JP2001198229A - Laser beam irradiation probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a probe portable and to enable to perform all operations required for the irradiation of laser beams by one hand. SOLUTION: A head part 12 is provided so as to project on the front surface of a case 11, a control circuit for controlling the on-time of intermittent irradiation by a timer and a laser driving circuit (not shown in figures) are provided on a substrate 13 provided inside the case 11, and a fan 14, an LED lamp 15 and a push switch 16 are attached. Every time the push switch 16 is pushed, modes are switched between power-supply-on, the changeover of the on-time (1 second to 6 seconds) and power-supply-off in this order. At this time, the display of the LED lamp 15 is switched between green-lighting, green-flickering, orange-lighting, orange-flickering, red-lighting and red-flickering in this order corresponding to the on-time of 1 second to 6 seconds. Finally, when the push switch 16 is turned on for a long time (1.5 seconds), a power supply is turned off and the irradiation of the laser beams is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser beam irradiation probe for performing beauty treatment by irradiating skin with laser light.

[0002]

The treatment of beautiful skin, slimming, hair loss, hair growth and the like must be performed continuously for a long period of time. It's convenient because you can do treatment anywhere you like.

To this end, it is necessary to reduce the size and weight of the probe and to provide the probe side with all the components such as the control circuit and the panel operating function and display function conventionally provided in the main body. Further, since the probe is handled with one hand, it is easy to operate if all operations can be performed with the hand holding the probe. For this purpose, it is easier to operate with one hand if the switch to be operated is a hand switch and the mode is switched by the number of times the switch is pressed instead of the rotary type or the switching type. In addition, it is easier to see and understand the display method by displaying the content not by numerals or characters but by the emission color or blinking of the LED lamp.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make a probe portable and to perform all operations required for laser beam irradiation with one hand.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor laser device for irradiating a laser beam, a driving circuit for driving the semiconductor laser device, a heat sink for radiating and cooling the semiconductor laser device, and an irradiation for the semiconductor laser device. CPU, a lens for condensing the laser beam of the semiconductor laser device, an adjuster for adjusting the distance between the focal point of the lens and the skin, and a power switch for turning on / off the power supply, are provided in the probe body. A laser light irradiation probe characterized in that: According to a second aspect of the present invention, the CPU
2. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam irradiation is controlled intermittently with a constant period of on-time. The invention according to claim 3 is the laser light irradiation probe according to claim 2, wherein the on-time is pressed and the switch is switched stepwise by the number of times the switch is pressed. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the push switch is the same switch as the power switch.
It is a laser beam irradiation probe of the description. The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the power is turned on first when the push switch is pressed, the on time is switched stepwise when the switch is pressed next, and the power is turned off when the push switch is finally pressed. It is a laser beam irradiation probe of the description. The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that there are three or more modes in which the on-time is stepwise different, and each time the push switch is pressed, the mode is switched to a mode in which the on-time is sequentially longer. It is a laser beam irradiation probe. The invention according to claim 7 is the laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 6, wherein the three or more modes are identified and displayed by one LED lamp. The invention according to claim 8 is the laser light irradiation probe according to claim 7, wherein the identification display is performed by changing the emission color of the LED lamp. A ninth aspect of the present invention is the laser beam irradiation probe according to the seventh aspect, wherein the identification display is performed by turning on or off an LED lamp. The invention according to claim 10 is the laser light irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a hand switch. The invention according to claim 11 is the laser light irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a switch that detects contact with the skin attached to the adjuster.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a front view and a longitudinal sectional view of a laser beam irradiation probe embodying the present invention. The laser beam irradiation probe 1 has a head section 12 protruding from the front surface of a case 11, and a control circuit and a laser drive circuit (not shown) for controlling the on-time of the intermittent irradiation with a timer on a substrate 13 provided in the case 11. Then, the fan 14, the LED lamp 15, and the push switch 16 are attached.

In the LED lamp 15, red and green LED chips are put in one lamp, and one or both of them are turned on at the same time to emit three colors of red, green, yellow, or orange (amber). Use what you can.

The fan 14 is arranged behind the head section 12 to cool the head section 12 by air. The LED lamp 15 and the push switch 16 open the facing surface of the case 11 so that the tip faces the outside of the case 11.

The head portion 12 has an opening at the center, a ball lens 17 is fitted, a heat sink 18 inscribed in the head portion 12 is arranged behind the head portion 12, and a through hole is formed in the axis of the head portion 12. Insert the tip.

The heat sink 18 diffuses heat generated during operation of the semiconductor laser diode 19 by heat conduction, thereby suppressing a decrease in performance. For this reason, aluminum or an alloy thereof having good heat conduction efficiency is cast, and several dummy through holes are provided to enhance the heat radiation efficiency.

The semiconductor laser diode 19 is made of GaAs.
A configuration is adopted in which a current is directly applied to a PN junction diode using a compound semiconductor such as (gallium arsenide) to excite the diode, thereby obtaining laser oscillation. Semiconductor laser diode 19
Has features such as small size, light weight, good oscillation efficiency, operation at low voltage, long life, mass production and low price.
It is suitable as a light source for a lightweight portable laser beam irradiation probe.

A screw screw a is formed on the outer periphery of the spherical lens 17, and the adjuster 20 is inserted through the screw screw a.
Attach.

The adjuster 20 is formed of transparent acrylic so that the laser light irradiation surface can be directly viewed from the outside. Further, a notch b for ventilation is provided by cutting one end of the opening at the tip.

The adjuster 20 functions as a spacer, and adjusts the distance between the spherical lens 17 and the skin surface freely by turning a screw screw a.

The push switch 16 performs an operation of switching on / off of a power supply and on-time of intermittent irradiation. For turning on / off the power, a switch for detecting contact with the skin may be attached to the adjuster 20, and the power may be turned on when the adjuster 20 comes into contact with the skin, and turned off when the adjuster 20 is separated from the skin. Thus, since the laser beam is not irradiated except when the adjuster 20 is in contact with the skin, the danger of the laser beam entering the eyes can be prevented and safety can be improved.

The push switch 16 is, as shown in FIG.
Each time the switch is pressed once, the power is turned on and the on-time is switched (1 second to 6
Seconds), and the modes are switched in the order of power off. At this time, L
The ED lamp 15 corresponds to an on-time of 1 to 6 seconds, from green lighting to green flashing, orange lighting, orange flashing, red lighting,
The display switches in the order of flashing red. Finally push switch 1
When the switch 6 is turned on for a long time (1.5 seconds), the power is turned off and the irradiation of the laser beam is stopped. In the on-time, a very short count value of 1 to 6 seconds is set in the timer in order to prevent transient damage to the skin.

The laser beam irradiation probe of the present invention has the above-described configuration, and when performing a treatment, first, the push switch 16 is pressed to turn on the power. At this time, the semiconductor laser diode 19 is turned on for a predetermined one second, and then pauses for one second. Then, the laser beam is intermittently irradiated while repeating the irradiation and the pause. To change the on-time, press the push switch 16 to switch the on-time, and press the push switch 16 at the desired on-time.
Stop pressing. Next, the tip of the adjuster 20 is pressed against the skin surface while irradiating the laser beam, and the treatment is performed while moving the position. When the focal position of the laser beam is not appropriate, the height of the skin surface in contact with the tip of the adjuster 20 is adjusted by turning the screw screw a.

[0020]

As described above, the laser beam irradiation probe of the present invention has all the components necessary for laser beam irradiation, panel operation functions, display functions, and the like in the probe body. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the probe is portable, laser treatment can be easily performed anytime and anywhere without being restricted by time or place.

Further, the laser light is emitted intermittently at a constant period of on-time, and the power is turned on / off while pressing the same push switch to switch the on-time stepwise. Therefore, according to the present invention, all operations required for laser beam irradiation can be performed by simply pressing the switch, so that the operation can be smoothly performed with one hand while holding the probe. Also, since there is only one switch to operate, there is no doubt about the operation, the number of parts is small, and the cost is reduced.

Each time the push switch is pressed, the mode is switched to a mode in which the on-time is sequentially longer. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to gradually increase the mode while checking the strength felt on the skin by pressing the push switch, so that the strength can be easily adjusted.

Also, three or more modes are identified and displayed by the emission color of one LED lamp, all the lights, or blinking.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the mode can be identified by only one LED lamp, the mode is simple and easy to understand, and the display device has a simple configuration and does not cost much.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a laser beam irradiation probe embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the length of on-time and LED display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser beam irradiation probe 11 Case 12 Head part 13 Substrate 14 Fan 15 LED lamp 16 Push switch 17 Ball lens 18 Heat sink 19 Semiconductor laser diode 20 Adjuster a Screw screw b Cut

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 5, 2001 (2001.4.5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Added

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

Claims (11)

[Claims] A semiconductor laser device for irradiating a laser beam; a driving circuit for driving the semiconductor laser device; a heat sink for radiating and cooling the semiconductor laser device; a CPU for controlling irradiation of the semiconductor laser device; A laser beam comprising: a lens for condensing a laser beam of a semiconductor laser device; an adjuster for adjusting a distance between a focal point of the lens and the skin; and a power switch for turning on / off a power source. Irradiation probe. 2. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the CPU intermittently controls the irradiation of the laser beam with a constant period of on-time. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the on-time is depressed and the switch is switched stepwise by the number of times the switch is depressed.
The laser light irradiation probe as described in the above. 4. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 3, wherein the push switch is the same switch as the power switch. 5. When the push switch is pressed, the power is turned on first, and when the switch is pressed next, the on-time is switched stepwise,
5. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 4, wherein the power is turned off when pressed last. 6. The laser beam according to claim 5, wherein the on-time has three or more modes in which the on-time varies stepwise, and each time the push switch is pressed, the mode is switched to a mode in which the on-time is sequentially longer. Irradiation probe. 7. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 6, wherein the three or more modes are identified and displayed by one LED lamp. 8. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 7, wherein the identification display is performed by changing the emission color of an LED lamp. 9. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 7, wherein the identification display is performed by turning on or off an LED lamp. 10. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a hand switch. 11. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a switch for detecting contact with the skin attached to the adjuster.