JP2001346807A - Laser instrument for photochemical treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a rise in temperature in a focal site. SOLUTION: In a laser instrument for photochemical treatment, a treatment is executed by irradiating a laser beam over a focal site P in which photosensitive materials with an affinity for certain affected cells are previously accumulated to excite the photosensitive materials. This instrument is provided with a laser source 20 for generating a laser beam, an irradiating means 30 for irradiating the laser beam over the affected site P, an infrared sensor 40 for sensing the amount of infrared rays in the affected site P, and a laser control means 50 for the laser source 20. The laser control part 50 is provided with an output control means 53 for controlling the output from the laser source 20 and an output regulating part 54 for regulating the control output of the output control part 53 so that the affected site P will not have a predetermined temperature exceeding the predetermined limit of the detected temperature based on the output of the infrared sensor 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser device for photochemotherapy, and more particularly, to irradiating a laser beam adapted to the absorption wavelength of the photosensitizer to a focus area on which the photosensitizer is accumulated, thereby exciting the laser. The present invention relates to a laser device for photochemotherapy for treating a lesion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the advancement of electronic medical technology, photochemical diagnosis or photochemical treatment using laser light, for example, a photosensitizer having an affinity for a tumor such as cancer is accumulated in a focus, and directed to the focus. Diagnosis and treatment performed by irradiating laser light to excite a photosensitive substance to induce fluorescence emission and cell killing action are rapidly developing.

A medical laser device used for this kind of photochemical diagnosis or photochemical treatment is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-7-17-1.
No. 00218 is known.

The photochemotherapy diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-100218 measures and controls the irradiation characteristics and the amount of irradiation energy of the laser light emitted from the tip of a laser probe used toward a lesion. In addition, even if output fluctuation or wavelength fluctuation occurs, it is possible to obtain a constant treatment / diagnosis result.

[0005]

As described above, photochemotherapy is a therapy in which a photosensitizer is excited by laser light irradiation to obtain a therapeutic effect. On the other hand, if the output of the laser beam is high, there is a possibility that the temperature of the lesion will increase, and the set output is set low in order to avoid such temperature increase, and the treatment efficiency and treatment effect are increased. Was difficult to increase.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular to improve the treatment efficiency and the treatment effect without increasing the temperature of the lesion.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A laser device for photochemotherapy which performs treatment by irradiating a laser beam to a focus area in which a photosensitizer having affinity for a predetermined disease cell is previously accumulated to excite the photosensitizer. A laser light source for generating the laser light, an irradiating means for irradiating the lesion with a laser beam, an infrared sensor for detecting the amount of infrared rays in the lesion, and a laser control means for the laser light source are provided.

The laser control means controls the output of the laser light source, and the output control section controls the output control section so that the lesion does not exceed a predetermined temperature from a detected temperature based on the output of the infrared sensor. And an output regulating unit for regulating the output.

In the above arrangement, a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength is irradiated from a laser light source via a radiation unit to a lesion on which a photosensitive substance is accumulated. This excites the photosensitizer and produces a therapeutic effect on the lesion.

At this time, the temperature of the lesion is detected by an infrared sensor, and the detected temperature is output to the output control section of the laser control means. When the lesion temperature reaches a preset temperature, the output regulating unit limits the control output of the laser light source via the output control unit, so that it is not necessary to set the control output of the laser light source low from the beginning, An appropriate output can be selected.

[0011] In the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the structure of the invention according to claim 1, the irradiating means includes an optical fiber for communicating the laser light source and the lesion, and a light for communicating the infrared sensor and the lesion. And a fiber. In the case of such a configuration, the distal end of each optical fiber is directed toward the lesion, and the proximal end of each optical fiber is directed toward the laser light source and the infrared sensor. Then, the laser beam is applied to the lesion via one optical fiber, and the infrared sensor receives infrared rays emitted from the lesion via the other optical fiber.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, a configuration is adopted in which each optical fiber is shared by one optical fiber. In the case of such a configuration, a branch path is provided at the base end of the optical fiber, and one is directed toward the laser light source and the other is directed toward the infrared sensor.
In addition, the tip of the optical fiber is arranged toward the lesion.
Other operations are the same as those of the above configurations.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first, second or third aspect of the invention, the output control section adjusts the time ratio between repeated irradiation and non-irradiation to control the output of the laser light source. Is performed.

In such a configuration, the same operation as each of the above-described configurations is performed, and the irradiation period of the laser beam and the non-irradiation period are normally continuously repeated at a predetermined ratio, and the lesion site When the temperature of the
The output control unit controls the laser light source so that the ratio of the non-irradiation period increases.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first, second and third aspects of the present invention are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the invention described in 3 or 4, the output control unit controls the output of the laser light source by changing the output intensity of the laser light.

In such a configuration, the same operation as that of each of the above-described configurations is performed, and at the same time, laser light irradiation is normally performed at a predetermined constant output intensity, and the temperature of the lesion reaches a predetermined temperature. When the output rises, the output restricting unit controls the laser light source so that the output intensity decreases.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first, second and third aspects of the present invention are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the invention described in 3 or 4, the laser control means sequentially integrates the irradiation energy amount from the output of the laser light source set by the output control unit, and the integrated irradiation energy amount is a predetermined value. In this case, the apparatus is provided with a fixed-quantity irradiator that continues to irradiate the laser light source until the following condition is satisfied.

In such a configuration, in addition to the same operation as described above, the irradiation energy amount is integrated as needed based on the output intensity and output time at the start of laser beam irradiation. Then, when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,
The operation control for terminating the laser beam irradiation is performed by the fixed-quantity irradiation unit.

The present invention seeks to achieve the above-described objects by the above-described configurations.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] (Overall Configuration) An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, treatment is performed by irradiating a laser beam to a lesion P in which a photosensitizer having an affinity for a predetermined disease cell (for example, a tumor) P1 has been accumulated in advance to excite the photosensitizer. Is shown.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a laser device 1 for photochemotherapy. The laser device 1 for photochemotherapy includes a laser unit 20 as a laser light source for generating a laser beam, and an irradiation unit 30 for irradiating the lesion with the laser beam.
An infrared sensor 40 for detecting the temperature of the lesion P, and a laser control means 50 for controlling the operation of the laser unit 20
And

(Laser unit) These will be described in detail below. First, the laser unit 20 includes a laser diode, and emits laser light in a wavelength range in which the photosensitive substance can be excited. The output intensity of the laser beam emitted from the laser unit 20 is set by the laser diode control by the laser control means 50. The laser diode is kept at a low temperature, and the wavelength is fixed at a constant value. Further, a shutter (not shown) is provided at an emission portion of the laser unit 20, and an operation control that is opened by the laser control means 50 in response to emission of laser light is performed.

(Irradiating means) The irradiating means 30 includes an optical fiber 34 on the lesion side, an optical connector 32 for mounting the optical fiber 34, and the optical connector 32 and the laser unit 2.
It has an optical fiber 33 that communicates with zero.

The optical fiber 34 is used with its distal end directed toward the lesion and its proximal end connected to the optical connector 32. The optical fiber 34 has a function of transmitting laser light from the optical connector 32 to the lesion P and transmitting infrared light emitted from the lesion P to the optical connector 32.

On the other hand, the optical connector 32 is
And a function of connecting the optical fiber 34 and the optical fiber 34 in a state where light can be transmitted. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 32. According to this, the optical connector 32 has a cylindrical shape having a through hole at the center and communicates with the laser unit 20 from both ends of the through hole. The distal end of the optical fiber 33 and the proximal end of the optical fiber 34 are inserted and connected. In addition, annular positioning members 32a and 32b are fixed near the distal end of the optical fiber 33 and the proximal end of the optical fiber 34, respectively, to prevent the optical fibers 33 and 34 from protruding into the optical connector 32 more than necessary. To prevent this, a predetermined gap 32c is maintained between the distal end face of the optical fiber 33 and the proximal end face of the optical fiber.

Further, the optical connector 32 has a gap 32c.
Openings 32d and 32e communicating with the optical connector 32 are provided in the radial direction of the optical connector 32.
5 is embedded and attached, and the infrared sensor 40 described above is embedded and attached to the opening 32e.

With this structure, the laser light output from the laser unit 20 travels while being reflected in the optical fiber 33, and most of the laser light transmitted from the end face of the distal end of the optical fiber 33 remains unchanged from the base of the optical fiber 34. After entering the end face, a part of the laser beam is deviated from the optical path by diffusion or reflection at the base end face of the optical fiber 34, and then further reflected in the opening 32d to be an optical sensor beside the optical path. 35
Is detected by

The infrared light emitted from the tumor P1 at the lesion P travels while being reflected in the optical fiber 34, and a part of the infrared light sent from the base end face of the optical fiber 34 is converted into an optical fiber. After deviating from the optical path by diffusion or reflection at the tip end surface of 33, the light is further reflected within the opening 32e and detected by the infrared sensor 40 beside the optical path.

The optical sensor 35 detects the output intensity of the laser light, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the output intensity of the laser light incident on the optical sensor 35 to the laser control means 50.

(Infrared sensor)
Is a thermopile, which outputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of incident infrared rays to the laser control means 50. The infrared sensor 40 is provided with a thermistor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the cold junction of the thermopile. A detection signal of the thermistor is also output to the laser control means 50. The laser controller 50 can detect the temperature of the lesion P from the output of the thermopile by correcting the temperature of the thermopile before the temperature rise detected by the thermistor.

(Overall Configuration of Laser Control Means) Next, the laser control means 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The laser control means 50 is composed of an arithmetic unit including a CPU, a ROM, and an A / D converter, and receives a program for executing an operation control of the laser device for photochemotherapy 1 described later.

The laser control means 50 includes a setting condition storage section 52 for storing initial operation setting conditions inputted from an input means 51 provided in parallel with the laser control means 50, and an output for controlling an operation state of the laser unit 20. Control unit 53
An output control unit 54 that controls the control output of the output control unit 53 so that the temperature of the tumor P1 in the lesion P does not exceed a predetermined temperature based on the detected temperature based on the output of the infrared sensor 40; Laser unit 20 set at 53
Quantitative irradiation unit 55 that sequentially integrates the irradiation energy amount from the output of the laser unit 20 and continues the irradiation of the laser unit 20 until the integrated irradiation energy amount reaches a predetermined value.

(Input Means and Setting Condition Storage Unit) The input means 51 is an operation panel of the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy, and inputs the initial operation setting conditions. The setting conditions input here are the output intensity of the laser beam output from the laser unit 20, the total irradiation energy amount for irradiating the tumor P1, and the upper limit temperature of the lesion during treatment. The above-described numerical setting conditions set and input by the input means 51 are stored in the setting condition storage unit 52 which is a memory.

(Output Control Unit) The output control unit 53 refers to the output intensity of the laser beam stored in the setting condition storage unit 52, and maintains the set output intensity so as to emit the laser beam. Has the function of controlling the operation of That is, the output intensity of the emitted laser light is detected by the above-described optical sensor 35, and the energization control of the laser unit 20 is performed such that the output intensity becomes a set value.

Further, the output control unit 53 performs a pulse oscillation for the laser unit 20 to continuously repeat the emission state and the non-irradiation state of the laser light, and obtains the time ratio of the irradiation period to the non-irradiation period per cycle. It has a function to perform duty control to adjust the amount of irradiation energy per unit time by correcting. The initial value of the time ratio (duty) is a temperature difference between the detected temperature of the lesion P before laser light irradiation calculated based on the infrared sensor 40 and the upper limit temperature of the lesion stored in the setting condition storage unit 52. Is determined based on

(Output Control Unit) The output control unit 54 detects the lesion P from the output of the thermistor provided in parallel with the infrared sensor 40.
A calculating unit that calculates the temperature of the lesion P, a comparing unit that compares the calculated temperature of the lesion P with the upper limit temperature of the lesion P set in the setting condition storage unit 52, and when the calculated temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature. And a warning unit that outputs a temperature rise warning command to the output control unit (the components are not shown).

The infrared sensor 40 has a gate circuit 5
7, a detection signal is output to the output regulating unit 54. The gate circuit 57 is controlled by the output control unit 53 to allow the detection signal of the infrared sensor 40 to pass only when the laser unit 20 is in the non-irradiation period by the above-described duty control (see FIG. 1B). ).
Therefore, infrared detection is performed only during the non-irradiation period of the laser unit 20, and it is possible to avoid the influence of laser light on infrared detection and to eliminate the need for an optical filter for avoiding the influence of laser light. is there.

The output control unit 53 includes an output control unit 5.
When the temperature rise warning command of the warning section 4 is received, the laser irradiation duty is further corrected so as to slightly reduce the irradiation period (by a preset constant value). Thereby, the irradiation energy amount per unit time received from the laser beam at the lesion P decreases, so that a rise in the temperature of the lesion is avoided.

The warning section of the output control section 54 may have a function of outputting a temperature reduction warning command to the output control section 53 when the calculated temperature becomes lower than the upper limit temperature by a certain temperature or more. In this case, in the output control unit 53,
It is desirable to have a function of correcting the laser irradiation duty so that the irradiation period slightly increases (by a predetermined constant value) when the temperature decrease warning command is received. Accordingly, even when the irradiation period of the laser beam is set to be excessively small, the correction is made, and the irradiation energy amount per unit time is appropriately increased, so that the treatment efficiency can be improved.

(Quantitative Irradiation Unit) Next, the quantitative irradiation unit 55 will be described. The quantitative irradiation unit 55 compares the integrated irradiation energy amount with the total irradiation energy amount stored in the setting condition storage unit 51 by integrating the irradiation energy amount from the output intensity detected by the optical sensor 35. And a command output unit that outputs a laser output stop command to the output control unit 53 when the integrated irradiation energy amount reaches the stored total irradiation energy amount based on the comparison result. Is omitted).

In the accumulator, to be precise, the output controller 53
Input of the irradiation period of the laser unit 20 via
This is integrated, and the sum of the irradiation energy is calculated from the integrated value and the output intensity of the laser beam.

The optical sensor 35 is configured to output a detection signal to the quantitative irradiation unit 55 via the gate circuit 56. In the gate circuit 56, the output control unit 53 performs an operation control of allowing the detection signal of the optical sensor 35 to pass only when the laser unit 20 is in the irradiation period by the duty control described above (see FIG. 1A). . Therefore, accumulation of irradiation energy by light other than laser light during the non-irradiation period of the laser unit 20 is avoided.

The output control section 53 further has a function of performing control for terminating the laser irradiation of the laser unit 20 when receiving the laser output stop command. Therefore,
With the configuration of the quantitative control unit 55, it is possible to irradiate the lesion P with a predetermined total irradiation energy amount.

(Explanation of Operation of Laser Device for Photochemotherapy) The operation of the laser device for photochemotherapy 1 having the above configuration will be described. 4 and 5 show flowcharts of the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy.

First, in the setting condition storage section 52, initial setting conditions (output intensity of laser light,
Waiting for input of the total irradiation energy amount to irradiate 1 and the upper limit temperature of the lesion during treatment (step S1).

When the above setting conditions are input, the output intensity of the laser light in the laser unit 20 is adjusted (step S2). At the time of this adjustment, the laser beam test is performed without directing the optical fiber 34 on the lesion portion side to the lesion portion P so that the output intensity detected by the optical sensor 35 becomes the set output intensity. The amount of power supply to the laser unit 20 is determined (step S3). Then, the energization amount is also stored in the setting condition storage unit 52.

After the adjustment of the output intensity of the laser beam, the emission of the laser beam is interrupted, the tip of the optical fiber 34 is directed to the lesion P, and the initial lesion temperature before laser beam irradiation is measured. (Step S4). That is, the lesion temperature is calculated from the output of the infrared sensor 40, and the difference between the calculated temperature and the upper limit temperature of the lesion P set in the setting condition storage unit 52 is obtained. Then, the duty of the laser unit 20 is determined according to the temperature difference. For example, if the lesion temperature is significantly lower than the set upper limit temperature, the ratio of the irradiation period in the duty is set to be large, and if the lesion temperature is close to the set upper limit temperature, the ratio of the irradiation period in the duty is set to be small (step S5). ).

Then, a laser beam is applied to the lesion P during the irradiation period according to the determined duty (step S6).
Further, after the irradiation is completed, the temperature of the lesion P is measured by the infrared sensor 40 during the non-irradiation period (step S7), and the measured temperature is compared with the upper limit temperature stored in the setting condition storage unit 52 (step S8). ).

In this comparison, when the measured temperature of the lesion P exceeds the set upper limit temperature, the duty of the set condition storage unit 52 is updated so that the irradiation period ratio becomes small (step S9), and when the measured temperature does not exceed the set upper limit temperature. The duty is maintained at the current value.

Then, again, the updated or current duty
Irradiation is performed based on (Step S1)
0). After the end of the irradiation, during the non-irradiation period, the irradiation energy amount of the previous irradiation period is obtained and integrated (step S11). Further, the integrated irradiation energy amount thus accumulated is compared with the set energy amount stored in the setting condition storage unit 52 (step S12), and if less than this, the operation from step S7 is repeated.

Then, while adjusting the duty at any time so that the lesion portion P does not exceed the set upper limit temperature, the laser beam irradiation is repeatedly performed, and the integrated irradiation energy amount is set in the set condition storage unit 5.
The operation of the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy ends when the set energy amount stored in 2 is reached.

(Effects of Laser Device for Photochemical Therapy) As described above, the laser device for photochemical therapy 1 constantly detects the temperature of the lesion P by the infrared sensor 40 and updates the duty based on the temperature. It is possible to effectively avoid a temperature rise above a certain value of the section. In addition, since the temperature is constantly detected and updated to an appropriate duty, it is not necessary to reduce and set the output of the laser light source more than necessary to avoid a rise in temperature, and to improve the treatment effect and treatment efficiency. Is possible.

Further, unlike the related art, the configuration for cooling the lesion can be omitted, and the apparatus can be downsized, the production cost can be reduced, and the productivity can be improved.

Further, the duty of the laser unit 20 is
Since control is performed and infrared light is detected during the non-irradiation period of laser light, a single optical fiber 34 can be used as an optical path for laser light and infrared light, further reducing production cost and improving productivity. It is possible to plan.

Further, an infrared sensor 40 is used for measuring the temperature.
Is used, and the configuration is such that infrared rays from the lesion P are detected via the optical fiber 34, thereby irradiating the lesion P with laser light while avoiding a temperature rise even in the lesion P in a very narrow area. It is possible to do.

Further, since the laser control means 50 is provided with the fixed-quantity irradiation section 55, it is possible to perform control for terminating the irradiation of the laser beam with the target irradiation energy amount, and to make the irradiation energy amount appropriate. It is possible to obtain a moderate therapeutic effect.

[Second Embodiment] (Overall Structure) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that among the components shown in the present embodiment, the same components as those shown in the photochemical therapy laser device 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a laser apparatus for photochemical therapy 1A according to the second embodiment. The laser device 1A for photochemotherapy has a laser unit 20.
And an irradiating means 30A for irradiating the lesion with a laser beam, an infrared sensor 40 for detecting the temperature of the lesion P, and a laser control means 50A for controlling the operation of the laser unit 20.

(Irradiating means) The irradiating means 30A includes an optical fiber 34 and an optical connector 32 in the same manner as the aforementioned irradiating means 30.
And an optical fiber 33A for communicating the lesion P and the infrared sensor 40.

In other words, unlike the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy, the infrared sensor 40 is not provided in the optical connector 32, and infrared rays from the lesion P are detected via the optical fiber 36A. The distal end of the optical fiber 36A is integrally connected to the distal end of the optical fiber 34 in the same direction.

From the base end of the optical fiber 36A,
The infrared sensor 40 receives infrared rays via the optical filter 41A. The laser device 1A for photochemical therapy differs from the laser device 1 for photochemical therapy in that the duty
No control is adopted, and infrared rays are detected while the lesion P is irradiated with laser light. Therefore, not only the infrared light from the lesion P but also the reflected light of the laser light enters from the distal end of the optical fiber 36A. For this reason, an optical filter 41A that allows passage of light only in the infrared wavelength range is provided in front of the infrared sensor 40 to prevent the reflected light of the laser light from entering the infrared sensor 40.

(Overall Configuration of Laser Control Means) Next, the laser control means 50A will be described with reference to FIG.
The laser control means 50A includes a CPU, a ROM, an A / D
A program for controlling the operation of the laser device 1A for photochemotherapy, which will be described later, is configured by an arithmetic device including a converter.

The laser control means 50A is provided with an input means 51 similarly to the laser control means 50, and has a setting condition storage section 52 for storing initial operation setting conditions, and an output for controlling the operation state of the laser unit 20. Control unit 53
A, an output control unit 54 that controls the control output of the output control unit 53A so that the tumor P1 of the lesion P does not exceed a predetermined temperature based on the detected temperature based on the output of the infrared sensor 40, and output control. A constant irradiation unit 55A that sequentially integrates the irradiation energy amount from the output of the laser unit 20 set by the unit 53A and continues the irradiation of the laser unit 20 until the integrated irradiation energy amount reaches a predetermined value. Have.

(Output Control Unit) The output control unit 53A has a function of controlling the operation of the laser unit 20 so as to emit laser light in accordance with the output intensity of the laser light stored in the setting condition storage unit 52. . That is, energization control of the laser unit 20 is performed so that the output intensity detected by the optical sensor 35 becomes the set output intensity.

In the output control unit 53 described above, once the output intensity of the laser unit 20 is adjusted to the initially set output intensity, laser irradiation is performed with the output intensity fixed at that value.
Although the irradiation energy amount per unit time was adjusted by the duty control, the output control unit 53A continuously performs irradiation without providing a non-irradiation period of the laser beam, and the irradiation energy amount per unit time is output. Adjust by increasing or decreasing the intensity.

As described above, when the temperature detected by the infrared sensor 40 exceeds the set upper limit temperature, the output control unit 53A is provided together with the output control unit 53A.
To output a temperature rise warning command.

The output control section 53A further has a function of making a correction so that the output intensity of laser irradiation slightly decreases (by a predetermined constant value) when receiving the temperature rise warning command. Accordingly, the irradiation energy amount per unit time received from the laser beam at the lesion P decreases, so that the temperature rise of the lesion P is avoided.

Further, when the calculated temperature based on the infrared sensor 40 becomes lower than the upper limit temperature by a certain temperature or more, the warning unit of the output control unit 54 outputs a temperature drop warning command to the output control unit 5.
When the function of outputting to 3A is added, the output control unit 5
It is desirable that the 3A has a function of making a correction so that the output intensity of the laser irradiation is slightly increased (by a predetermined constant value) upon receiving the temperature drop warning command. Accordingly, even when the irradiation period of the laser beam is set to be excessively small, the correction is made, and the irradiation energy amount per unit time is appropriately increased, so that the treatment efficiency can be improved.

(Quantitative Irradiation Unit) Next, the quantitative irradiation unit 55A will be described. This fixed-quantity irradiation unit 55A is
An integration unit that integrates the irradiation energy amount from the output intensity detected by the control unit 5; a comparison unit that compares the integrated irradiation energy amount with the total irradiation energy amount stored in the setting condition storage unit 51; A command output unit that outputs a laser output stop command to the output control unit 53A when the integrated irradiation energy amount reaches the stored total irradiation energy amount (illustration of each component is omitted).

In the integrating section, the output intensity of the laser beam is sampled at a predetermined period and is sequentially integrated, thereby calculating the total irradiation energy.

On the other hand, in addition to the above-described function, the output control section 53A further has a function of performing control for terminating the laser irradiation of the laser unit 20 when a laser output stop command is received. Therefore, by the configuration of the quantitative control unit 55A, the predetermined total irradiation energy
Can be irradiated.

Incidentally, the infrared sensor 40 and the output regulating unit 54
, And between the optical sensor 35 and the quantitative irradiation unit 55A, a gate circuit is not provided unlike the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy, so that the output from each of the sensors 40 and 35 is always an output control unit. 54 or the fixed quantity irradiating section 55A.

(Explanation of Operation of Laser Device for Photochemical Therapy) The operation of the laser device for photochemical therapy 1A having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the laser device 1A for photochemotherapy.

First, in the setting condition storage section 52, initial setting conditions (output intensity of laser light, tumor P
Waiting for input of the total amount of irradiation energy to irradiate No. 1 and the upper limit temperature of the lesion during treatment (step S2)
1).

When the setting conditions are input, the output intensity of the laser beam in the laser unit 20 is adjusted (step S22). At the time of this adjustment, laser irradiation is started in a state where the respective distal ends of the optical fibers 34 and 36A are directed toward the lesion P on the lesion side (the initial output intensity is preset in the setting condition storage unit 52). Then, the amount of power to the laser unit 20 is determined so that the output intensity detected by the optical sensor 35 becomes the set output intensity (step S23).

When the output intensity of the laser beam is adjusted, the lesion temperature is measured (step S24). That is, the lesion temperature is calculated from the output of the infrared sensor 40, and the calculated temperature is compared with the upper limit temperature of the lesion P set in the setting condition storage unit 52 (step S25). And
According to this comparison, the output intensity of the laser beam is maintained at a constant value as long as the lesion temperature is lower than the set upper limit temperature, and the output intensity of the laser light is reduced if the lesion temperature is equal to or higher than the set upper limit temperature ( Step S26).

When the observation of the temperature of the lesion P is completed,
The irradiation energy amounts up to now are calculated and integrated (step S27). Then, the integrated integrated irradiation energy amount is compared with the set energy amount stored in the setting condition storage unit 52 (step S28), and when it is less than this, the operation from step S24 is repeated.

Then, while continuously adjusting the output intensity of the laser beam so that the lesion P does not exceed the set upper limit temperature, the laser beam is continuously irradiated, and the integrated irradiation energy amount is stored in the set condition storage unit 52. When the stored set energy amount is reached, the operation of the laser device 1 for photochemotherapy ends.

As described above, the laser apparatus for photochemotherapy 1
A can continuously detect the temperature of the lesion P by the infrared sensor 40, adjust the output intensity of the laser beam based on the temperature, and effectively avoid the temperature rise of the lesion by a certain value or more. . That is, even with such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the laser device for photochemotherapy 1 described above.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, the temperature of the lesion is detected by the infrared sensor and the output of the laser light source is controlled based on the detected temperature. It is possible to avoid it effectively. In addition, since the temperature of the lesion is detected, the output of the laser light source does not need to be reduced and set more than necessary, and the treatment effect and treatment efficiency can be improved.

Further, unlike the related art, it is possible to eliminate the need for a configuration for cooling the lesion, thereby reducing the production cost and improving the productivity.

Further, since an infrared sensor is used for measuring the temperature, the infrared ray from the lesion is detected through an optical fiber. Also, it is possible to perform laser light irradiation while avoiding a rise in temperature.

Further, in the case of a configuration in which the laser control means is provided with a constant irradiation section, control for terminating the irradiation of the laser beam with the target irradiation energy amount is performed. It is possible to obtain a therapeutic effect.

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent laser device for photochemotherapy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1 (A) shows an irradiation period and FIG. 1 (B) shows a non-irradiation period.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the optical connector disclosed in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the laser device for photochemotherapy disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention continued from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram of a control system of the laser device for photochemotherapy disclosed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1A Photochemical therapeutic laser device 20 Laser unit (laser light source) 30,30A Irradiation means 33,34,36A Optical fiber 40 Infrared sensor 50,50A Laser control means 53,53A Output control unit 54 Output control unit 55,55A Quantification Irradiated area P Lesion area

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A laser device for photochemotherapy which carries out treatment by irradiating a laser beam to a lesion in which a photosensitizer having an affinity for a predetermined disease cell has been accumulated in advance to excite the photosensitizer. A laser light source for generating the laser light, an irradiating unit that irradiates the laser beam to the lesion, an infrared sensor that detects an amount of infrared light of the lesion, and a laser control unit of the laser light source. An output control unit that controls an output of the laser light source, and the output control unit so that the lesion does not exceed a predetermined temperature from a detected temperature based on the output of the infrared sensor. And a power control unit for controlling the control output of the laser. 2. The irradiating means includes an optical fiber that connects the laser light source and the lesion, and an optical fiber that communicates the infrared sensor and the lesion. Laser device for photochemotherapy. 3. The laser device for photochemotherapy according to claim 2, wherein each of said optical fibers is shared by one optical fiber. 4. The laser for photochemotherapy according to claim 1, wherein said output control unit controls output of said laser light source by adjusting a time ratio between repeated irradiation and non-irradiation. apparatus. 5. The laser device for photochemotherapy according to claim 1, wherein the output control section controls output of the laser light source by changing an output intensity of the laser light. 6. The laser control means sequentially accumulates an irradiation energy amount from an output of a laser light source set by the output control unit, and until the integrated irradiation energy amount reaches a predetermined value. A fixed amount irradiation unit that continues irradiation of the light source is provided.
6. The laser device for photochemotherapy according to 2, 3, 4 or 5.