laser light, since the infrared laser light is invisible light, the irradiated area can be confirmed using other visible light, such as Helium.
-It is necessary to display using a Ne laser or the like. Conventionally, when the light guide path has a mirror joint, the infrared laser beam and the guide light are configured to match, and the convergence point of the guide light and the infrared laser beam are focused by the same lens, which makes it relatively easy. Can be configured. However, the light guide path of the mirror joint becomes larger by using a mirror or by guiding a large diameter laser beam oscillated from a laser beam oscillation tube, and the focal length The device has to be irradiated using a long lens and viewed from a distance using a microscope, etc., making the device complex.
In addition, if there is only one guide light, the spread range of the infrared laser light at the defocus position is unknown, and since the infrared laser light and the guide light are focused by the same lens, for example, the lens for the infrared laser light is ZnSe
However, this material only transmits about 50% of the visible light wavelength of the guide light, which requires a high output laser for the guide light, which is undesirable in terms of structure and cost. . Next, in devices using optical fiber light guide paths, materials that can simultaneously transmit infrared laser light (hereinafter referred to as working light) such as CO ₂ gas laser and guide light such as He-Ne laser have not yet been developed. First, an optical fiber for guiding the working light and a fiber for guiding the guide light are required. Regarding this, there is a method in which multiple optical fibers for guiding light are coated on the outer periphery of the optical fiber for working so that the working light and the guiding light are focused at the same position through the same lens, and a method in which multiple optical fibers for guiding light are There are some that use a self-occurring lens at the output end to correct the angle and focus so that the working light has the same convergence angle, which makes the ray trajectories of the guide light and the working light the same and irradiates at the defocus position. It is also possible to display the range, but these are complex in structure and manufacturing, and although the light guide path is thin with a small diameter optical fiber, the lens holding part at the tip has a large diameter, making it difficult to illuminate fine details. cannot be said to be suitable. Furthermore, in order to make it easier to confirm the guide light, even in the case of the mirror joint light guide or optical fiber light guide mentioned above, it is necessary to move the tip of the light guide away from the defocus position, that is, when you want to irradiate a wide area of the irradiation object. When irradiating the work light in a spread-out area, the guide light also spreads out in the same way as the work light, resulting in a problem that the brightness is reduced and it is difficult to see.

Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention matches the outer peripheral contact position of the guide light emitted from a plurality of optical fibers for guide light with the focusing position of the working light, and further provides clear guidance at the focusing position and defocus position. By obtaining light, a laser irradiation device having a small diameter and a simple configuration suitable for irradiation of details is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a laser irradiation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the laser device that controls the irradiation of, for example, a CO ₂ laser beam or a He-Ne laser beam (hereinafter referred to as guide light), 2 is a housing part in which a CO ₂ laser oscillation tube, a guide light source, etc. are incorporated; A hand piece 4 is held at the output end of an optical fiber cable 3 which contains an optical fiber made of a material such as a halide, which will be described later, and whose exterior is covered with a protective flexible tube. The input end is connected to the housing part 3 via a fiber connector 5.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 below, handpiece 4
will be explained in detail.

The optical fiber 6 is inserted into a protective tube 7 protected by metal or plastic, and locking members 8 are fixed to both ends of the protective tube 7 with screws 9. At the input/output end of the optical fiber 6, a laser transmitting member (window or lens made of ZnSe or the like) 10 is locked to a locking member 8 by a holder 11.
The laser transmitting member is pressed against the holder 11 by an O-ring 13 via a collar 12, and a space 14 where the end face of the optical fiber 6 is located is completely isolated from the outside air. Although FIG. 2 shows the output end of the optical fiber 6, the input end has a similar configuration and is not shown, but due to this sealed structure, if the optical fiber 6 is damaged in some way and burned out, The gas is safe and does not leak to the outside. A guide light 15 is provided on the outer periphery of the holder 11.
15', a guide light fiber 16,
The output ends of 16' are mounted in relative positions.
The output end of the guide light fibers 16, 16' is provided with a laser light transmitting member 10 as a lens for working light 17.
When focusing the working light 17, the outer periphery of each guide light 15, 15' is provided at a position where the contact point is at the focusing position 18 of the working light 17, and the guide light 15, 1
5' are separated from each other at a position 19 inside the focusing position 18, and intersect with each other at a position 20 outside. Of course, there may be two or more guide lights 15, 15'. Next, the outer periphery of the lens holder 11 is covered with a protective pipe 21, and an opening member 22 through which assist gas, working light 17, and guide lights 15, 15' pass is fixed at the tip. The other end of the protection pipe 21 is fixed to a holding member 23.

The operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be explained below.

When the worker performs the work, the handpiece section 4
The operator holds the holding portion 23 in his hand and brings it close to the irradiation site. In this case, the operator looks at the guide and sets the distance between the output end of the handpiece 4 and the irradiation site. For example, in cutting operations, the smaller the focused diameter of the working light, the higher the power density, so it may be used at a position where the guide lights 15, 15' are separated or their outer peripheries are in contact. Furthermore, when working on an irradiated area with a wide irradiation area (for example, hemostasis in human surgery, hardening, etc. in processing objects), the guide lights 15 and 15' may be used at positions where they intersect with each other. At this time, guide light 1
5 and 15' are expanding, so the brightness decreases, but
Since the intersections 24 intersect, the brightness increases, and the center position of the working light can be determined, making the work easier. Next, a space is provided between the holder 11 and the protection pipe 21, which is an assist gas path 25, through which the assist gas passes and is blown out from the output end. This assist gas is used to blow away smoke, etc. caused by heat evaporation from an object when irradiating work light, and to prevent stains on lenses, etc. due to smoke. By providing this, it is possible to prevent the emission end of the guide light fiber from becoming dirty. Of course, the guide light openings 26 and 26' of the opening 22 may be provided with a small diameter transmission member (for example, a quartz window or lens) suitable for the wavelength of the guide light. In this way, since the guide light does not pass through the working light transmitting material 10, it is used without loss of transmittance, and the power source for the guide light is not large, making it economical.

Effects of the Invention As described above, by matching the outer circumferential contact point of the guide light with the focusing point of the working light, there is no need for more guide light output than necessary, making it possible to create fine details with a small diameter, and focusing the working light. The defocus position can be determined not only by the size of multiple guide lights but also by whether they are in contact with each other or not.Furthermore, the guide light brightness is high when the distance is far from the focusing position, and the center position of the working light is clear. By providing the guide light fiber in the assist gas path, the end face of the guide light fiber is free from contamination, which has a great practical effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a laser device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the emitting end of the hand piece, which is the main part, and Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the entire hand piece, which is the main part. It is a diagram. 1... Device main body, 6... Optical fiber, 16...
...Fiber for guide light, 15, 15'... Guide light.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light source unit that generates working light for performing work and guide light for confirming the working point of this working light, a first optical fiber that guides the working light, and At least two or more second optical fibers that guide guide light, a lens that focuses the working light emitted from the first optical fiber, and an assist gas transfer means, the working light that is focused by the lens. A laser irradiation device configured to match the outer peripheral contact point position of a plurality of guide lights emitted with a constant divergence angle from the at least two or more second optical fibers to the convergence position of the laser irradiation device. 2. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of second optical fibers are arranged in the assist gas path.