JPH11123200A - Dental laser operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To indicate the irradiation state of a laser beam by the flickering cycle of guide light. SOLUTION: Inside a device main body, other than an Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16, a semiconductor laser 18 and an optical component 20, a control board 26 and a pulse oscillation control circuit 28 are provided. The control board 26 receives input signals from an operation panel and a switch 30 provided on the outer side face of the device main body and controls the operations of the Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16 and the semiconductor laser 18 or the like. The pulse oscillation control circuit 28 is interposed between the control, board 26 and the semiconductor laser 18, intermittently oscillates the semiconductor laser 18 in a pulse shape, makes the guide light flicker and gradually shortens the flickering cycle accompanying the advance of the irradiation time of the laser beam for an operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dental laser surgery apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for improving a guide light of such an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Laser surgical devices used for incision, hemostasis, coagulation, and transpiration of living tissues in dental clinics are capable of painless treatment and do not generate unpleasant metallic sounds, and are expected to be further promoted in the future. Have been.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-504934, for example, a laser surgical apparatus of this type includes an apparatus body for generating laser light for dental surgery, and a hand for irradiating the affected area with the laser light. The main body and the handpiece are connected by an optical fiber for guiding laser light.

[0004] For example, an Nd-YAG pulse laser device is built in the main body of the device. The Nd-YAG pulse laser device emits a laser beam in an invisible region of 1064 nm, and this laser beam is used for surgery. Used for

[0005] In such a surgical apparatus that uses laser light in the invisible region, the irradiation of the laser light cannot be visually observed. Therefore, as disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the laser light in the visible region is invisible. The irradiation position can be visually observed by superimposing it on the laser light in the region, and the laser light in the visible region is called guide light.

As such a guide light, a continuously oscillating semiconductor laser light or a He-Ne laser light has been used, but recently, a semiconductor laser light is mainly used for miniaturization and power saving. .

By the way, in this type of surgical apparatus,
The irradiation time of the laser beam when performing treatment is particularly important.
That is, if the irradiation time is wrong and the irradiation is excessive, the affected part may be damaged. If the irradiation time is too short, the expected therapeutic effect cannot be obtained.

Therefore, in this type of conventional apparatus, the operator is notified of the limit irradiation time and the like by means of a buzzer or the like which appeals to the sense of hearing. However, such a means for notifying the irradiation state of the laser beam has the following problem.

[0009]

That is, in the means for informing the state of laser beam irradiation by a buzzer or the like, when the surgeon is dedicated to treatment or when the surrounding noise is loud, the buzzer sounds. It may be missed and cause treatment error.

[0010] There is also a problem that unnecessary nerves must be used so as not to miss the sound of the buzzer while performing treatment.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to provide a dental apparatus capable of accurately recognizing an irradiation state without using unnecessary nerves. The present invention provides a laser surgical device for use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dental laser light surgical apparatus capable of reducing heat generation of a guide light emitting source.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a laser beam in a visible region as a guide beam, uses a laser beam in an invisible region for dental surgery, and superimposes the guide beam and the laser beam. In the dental laser surgical apparatus for irradiating the affected part, the guide light blinks in a visible state, and the blinking cycle indicates the irradiation state of the laser light. According to the dental laser surgical apparatus configured as described above, the guide light of the superimposed light applied to the affected part is blinked in a visible state, and the blinking cycle represents the irradiation state of the laser light. , The irradiation state of the laser beam can be reliably recognized during treatment. Further, when the guide light is flickered, heat generation of the light source of the guide light can be suppressed as compared with the case where the guide light is continuously emitted. The irradiation state of the laser beam is a set irradiation time, and the blinking cycle can be gradually shortened as the irradiation time progresses. According to this configuration, the end of the laser light irradiation time, the limit irradiation time, and the like can be recognized by the change of blinking. The irradiation state of the laser light is a set irradiation time, and the luminance of the guide light can be gradually increased as the irradiation time progresses. According to this configuration, the end of the laser light irradiation time, the limit irradiation time, and the like can be recognized more accurately by the change in luminance.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
3 to 3 show a first embodiment of the dental laser surgery apparatus according to the present invention.

The laser operation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an apparatus main body 10, a handpiece 12, and an optical fiber 14 for optically connecting the apparatus main body 10 and the handpiece 12.

An Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16, a semiconductor laser 18, and an optical
0 is built in. Nd-YAG pulse laser device 1
6 is an Nd, YAG rod 16a and the Nd, YAG rod 16a.
An excitation flash lamp 16b arranged parallel to the side of the rod 16a, and an output coupler mirror 1 arranged before and after the Nd, YAG rod 16a so as to sandwich the Nd, YAG rod 16a.
6c, a high-reflection resonance mirror 16d, and a laser cutoff shutter 16e provided between the Nd, YAG rod 16a and the output coupler mirror 16c.

In the Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16 configured as described above, when the flash lamp 16b is operated and the excitation light is incident on the Nd and YAG rod 16a, the wavelength of the excited Nd and YAG rod 16a is reduced. Is generated in the invisible region of 1064 nm.

The laser light generated from the Nd, YAG rod 16a is reflected a plurality of times between the output coupler mirror 16c and the high-reflection resonance mirror 16d, and is amplified by resonating. A part of the laser light is transmitted through the output coupler mirror 16c. And emitted to the outside, and this is used as laser light L1 for dental surgery.

The laser shut-off shutter 16e operates, for example, when an abnormality occurs in the Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16, and stops reflection and resonance of the laser beam and stops emission of the laser beam L1. Semiconductor laser 18
Is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser diode,
The guide light L2 in the visible region such as red or green is emitted.

The optical system component 20 includes a composite mirror 20a,
A reflection mirror 20b and a pair of condenser lenses 20c and 20d
It is composed of

One condensing lens 20c is provided between the semiconductor laser 18 and the composite mirror 20a, and condenses the guide light L2 emitted from the semiconductor laser 18 and guides it to the composite mirror 20a.

The composite mirror 20a has a laser beam L1 in the invisible region used for dental surgery emitted from the Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16 side and a semiconductor laser 18
And the guide light L2 in the visible region emitted from the light source is incident, these lights L1 and L2 are coaxially superimposed, and the superimposed light L3 is emitted to the reflection mirror 20b.

The reflection mirror 20 b reflects a part of the laser light L 1 in the invisible region and makes it incident on the monitor circuit 22.
The monitor circuit 22 monitors the output of the laser light L1, etc.
It is used for feedback control of the Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16.

The condensing lens 20d condenses the superimposed light L3 and makes it incident on one end of the optical fiber 14 connected to the apparatus main body 10 by the connector 22.

The superimposed light L3 incident on the optical fiber 14 is
The light propagates through the inside, reaches the handpiece 12, is emitted from the tip side to the outside, and is superimposed light L at a location requiring treatment.
3 are irradiated.

Although the basic structure of the above-mentioned dental laser operation apparatus is the same as that of a conventional apparatus of this type, the laser operation apparatus of this embodiment is distinguished by the following points. There is.

That is, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the above-mentioned laser operation apparatus. In the apparatus main body 10, the above-mentioned Nd-YAG pulse laser apparatus 1 is provided.
6, in addition to the semiconductor laser 18 and the optical component 20, a control board 26 and a pulse oscillation control circuit 28 are provided.

The control board 26 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a memory. The control board 26 receives an input signal from an operation panel or a switch 30 provided on the outer surface of the apparatus main body 10 and receives an input signal from the Nd-YAG pulse laser apparatus 16. And the operation and stop of the semiconductor laser 18 are controlled.

The pulse oscillation control circuit 28 is interposed between the control board 26 and the semiconductor laser 18, and when the semiconductor laser 18 is turned on, the pulse is controlled at a frequency of about 100 Hz or more which does not make the human eyes flicker. Turn on.

Further, in response to a command from the control board 26, the pulse lighting state is intermittently blinked at set time intervals, and as a result, the guide light L2 blinks in a visible state.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the blinking state of the guide light L2 at this time. In FIG. 3, a laser beam L1 used for a dental operation is turned on for a set irradiation time by inputting an operation signal from an operation panel 30 as shown in FIG. L2 is turned on at the same time as the laser beam L1, and thereafter is repeatedly turned on and off intermittently.

FIG. 3B shows that the semiconductor laser 18 is controlled by a command from the pulse oscillation control circuit 28.
A state where a voltage for blinking at a% duty is applied is shown, and the guide light L2 emitted from the semiconductor laser 18 blinks intermittently at 50% on and 50% off.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the blinking cycle of the guide light L2 is set so as to gradually become shorter as the irradiation time of the laser light L1 advances. That is, at the beginning of the irradiation time of the surgical laser light L1, the blinking period is long, and as the irradiation time elapses, the blinking period gradually decreases, and at the end of the irradiation time, the light blinks at a very short period.

Now, according to the dental laser surgical apparatus configured as described above, the guide light L2 is made to blink in a visible state, so that the guide light L2 is more visible than when the light is continuously turned on.
The amount of heat generated by the semiconductor laser 18, which is the light emitting source of No. 2, is reduced, and the deformation of the optical component 20 due to the generated heat can be greatly reduced.

Further, according to the dental laser surgery apparatus having the above-described configuration, the guide light L2 of the superimposed light L3 applied to the affected part is blinked in a pulsed state in a visible state, and the operation is performed at the blinking cycle. Since the irradiation state of the laser light L1 is indicated, the irradiation state of the laser light L1 can be reliably recognized during treatment without any special attention.

In the case of the present embodiment, the irradiation state of the laser light L1 represented by the blinking cycle of the guide light L2 is the set irradiation time, and the blinking of the guide light L2 with the progress of this irradiation time. Since the period is gradually shortened,
The end of the irradiation time of the laser beam L1, the limit irradiation time, and the like can be recognized by the change of blinking.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the dental laser surgery apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the configuration of the laser operation apparatus itself is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted, and only the features will be described below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the guide light L2
Blinks in a visible state as in the first embodiment, but is set so that the luminance at the time of lighting gradually increases with the progress of the irradiation time of the laser beam L1.

The brightness of the guide light L2 is changed by gradually increasing the voltage applied to the semiconductor laser 18. Such a change pattern of the applied voltage and the lighting cycle is stored in advance in a memory mounted on the control board 26 in FIG.
When selected by the operation panel 30, the pattern can be sent to the pulse oscillation control circuit 28.

In the second embodiment configured as described above,
The irradiation state of the laser light L1 represented by the blinking cycle of the guide light L2 is a set irradiation time, and as the irradiation time progresses, the brightness of the guide light L2 is gradually increased and the blinking cycle is set. Is also gradually shortened, so that the laser light L
2 can be more reliably recognized.

In the above embodiment, the case where the irradiation time of the surgical laser light L1 is represented by the blinking cycle of the guide light L2 has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A device failure or the like can be represented by a blinking cycle of the guide light L2.

[0042]

As described above in detail in the embodiments,
According to the dental laser surgery apparatus according to the present invention, without paying special attention, it is possible to recognize the irradiation state of the surgical laser light in the blinking state of the guide light, it is possible to perform appropriate treatment, Treatment errors can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since the heat generated by the light source of the guide light can be reduced, the rise in the temperature of the optical components and the like can be reduced, and the misalignment due to the thermal expansion can be greatly reduced.

According to the second and third aspects, the end of the irradiation time of the surgical laser beam, the limit irradiation time, and the like can be reliably recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a dental laser surgery apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram including an electric system of the laser operation apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a light emitting state of a surgical laser light and a guide light.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a light emitting state of laser light for surgery and guide light showing a second embodiment of the dental laser surgery apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Device main body 12 Handpiece 14 Optical fiber 16 Nd-YAG pulse laser device 16a Nd, YAG rod 16b Flash lamp 16c High reflection mirror 16d Output coupler mirror 18 Semiconductor laser 20 Optical component 20a Composite mirror 20b Reflection mirror 20c, d Condensing lens 28 pulse oscillation control circuit L1 laser light for surgery L2 guide light L3 superimposed light

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A dental laser surgery apparatus which uses laser light in a visible region as guide light, uses laser light in an invisible region for dental surgery, and irradiates an affected part with the guide light and laser light superimposed on each other. While blinking light in a visible state,
A dental laser surgery apparatus wherein the flashing cycle indicates the irradiation state of the laser light. 2. The dental equipment according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation state of the laser beam is a set irradiation time, and the blinking cycle is gradually shortened as the irradiation time progresses. Laser surgery device. 3. The irradiation state of the laser light is a set irradiation time, and the luminance of the guide light is gradually increased as the irradiation time progresses. Dental laser surgery device.