JP2001309927A - Laser probe, handpiece and laser therapeutic instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser probe that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. SOLUTION: Laser probe 5 relating to this invention is provided with a glass pipe 6, a mirror surface membrane 7 formed on the inner surface of the glass pipe 6 and a dielectric thin membrane 8 formed on the mirror surface membrane 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a laser probe,
The present invention relates to a handpiece and a laser treatment apparatus, and more particularly to a laser probe which is easy to manufacture and inexpensive to manufacture, a handpiece including the laser probe, and a laser treatment apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, laser treatments have been widely used for incision, transpiration, hemostasis and other treatments of bones, teeth and other living hard tissues and living tissues.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a conventionally known dental laser treatment apparatus.

[0004] A dental laser treatment apparatus 101 is attached to an apparatus main body 102, a cable 103 having one end connected to the apparatus main body 102, a handpiece 104 connected to the other end of the cable 103, and a handpiece 104. And a laser probe 105.

The cable 103 is connected to a laser light guide (light guide) (a laser light guide (light guide) 10 shown in FIG.
3a) and a tube (tube 103b shown in FIG. 4A) provided so as to cover the laser light guide 103a in a direction coaxial with the laser light guide 103a.

In this example, a laser light guide (light guide path) 1
A hollow light guide is used as 03a.

As the laser light guide (light guide path) 103a, for example, a hollow waveguide in which a transparent polyimide resin layer is formed on the inner surface of a metal pipe is used.

A gap G1 formed by the outer peripheral surface of the laser light guide (light guide path) 103a and the inner peripheral surface of the tube (see the tube 103b shown in FIG. 4A) contains water or saline. Is being washed away.

In the apparatus main body 102, a laser light source 1
02a, an air supply source 102b, and a water supply source 102c are accommodated.

One end of a laser light guide (light guide path) 103a is connected to the laser light source 102a, and the laser light generated from the laser light source 102a receives the laser light guide (light guide path) 103a. Through the hollow portion (see the hollow portion h103a shown in FIG. 4A).
04.

Further, a laser light guide (light guide path) 103a
(See hollow portion h103a shown in FIG. 4 (a))
Is supplied with air or an inert gas generated from the air supply source 102b.

A laser light guide (light guide) 103a
4 and a tube (tube 10 shown in FIG.
3b) (see FIG. 4).
Water or physiological saline supplied from the water supply source 102c flows through the gap G1) shown in (a).

As the laser light source 102a, for example, Er-Y which emits laser light in a wavelength band of 2.94 μm is used.
An AG laser device, a CO laser device that emits laser light in a wavelength band of 5 μm, a CO2 laser device that emits laser light in a wavelength band of 10.6 μm, and the like are used.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view showing a conventional handpiece 104 and a laser probe 105.
FIG. 4A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the handpiece 104 and the laser probe 105, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laser probe 105 shown in FIG.

The laser probe 105 includes a metal pipe 106 made of stainless steel or other metal, and a mirror film (for example, a copper film, a silver film, a gold film, a nickel film, or the like) formed on the inner surface of the metal pipe 106. Metal mirror film) 107
And a dielectric thin film 108 formed on the mirror film 107.

In this laser probe 105, the hollow portion h
Reference numeral 105 denotes a laser light guide path for guiding the laser light.

The mirror film 107 is formed to increase the transmission efficiency of the laser light guided in the hollow portion h105.

As the dielectric thin film 108, a material having excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance, chemical resistance, economy, etc. and low toxicity to the human body is used.

More specifically, the dielectric thin film 10
As 8, a polyimide, a fluororesin, a polysiloxane, a polysilazane, a cyclic polyolefin, a metal oxide or a metal sulfide is used.

In such a laser probe 105, the inner surface of the hollow portion h105 is prevented from being contaminated by contaminants generated from the affected part or the like, or when the affected part is irradiated with laser light. To enhance the transpiration effect of
In order to cool the affected part, gas is caused to flow in the hollow part h105 from the entrance end S105a to the exit end S105b.

In the laser probe 105, a tube 110 is provided coaxially with the laser light guide (light guide) 103a so as to cover the laser light guide (light guide) 103a.

Water or physiological saline is caused to flow through a gap G2 formed by the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 106 and the inner peripheral surface of the tube 110.

In FIG. 4A, a member indicated by 109 is a sleeve.

The sleeve 109 is provided on the metal pipe 106.
It is fixed to the outer surface.

The emission end S103b of the laser light guide (light guide path) 103a and the incidence end S10 of the laser probe 105
5a is fixedly connected by a sleeve 109.

A gap G2 formed by the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 106, the inner peripheral surface of the tube 110, the outer peripheral surface of the laser light guide (light guide path) 103a, and the inner peripheral surface of the tube 103b. The formed gap G2 is fixedly connected by the sleeve 109.

In the dental laser treatment apparatus 101, if a control panel (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 102 is appropriately operated, the laser probe 1 can be operated.
The laser beam is emitted from the emission end S105b of the laser probe 05, and a gas such as air or an inert gas is mixed with water or physiological saline in the vicinity of the emission end S105b of the laser probe 105 so as to be sprayed. It has become.

Next, a method for manufacturing the conventional laser probe 105 will be described.

The conventional laser probe 105 generally has
It is manufactured by the following steps.

First, when the laser probe 105 is manufactured, the metal pipe 1 is made of stainless steel or other metal.
06 is manufactured.

Next, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106 is mirror-finished by mechanical polishing.

Next, metal plating such as silver plating or gold plating is applied to the mirror-finished inner surface of the metal pipe 106 using a plating technique (electrolytic plating or other electroplating techniques).

After that, the mirror surface film 107 of the metal pipe 106
A material solution or a precursor for forming the dielectric thin film 108 flows into the hollow portion where is formed, and then, if necessary,
A heat treatment is performed, and the material solution or the precursor is dried and cured to form a dielectric thin film 108 on the mirror surface film 107.

[0034]

However, the conventional laser probe 105 has a problem that it is difficult to form the mirror surface film 107 in the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106.

That is, in order to form the mirror surface film 107 in the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106, it is necessary to mirror-process the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106. There is a problem that it is difficult to mirror-process (polish) the surface.

Further, the inner diameter of the metal pipe 106 is about 2
Since the diameter is as small as 00 μm to 1000 μm, there is a problem that it is difficult to mirror-process (polish) the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106.

In addition, if the formation of the mirror film 107 in the step of forming the mirror film 107 on the mirror-finished inner surface of the metal pipe 106 fails, the metal pipe 106 In general, the metal pipe 106 must be discarded.

As a result, the selling price of the conventional laser probe 105 is relatively high.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has the same function as a metal laser probe, and can be easily manufactured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser probe which can be supplied to the market at a low cost while keeping the temperature low, and to provide a handpiece and a laser treatment apparatus including the laser probe.

[0040]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser probe which is attached to the tip of a handpiece of a laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a laser beam generated from a laser light generator to an affected area and treating the affected area. A laser probe, comprising: a glass pipe; a mirror film formed on an inner surface of the glass pipe; and a dielectric thin film formed on the mirror film.

More specifically, the glass pipe of the laser probe is preferably made of quartz-based glass, which is generally used as an optical fiber material.

In this laser probe, since the glass pipe is used as the main body, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe is made smoother than when a metal pipe having a mirror-finished hollow portion is manufactured. easy.

As a result, since the main body of the laser probe is made of glass, it is necessary to use a metal pipe and mechanically polish the inner surface forming the hollow portion. The manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the laser probe.

Further, in this laser probe, since the material thereof is glassy, the shape of the emission end can be processed into various shapes.

As a result, the shape of the emission end is processed into various shapes in accordance with the purpose of use of the laser probe, and the emission direction and the energy distribution of the laser light emitted from the emission end are changed. Can be.

In addition, since the main body of this laser probe is made of glass, the inner surface of the glass pipe is coated with a mirror-finished film (for example, the inner surface of the glass pipe) by using a plating technique such as electroless plating. When a silver film is formed as a mirror surface film, a silver mirror reaction is used.)
When forming the glass pipe, the glass pipe does not corrode due to the acid of the electrolytic solution.

For this reason, even if the formation of the mirror surface film fails, the metal film that failed to be formed is removed from the inner surface of the glass pipe, and then the inner surface of the glass pipe is formed again. , A mirror surface film can be formed.

Thus, in this laser probe, when forming a mirror-finished film on the mirror-finished inner surface of a glass pipe by using a plating technique such as electroless plating, the formation of the mirror-finished film is unsuccessful. Even so, there is no need to discard the glass pipe.

As a result, this laser probe can be manufactured with high manufacturing efficiency without wasting the raw materials, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with a metal laser probe.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the laser probe according to the first aspect, the dielectric thin film is made of polyimide, fluororesin, polysiloxane, polysilazane, cyclic polyolefin, metal oxide, and metal sulfide. It is a material selected from the group.

In this laser probe, a dielectric thin film made of the same material as the dielectric thin film formed on the surface of the mirror film of the conventional metal probe is formed on the surface of the mirror film. It can be used for the same purpose as a laser probe.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handpiece of a laser beam generator, wherein the laser probe according to the first or second aspect is detachably attached to a tip of the handpiece. I made it.

This handpiece is inexpensive.
Alternatively, since the laser probe according to claim 2 is used, the laser probe can be made disposable.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser treatment apparatus comprising: a laser light generator; and a handpiece attached to a tip of a laser light guide connected to the laser light generator. The handpiece according to claim 3 was connected to a tip of a handpiece attached to a tip of a laser light guide connected to a laser light generator.

In this laser treatment apparatus, since the handpiece according to the third aspect is connected to the tip of the laser light guide, a laser treatment apparatus with a disposable laser probe can be supplied to the market.

[0056]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a laser probe and a laser treatment apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing one example of a laser treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

The laser treatment apparatus 1 is for dental use. The laser treatment apparatus 1 is connected to the apparatus main body 2, a laser light guide (light guide path) 3 having one end connected to the apparatus main body 2, and the other end of the cable 3. And a laser probe 5 attached to the handpiece 4.

The cable 3 is a laser light guide (light guide path)
(Laser light guide (light guide path) 3a shown in FIG. 2A);
A tube (see a tube 3b shown in FIG. 2A) provided so as to cover the laser light guide (light guide) 3a coaxially with the laser light guide (light guide) 3a.

In this example, the laser light guide (light guide path) 3
As a, a hollow light guide path is used.

As the laser light guide (light guide path) 3a,
For example, a hollow waveguide in which a transparent polyimide resin layer is formed on the inner surface of a metal pipe is used.

The outer peripheral surface of the laser light guide (light guide path) 3a and a tube (see a tube 3b shown in FIG. 2A)
Water or physiological saline is allowed to flow through the gap G1 formed by the inner peripheral surface of the circumstance.

In the apparatus main body 2, a laser light source 2a
And an air supply source 2b and a water supply source 2c.

In this example, a compressed air source such as a blower is used as the air supply source 2b. However, when an inert gas is used, a gas cylinder packed by compressing the inert gas may be used.

In this example, the water supply source 2c is a water supply tank, and the water supply tank is provided with a pipe (not shown).
, And can be connected to a water pipe (not shown).

One end of a laser light guide (light guide) 3a is connected to the laser light source 2a, and the laser light generated from the laser light source 2a is applied to the laser light guide (light guide) 3a. 2 (see the hollow portion h3a shown in FIG. 2A).

Air or an inert gas generated from an air supply source 2b flows through a hollow portion (see a hollow portion h3a shown in FIG. 2A) of the laser light guide (light guide path) 3a. It is supposed to be.

A gap (see FIG. 2A) formed by the outer peripheral surface of the laser light guide (light guide path) 3a and the inner peripheral surface of the tube (see the tube 3b shown in FIG. 2A). The water or physiological saline supplied from the water supply source 2c is caused to flow through the gap G1) shown.

Then, in this laser treatment apparatus 1, by appropriately operating a control panel (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2, the emission end S of the laser probe 5 can be changed.
5b, a laser beam is emitted, and a gas such as air or an inert gas is mixed with water or physiological saline in the vicinity of the emission end S5b of the laser probe 5 to be sprayed. .

As the laser light source 102a, for example, Er-Y which emits laser light in a wavelength band of 2.94 μm is used.
An AG laser device, a CO laser device that emits laser light in a wavelength band of 5 μm, a CO2 laser device that emits laser light in a wavelength band of 10.6 μm, and the like are used.

Next, the configuration of the laser probe 5 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view schematically showing the handpiece 4 and the laser probe 5 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the handpiece 4 and the laser probe 5 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laser probe 5 shown in FIG.

The laser probe 5 includes a glass pipe 6 and
A mirror surface film formed on the inner surface of the glass pipe 6 (for example,
Metal mirror surface film such as copper film, silver film, gold film or nickel film) 7
And a dielectric thin film 8 formed on the mirror film 7.

In this laser probe 5, the hollow part h5
Are the laser light guides for guiding the laser light.

The mirror surface film 7 is formed to increase the transmission efficiency of the laser light guided inside the hollow portion h5.

As the dielectric thin film 8, a material having excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance, chemical resistance, economy, etc. and low toxicity to the human body is used.

The laser probe 5 is different from the conventional laser probe 105 in that the main body is made of glass.
And, in particular, different.

More specifically, the glass pipe 6 of the laser probe is preferably made of silica-based glass generally used as a material for an optical fiber.

A preferred material of the glass pipe 6 will be described by way of example.
Borosilicate glass (for example, when the composition is SiO2 (81w
t%), B2O3 (13 wt%), Na2O (4 wt%
%), Borosilicate glass of Al2O3 (2 wt%) (trade name: "Pyrex" (Pyrex), manufactured by Corning Incorporated)) and the like can be mentioned as preferable examples.

As the dielectric thin film 8, polyimide, fluororesin, polysiloxane, polysilazane, cyclic polyolefin, metal oxide or metal sulfide is used.

As the metal oxide, for example, a metal oxide such as ZnO can be used, and as the metal sulfide, for example, a metal sulfide such as ZnS can be used.

Next, the manufacturing process of the laser probe 5 will be described.

First, when manufacturing the laser probe 5, a glass pipe is manufactured using the above-mentioned glassy material.

Glass is compared with metal such as stainless steel.
Since the melting point is low and the hardness is low, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe 6 can be easily mirror-finished by polishing or heating.

In some cases, the inner surface of the glass pipe 6 forming the hollow portion can be formed without polishing.

That is, since the glass pipe 6 is manufactured by drawing out the molten glass, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe can be formed flat and smooth at the time of drawing.

Next, metal plating such as silver plating or gold plating is applied to the inner surface of the glass pipe by using a plating technique such as electroless plating.

For example, when a silver film is formed,
A silver mirror reaction is used.

At this time, when the formation of the mirror surface film 7 on the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe fails, the metal film that failed to be formed is chemically removed using, for example, nitric acid or another acid. After the metal film that failed to be formed is removed from the mirror-finished inner surface of the glass pipe by physical means or by washing such a metal film by physical means, the metal film is again removed from the inner surface of the glass pipe. Then, a mirror film 7 is formed.

Thereafter, a material solution or a precursor for forming the dielectric thin film 8 flows into the hollow portion of the glass pipe where the mirror surface film 7 is formed, and then, if necessary, heat-treated to remove the material solution or the precursor. By drying and curing,
A dielectric thin film 8 is formed on the mirror film 7.

In the laser probe 5, since the material of the main body is made of glass, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe is different from the case where the metal pipe 105 having the mirror-finished hollow portion is manufactured. Easy to mirror.

That is, since the glass pipe 5 is manufactured by drawing molten glass, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe 5 during the drawing process is
It is formed flat and smooth.

Since the inner surface of the glass pipe 5 is already smooth at the time of drawing, there is no need to mirror-process the inner surface of the glass pipe 5.

As described above, in this laser probe 5,
Since the main body material is made of glass, the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with the conventional metal laser probe 105 which requires the use of a metal pipe and mechanically polishing the inner surface forming the hollow portion. be able to.

The inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe 6 has a lower surface roughness than the mirror-finished inner surface forming the hollow portion of the metal pipe 106.
Can be smaller.

This will be described based on experimental data. When the glass pipe 6 is drawn, the surface roughness of the inner surface forming the hollow portion is easily set to 0.1%.
μm or less.

On the other hand, in the case of a metal pipe (SUS pipe), the surface roughness of the inner surface forming the hollow portion is about 3.0 μm or more and about 5.0 μm or less before mirror finishing.
Even if the inner surface forming the hollow portion is polished, the surface roughness after polishing is at most about 0.3 μm or more and about 0.5 μm or less.

For this reason, the inner surface forming the hollow portion of the glass pipe 6 is originally small and smooth because of its surface roughness.
The laser probe 5 has a higher reflection efficiency of the laser light than the mirror film 107 formed on the mirror-finished inner surface.
More generally, the transmission efficiency of laser light is excellent.

That is, the laser probe 5 has a function similar to or higher than that of the conventional metal laser probe 105.

In the laser probe 5, since the main body is made of glass, the emission end S5
The shape of b can be processed into various shapes.

As a result, in accordance with the intended use of the laser probe 5, the shape of the emission end S5b is also processed on the user side to change the emission direction and energy distribution of the laser light emitted from the emission end S5b. Can be done.

In the laser probe 5, the dielectric thin film 8 of the same material as the dielectric thin film 108 of the conventional metal probe 105 is formed on the surface of the mirror surface film 7, so that the conventional metal It can be used for the same purpose as the laser probe 105.

In such a laser probe 5,
In order to prevent the inner surface of the hollow part h5 from being contaminated by dirt generated from the affected part, or to irradiate the affected part with laser light, to enhance the transpiration effect of the affected part, or to cool the affected part, In the hollow portion h5, gas is caused to flow from the entrance end S5a to the exit end S5b.

In the laser probe 5, a tube 10 is provided coaxially with the laser light guide (light guide) 3a so as to cover the laser light guide (light guide) 3a.

Water or physiological saline is allowed to flow through a gap G2 formed by the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 6 and the inner peripheral surface of the tube 10.

In this example, the distal end 1 of the tube 10 is
0a is provided at a position slightly retracted from the emission end S5b (a position retracted by about 1 mm to 30 mm from the emission end S5b).

Outflow from the tip 10a of the tube 10,
The water or the physiological saline passes through the hollow portion h5 and exits at the exit end S5.
b, mixed with air or inert gas and sprayed forward.

When a thin water layer is formed on the affected part by using the laser treatment apparatus 1 in which the laser probe 5 is attached to the handpiece 4, and the affected part is irradiated with laser light,
The water layer formed on the affected part can enhance the transpiration effect of the affected part by laser light.

In addition, as in the case of the laser probe 5, the tip 10a of the tube 10 is slightly retracted from the emission end S5b (1 mm to 30 mm from the emission end S5b).
(a position retracted by about mm), compared with the laser probe 105 in which the distal end 110a of the tube 110 is provided up to the position of the emission end S105b as shown in FIG. Since the visibility of the emitting end S5b and the affected part of the patient is further improved, the use of the laser probe 5 allows a dentist or the like to easily and precisely treat the affected part.

Further, in the laser probe 5, a negative pressure is generated around the emission end S5b due to air or an inert gas which exits from the hollow portion h5 of the emission end S5b, and water or physiological saline which exits from the gap G2 is Along the outer circumference of the tube 10, it is sucked in front of the emission end S5b, and water or physiological salt and air or an inert gas are uniformly mixed and sprayed in front of the emission end S5b.

That is, the laser probe 5 has a simple structure without complicating the structure of the emission end S5b, and is provided with water or physiological saline and air or an inert gas in front of the emission end S5b. There is also an advantage that it can be mixed and sprayed.

In the laser treatment apparatus 1, the laser probe 5 is detachably attached to the handpiece body 4a.

In FIG. 2A, a member indicated by 9 represents a sleeve.

The sleeve 9 is fixed to the outer surface of the laser probe 5.

The handpiece 4 has a handpiece body 4a.
And a lid 4b which is detachable by screwing to the handpiece body 4a. Handpiece body 4a
Is fixed to the cable 3.

The handpiece body 4a has a recess h4 for accommodating the sleeve 9.

The handpiece body 4a has a lid 4
A screw groove D4 for screwing b is formed.

The cover 4b has a through hole h4a provided at the center thereof, which is inserted into the laser probe 5, and a protrusion provided with a screw which can be screwed into a screw groove D4 provided in the handpiece body 4a. And a section P4.

When attaching the laser probe 5 to the handpiece main body 4a, first, the sleeve 9 of the laser probe 5 is housed in the recess h4 provided in the handpiece main body 4a.

Next, the laser probe 5 having the sleeve 9 housed in the recess h4 provided in the handpiece body 4a.
From the emission end side, the through hole h4 of the lid 4b is fitted into the laser probe 5, and then the protrusion P4 provided on the lid 4b is screwed into the recess h4 provided on the handpiece body 4a. I do.

As described above, the laser light guide (light guide path) 3
a outgoing end S3b of laser probe 5 and incoming end S5a of laser probe 5
And a gap G2 formed by the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 6, the inner peripheral surface of the tube 10, the outer peripheral surface of the laser light guide (light guide path) 3a, and the inner peripheral surface of the tube 3b. Is connected to the gap G2 formed by.

On the other hand, when removing the laser probe 5 attached to the handpiece 4, first, the lid 4b screwed into the screw groove D4 provided in the handpiece body 4a is rotated. The lid 4b is separated from the recess h4.

Next, the laser probe 5 is pulled out from the recess h4 provided in the handpiece body 4a.

In this laser treatment apparatus 1, as described above, the laser probe 5 is detachably attached to the handpiece 4.

Accordingly, the handpiece 5 can be made disposable.

As a result, the laser treatment apparatus 1 having a disposable laser probe can be supplied to the market.

For treatment of living hard tissue or living soft tissue, the inner diameter of the laser probe 5 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

Further, the laser probe 5 may be formed to be curved.

Further, a window (not shown) may be provided at the emission end S5b of the laser probe 5 so that dirt generated from an affected part or the like does not enter the hollow portion h5 of the laser probe 5.

The window (not shown) provided at the emission end S5b of the laser probe 5 is preferably made of any one of silicon, diamond, sapphire, quartz, magnesium oxide and potassium fluoride.

Thus, the emission end S of the laser probe 5
When a window is provided in 5b, the laser probe 5
In the hollow part h5, there is no need to flow gas in the direction of the emission end S5b in order to prevent dirt from adhering to the inner surface of the hollow part h5 of the laser probe 5.

Further, in the case where the mechanical strength of the laser probe 5 is insufficient, the laser probe 5 may be coated with metal or resin so as to cover the outer periphery of the glass pipe 6 of the laser probe 5.

As described in detail above, claim 1 is as follows.
In the laser probe described in (1), since the glass pipe is used as the main body, it is easy to lubricate the inner surface forming the hollow part of the glass pipe as compared with the case where a metal pipe having a mirror-finished hollow part is manufactured. .

As a result, since the main body of the laser probe is made of glass, it is necessary to use a metal pipe and mechanically polish the inner surface forming the hollow portion. The manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the laser probe.

Further, in this laser probe, since the material thereof is glassy, the shape of the emitting end can be processed into various shapes.

As a result, according to the purpose of use of the laser probe, the shape of the emission end is processed into various shapes to change the emission direction and the energy distribution of the laser light emitted from the emission end. Can be.

In addition, since the main body of this laser probe is made of glass, when the mirror surface film is formed on the inner surface of the glass pipe by using a plating technique such as electroless plating, an electrolytic solution is formed. The glass pipe does not corrode due to the acid of the liquid.

For this reason, even if the formation of the mirror surface film fails, the metal film that failed to be formed is removed from the inner surface of the glass pipe, and then the inner surface of the glass pipe is again formed. , A mirror surface film can be formed.

Thus, with this laser probe, even if the formation of the mirror surface film fails when the mirror surface film is formed on the inner surface of the glass pipe by using a plating technique such as electroless plating, There is no need to discard the glass pipe.

As a result, this laser probe can be manufactured with high manufacturing efficiency without wasting the raw materials, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with a metal laser probe.

In the laser probe according to the second aspect, the dielectric thin film of the same material as the dielectric thin film formed on the surface of the mirror film of the conventional metal probe is formed on the surface of the mirror film. It can be used for the same purpose as a conventional metal laser probe, and has the same use durability as a metal laser probe.

The handpiece according to the third aspect uses the inexpensive laser probe according to the first or second aspect, so that the laser probe can be made disposable.

In the laser treatment apparatus according to the fourth aspect, since the handpiece according to the third aspect is connected to the tip of the laser light guide, the laser treatment apparatus having a disposable laser probe is supplied to the market. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a laser treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view schematically showing a handpiece and a laser probe according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the handpiece and the laser probe according to the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laser probe shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a conventional laser treatment apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view schematically showing a conventional handpiece and a laser probe, and FIG.
FIG. 4B is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the handpiece and the laser probe, and FIG. 4B is a schematic transverse sectional view of the laser probe shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 laser treatment device 2 device main body 3 laser light guide (light guide path) 4 handpiece 5 laser probe 6 glass pipe 7 mirror surface film 8 dielectric thin film h5 hollow portion

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] May 10, 2000 (2000.5.1)
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0070

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As the laser light source 2a, for example, an Er-YAG laser device that emits a laser beam of a wavelength of 2.94 μm, a CO laser device that emits a laser beam of a wavelength of 5 μm, a A CO2 laser device or the like that emits a laser beam is used.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0110

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, in the laser probe 5, the air or the inert gas that exits from the hollow portion h5 of the exit end S5b has a negative pressure around the exit end S5b, and the water or saline that exits from the gap G2 is Along the outer circumference of the tube 10, it is sucked in front of the output end S5b, and water or physiological saline and air or an inert gas are uniformly mixed and sprayed in front of the output end S5b.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0111

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

That is, the laser probe 5 has a simple structure without complicating the structure of the emission end S5b, and is provided with water or physiological saline and air or an inert gas in front of the emission end S5b. Can be uniformly mixed and sprayed,
There is also a merit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junko Oishi 680 Higashihamananamicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan Inside Morita Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ) Inventor Yoshihide Okagami 680 Higashihama-machi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto F-term in Morita Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 4C026 AA02 BB01 BB02 BB06 BB07 FF22 4C052 AA20 BB11 CC06 CC26

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser probe attached to a tip of a handpiece of a laser treatment apparatus for treating an affected part by irradiating the affected part with laser light generated from a laser light generator, comprising: a glass pipe; A laser probe, comprising: a mirror film formed on an inner surface of the substrate; and a dielectric thin film formed on the mirror film. 2. The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric thin film is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, fluororesin, polysiloxane, polysilazane, cyclic polyolefin, metal oxide and metal sulfide. . 3. A handpiece of a laser light generating device, wherein the laser probe according to claim 1 or 2 is detachably attached to a tip portion of the handpiece. 4. A laser treatment apparatus comprising: a laser light generator; and a handpiece attached to a tip of a laser light guide connected to the laser light generator. A laser treatment apparatus, wherein a piece is connected to a tip of a hand piece attached to a tip of a laser light guide connected to the laser light generator.