JP2000135223A - Laser probe for treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser probe for treatment in which a contact area to an affected part is substantially large in spite of a small contact tip to easily complete treatment by a laser beam in a short time even for the affected part of a large area. SOLUTION: In a laser probe 1 having an optical fiber 3 to introduce a laser beam to a tip of the probe 1, a rotary body to receive the laser beam from the optical fiber 3 to generate heat, and a rotor 7 to roll and be brought into contact with the surface of an affected part 10 to be treated is provided to opposing to a laser beam outgoing end of the optical fiber 3. By irradiating the laser beam to the rotor 7, the rotor 7 is heated, and the heated rotor 7 is rolled on the surface of the affected part 10 for treatment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a therapeutic laser probe for treating an affected part using laser light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In US Pat. No. 4,592,353 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-80845, when a treatment is performed using a laser beam, a contact tip is provided at the tip of a laser probe to contact the laser beam. There has been proposed a contact-type therapeutic laser probe which performs treatment by irradiating a chip.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In general, in a contact-type therapeutic laser probe, since the contact tip provided at the tip is small, the area where the contact tip contacts the diseased part is small, and the contact portion is an area close to a point. Therefore, when the affected area is large, laser irradiation is not completed once, and it is necessary to repeat the operation of reciprocating the laser probe while bringing the contact tip into contact with the affected area. Moreover, unless the trace area for reciprocating the laser probe is finely divided and reciprocated many times,
There is a possibility that a portion that remains without treatment may occur, and it takes a lot of time to treat the entire affected area in a wide area.

(Object) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to substantially increase the area in contact with the affected part even if the contact tip is small, and to provide a large area with the affected part. Another object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic laser probe which can easily and efficiently perform treatment with laser light in a short time.

[0005]

(Means and Actions to be Solved) (Means) The present invention relates to a laser probe having a light guide means for guiding a laser beam to the tip of a probe. A rotating body that receives the laser beam from the light guiding means, generates heat, and rolls on the surface of the affected part; and a supporting means for rotatably supporting the rotating body. (Operation) The rotating body is heated by irradiating the rotating body with laser light emitted from the laser light emitting end of the light guiding means, and the heated rotating body is rolled and brought into contact with the surface of the affected area to perform treatment.

[0006]

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. (Construction) As shown in FIG. 1, a laser probe 1 has a resin-made flexible outer tube (sheath) 2 constituting a probe main body, and an optical fiber 3 is inserted into the outer tube 2. An end (not shown) of the optical fiber 3 is detachably connected to a laser oscillation device (not shown). The optical fiber 3 constitutes a light guiding means, guides the laser light oscillated by the laser oscillation device to the tip of the laser probe 1, and from the laser light emitting end, a rotating body 7 as a tip for connecting and connecting, which will be described later.
Irradiation is carried out toward the peripheral surface of.

A tubular tip holder 4 is fixedly attached to the tip of the outer tube 2. A screw 5 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the distal end of the tip holder 4, and the tip of the optical fiber 3 is screwed to the screw 5, so that the optical fiber 3 is fixedly held by the tip holder 4. ing. The outer diameters of the outer tube 2 and the tip holder 4 are equal so that the outer surfaces of the outer tube 2 and the tip holder 4 are flush with each other.

A pair of left and right arms 6a and 6b are formed in a fork shape at a tip portion of the tip holder 4, thereby forming a support portion (support means) 6 for pivotally attaching a rotating body 7 described later. The distance between the pair of arms 6a and 6b is equal to the outer diameter of the outer tube 2 and the tip holder 4.

A pair of left and right arms 6a, 6 of the support portion 6
A rotating body 7 composed of a cylindrical member formed of a heat-resistant material, for example, ceramic or the like is rotatably supported by b. That is, a rotating shaft 8 is provided between the pair of arms 6a and 6b, and the rotating shaft 8 is supported by being passed through the hollow hole 9 of the rotating body 7, whereby the rotating body 7 is rotatably held. The width of the rotating body 7 is substantially equal to the inner space between the left and right arms 6a, 6b. For this reason, the rotating body 7 rotates without largely shifting left and right.

The rotator 7 is supported to face the laser beam emitting end of the light guide. That is, the optical axis (center axis) of the optical fiber 3 is orthogonal to the center of rotation of the rotating body 7 at the center thereof, and the center of the peripheral surface of the rotating body 7 is positioned on the optical axis of the optical fiber 3. Has become.

The laser probe 1 can be guided to an affected part in a body cavity through a channel of an endoscope, but may be a handpiece type used for a surgical procedure.

(Operation / Effect) When the laser probe 1 is used through a channel of an endoscope, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotating body 7 is inserted so as to be obliquely in contact with the surface of the diseased part 10. Thereafter, the laser light is emitted from the laser light emitting end through the optical fiber 3 by operating the laser oscillation device. Here, since no focusing lens is provided, the laser light emitted from the laser light emitting end spreads to some extent, but the peripheral surface of the rotating body 7 is wider than that, and the rotating body 7 faces the laser light emitting end. The rotating body 7 is heated by receiving all the laser beams. The affected part 10 with which the rotating body 7 comes into contact
Is cauterized.

When the affected part 10 covers a wide area, the hand of the laser probe 1 is pushed and pulled while emitting the laser light, and the rotating body 7 is rotated and brought into contact with the surface of the affected part 10. This makes it possible to easily and cauterize the entire affected area 10 over a wide range in a short time. Originally, the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber 3 is close to a point, but is irradiated to the rotating body 7 having a larger area larger than this, and the rotating body 7 is rolled and brought into contact with the affected part, so that the ablation area is increased, The treatment can be performed easily and in a short time even in a wide range of affected areas. Moreover, since the rotating body 7 is brought into rolling contact with the diseased part 10, the operation of the laser probe 1 is easy, and a stable operation is possible. In addition, the area of the rotating body 7 as a contact tip, which is in contact with the affected area, is substantially widened and large, and the treatment with the laser beam can be efficiently and efficiently performed on the affected area in a wide area in a short time. Become like

In addition to the above-mentioned operation method, the tip of the laser probe 1 is moved by operating the forceps raising base of the endoscope, in addition to the above-mentioned operation method. You may go.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a spherical rotating body 11 is used instead of the rotating body 7 in the first embodiment described above. Further, the distance between the pair of arms 6 a and 6 b of the support portion 6 is larger than the outer diameters of the outer tube 2 and the tip holder 4. Other than this, the first
This is the same as that of the embodiment.

Next, an example of a laser probe according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This laser probe is of a handpiece type, and can easily clean a portion that comes into contact with a living body. That is, the handpiece 20 is provided with a cylindrical holding portion 21.
An optical fiber 22 is inserted through the inside of the grip 21. The optical fiber 22 is fastened and fixed by an elastic body 23 provided at the rear end of the grip 21 and a fastening member 24 for fastening the elastic body 23. The fastening portion is watertight, so that the flow of water from outside and inside is shut off.

A thread portion 25 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the distal end of the grip portion 21, and a distal tip 26 is screwed to the thread portion 25. This tip 26 is connected to the screw 25
When the lens 27 is screwed, the lens 27 is dropped into a step portion 28 formed in the grip portion 21 in advance, and the lens 27 is fixed by screwing the tip chip 26.

An air supply port 29 is provided on the peripheral surface of the grip portion 21, and an air supply tube 31 is connected to a base 30 forming the air supply port 29. Air supply tube 31
Is connected to an air supply device (not shown). An exhaust port 32 is provided on the peripheral wall of the distal end side portion of the grip 21. Therefore, when air is fed into the grip portion 21 through the air supply tube 31, the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 22 and the lens 27 are cooled by air, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust port 32.

When the handpiece 20 is to be cleaned after cauterizing the affected part with the handpiece 20, the distal tip 26 is removed from the grip 21 and the lens 27 is also removed and cleaned. Therefore, it is possible to reliably clean the tip chip 26 and the lens 27 that directly contact the living body.

The rotating tip 7, 26 as described in the first and second embodiments is provided on the tip 26.
11 may be supported and used in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a laser probe for performing laser treatment of esophageal varices more easily. The endoscope 33 using this is provided with a ring-shaped tip hood 34 made of a material that efficiently transmits laser light, for example, quartz or artificial sapphire, at the tip of the insertion portion. The distal end hood 34 is detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope 33 by a hood support member 35 made of an elastic body such as rubber.

The channel (insertion hole) of the endoscope 33
The laser probe 36 inserted through the optical fiber 37 is formed so that the tip of the optical fiber 37 is cut obliquely and reflects the laser light to the side.

When such a laser probe 36 is used, the endoscope 33 is inserted into the patient's esophagus with the distal end hood 34 attached to the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope 33.
The side of the tip hood 34 is pressed against the esophageal varices affected area 38. In this state, the laser probe 36 is inserted into the insertion hole of the endoscope 33, and the direction of reflection of the laser light is directed to the affected part 38. Then, the laser oscillation device is operated to irradiate the affected part 38 with the laser light. Solidifies and hardens.

According to this, the following effects are exhibited. That is, since the laser beam is irradiated laterally, it is easy to irradiate the esophageal varices affected part 38 generated on the wall of the esophagus. In addition, the affected area of esophageal varices 3
It is easy to keep the distance up to 8 constant, which reduces the risk of the laser exit opening too close to the affected area 38, causing unnecessary ablation of the affected area 38 or causing major bleeding of the affected area 38.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. According to the description of the above-described embodiment, at least the following items and items in any combination thereof can be obtained.

<Supplementary Notes> In a laser probe having a light guide means for guiding a laser beam to the tip of a probe, the laser probe is provided opposite to a laser light emission end of the light guide means, receives heat from the light guide means, generates heat, and performs treatment. A laser probe, comprising: a rotating body that is brought into contact with the surface of an affected part; and a support unit that rotatably supports the rotating body. 2. 2. The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is a cylindrical member. 3. The first rotating body is a spherical member.
A laser probe according to the item. 4. The laser probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotating body is made of ceramic. 5. The laser probe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotating body is formed of a material that does not transmit laser light.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, a rotating body is irradiated with a laser beam, and the rotating body is rolled into contact with an affected part to perform treatment. The treatment can be performed in a short time, and an efficient treatment can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a laser probe according to a first embodiment, with a portion near a distal end thereof being cut away.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a use state of the laser probe according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a laser probe according to a second embodiment, with a portion near a distal end thereof being cut away;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a handpiece related to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a use state of another laser probe related to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser probe, 2 ... Skin tube, 3 ... Optical fiber, 4 ... Tip holder, 6 ... Support part, 7 ... Rotating body,
8: Rotation center axis.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yumi Hirao 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Hitoshi Mizuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Toshimasa Kawai 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaya Yoshihara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C026 AA02 AA04 FF17 FF22 FF39 FF43 HH02 HH05 4C061 AA02 BB00 CC00 DD00 FF37 GG15 HH25 HH56

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser probe having light guide means for guiding laser light to the tip of a probe, wherein the laser probe is provided to face a laser light emission end of the light guide means, and receives laser light from the light guide means. A laser probe, comprising: a rotating body that generates heat and is in rolling contact with the surface of a treatment affected part; and a support unit that rotatably supports the rotating body.