JP2002253572A - Laser treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser treatment device capable of confirming laser output on an emitting end side without requiring much time and performing a treatment with a properly adjusted laser output. SOLUTION: A laser treatment device for radiating the laser beam from a treatment laser beam source to a treatment portion comprises a hand piece having a laser scanning optical system internally having a scanning mirror for scanning the laser beam on the treatment portion, a light guide optical system for guiding the laser beam from the treatment laser beam source to the hand piece, a drive control means for driving the scanning mirror, and an emitting side detection sensor for detecting the output of the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror, which is arranged on the hand piece so as to be out of a scanning optical path for scanning the laser beam on the treatment portion within a laser optical path scannable by the scanning mirror.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser treatment apparatus which performs treatment by irradiating a treatment site (affected part) of a patient with laser light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a laser treatment apparatus for performing treatment by irradiating a treatment part of a patient with a laser beam, a CO2 laser (carbon dioxide) having a wavelength in an infrared region is used to remove wrinkles, bruises, spots, etc. of the patient. A laser treatment device using a gas laser), a laser device for hair removal using an infrared laser, and the like are known. In plastic surgery using this type of device, therapeutic laser light output from a laser light source is guided to a laser irradiation unit such as a handpiece by an optical fiber or an articulated mirror. Further, there is also known an apparatus that performs laser irradiation while scanning (scanning) a treatment laser beam by a scanning mechanism housed in a handpiece.

Incidentally, it is necessary for a laser treatment apparatus to detect the output of a laser beam. Usually, a detection system is provided inside an apparatus main body in which a laser light source is arranged, and laser output control is performed inside the laser apparatus main body. Is going. When monitoring the laser output emitted from the handpiece, a laser output detection unit prepared separately is used to check the laser output from the end of the handpiece before treatment.

[0004]

However, in the detection system provided inside the apparatus main body, even if there is an abnormality in the optical fiber, the light guiding optical system of the articulated mirror, or the scanning optical system of the scanning mirror, it is confirmed. It is not possible. Also, it is troublesome to check the laser output from the end of the handpiece using a laser output detection unit before treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser treatment apparatus capable of easily confirming a laser output at an emission end side and performing a treatment with an appropriately adjusted laser output. I do.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.

(1) In a laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a treatment site with laser light from a treatment laser light source, a handpiece having therein a laser scanning optical system having a scanning mirror for scanning the laser light on the treatment site, A light guiding optical system for guiding a laser beam from a treatment laser light source to the handpiece, a drive control unit for driving the scanning mirror, and an emission side detection sensor for detecting an output of the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror And an emission-side detection sensor arranged on the handpiece outside the scanning optical path when scanning the laser beam on the treatment site with the laser light path that can be scanned by the scanning mirror. .

(2) The laser treatment apparatus of (1), further comprising an input means for inputting an operation signal of the apparatus, wherein the drive control means directs the laser beam to the emission side detection sensor based on the input of the operation signal. The driving of the scanning mirror is controlled as described above.

(3) In the laser treatment apparatus of (2), the input means is a means for inputting a trigger signal for laser irradiation, and the drive control means emits the laser light before performing laser scanning for treatment. The scanning mirror is driven and controlled so as to be directed to the side detection sensor.

(4) In the laser treatment apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), a light source side detection sensor for detecting an output of the laser light emitted from the laser light source before the laser light is incident on the light guiding optical system. Detecting means for comparing the laser output detected by the light source side detection sensor and the laser output detected by the emission side detection sensor to detect whether or not the light guide state of the light guide optical system and the scanning optical system is appropriate; And notifying means for notifying that the light state is abnormal when the light state is detected.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the appearance of a laser treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part showing the configuration of a control system and an optical system.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a laser device main body, in which a control unit 20, a therapeutic laser light source 21, an aiming light source 22, a scanner controller 23, a light guide optical system, and the like are housed. In this embodiment, a CO2 laser light source that emits an infrared laser beam is used as the treatment laser light source 21, and a semiconductor laser that emits visible red light is used as the aiming light source 22. Reference numeral 27 denotes a power sensor for measuring the output of the laser beam,
6, a part of the laser light emitted from the laser light source is extracted and measured.

2 is an articulated arm, 3 is a scanning handpiece unit, 4 is a cable, 5 is a connector, 7 is a control panel for inputting various setting conditions such as laser irradiation conditions, and 8 is a trigger signal. It is a foot switch for transmitting.

The articulated arm 2 is connected by a joint so that several rigid pipes can be driven, so that the operator can move the handpiece unit 3 freely.
A mirror is arranged at each joint of the articulated arm 2, and passes the therapeutic laser beam and the aiming light coaxial by the mirrors 24 and 25 in the laser device main body 1 through the articulated arm 2. To the handpiece unit 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part configuration of the handpiece unit 3. The handpiece unit 3 is the scanner unit 1
0 and a handpiece head 11, both of which are removable. In the scanner unit 10, drive mirrors 12a and 12b for causing the treatment laser beam and aiming light that have passed through the articulated arm unit 2 to scan the treatment site in the X and Y directions, and respective drive motors 17a and 17a.
7b, a condenser lens 13, and an output detection system 16. The output detection system 16 includes a condenser lens 16a, an attenuation plate 16b, and an output sensor 16c. The drive motors 17a and 17b are connected to a scanner controller 2 provided in the laser device main body 1.
The control signal is output from the scanner controller 23, is transmitted to the scanner unit 10 via the connector unit 5 and the cable 4, and is controlled by the drive mirrors 12a and 12b.
Are respectively controlled for swinging. The condensing lens 13 condenses the laser light so as to focus on the affected part. The length of the handpiece head 11 is set such that the focal position of the laser light condensed by the condenser lens 13 is located on the affected part.

The output sensor 16c of the output detection system 16 receives the light reflected by the drive mirror 12b and measures the therapeutic laser power near the emission of the handpiece unit 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the output detection system 16 is disposed in a scanable optical path range of the drive mirrors 12a and 12b and outside a scan optical path slightly deviated from the reflection direction for treatment.

In the apparatus having the above configuration,
The operation will be described. The operator sets laser irradiation conditions such as laser output and pulse irradiation time intervals using switches on the control panel 7. In the case of laser irradiation by scanning, after selecting the SCAN mode, the scanning shape (triangle, square, hexagon, etc. is prepared) and irradiation size are set. The scanner controller 23 controls the driving of the drive motors 17a and 17b based on the scanning area formation information stored in the memory 28, and causes the aiming light from the aiming light source 22 to scan on the outer edge of the scanning area. Thereby, the operator can confirm the scanning region where the laser irradiation is performed and its shape.

When the preparation for laser irradiation is completed, READY /
READ that can irradiate laser by pressing STANDBY switch 30
When the foot switch 8 is depressed, the trigger signal is transmitted. When receiving the trigger signal, the control unit 20 drives the laser light source 21 and outputs a control signal to the scanner controller 23 so that the laser optical axis is directed to the output sensor 16c. Scanner controller 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a drive motor based on the control signal so that the laser beam reflected by the mirror 12b of the final reflection of the scanning is directed to the output sensor 16c located outside the irradiation optical path.
a and 17b are driven and controlled. The treatment laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 enters the articulated arm 2, is reflected by mirrors provided at each joint of the articulated arm 2, is guided to the handpiece unit 3, and is scanned by a mirror. The light reaches the output sensor 16c of the output detection system 16 via 12a and 12b. When this output is detected, the control unit 20
Causes the laser light source 21 to emit laser light for a time necessary for output detection. As a result, the laser output immediately before emission from the handpiece unit 3 is measured by the output sensor 16c before the actual irradiation of the affected part with the laser. Further, the control unit 20 measures the laser output at the emission end of the laser light source 21 with the power sensor 27.

The control unit 20 checks the laser output from the output sensor 16c and determines whether the laser beam is properly emitted with the laser output corresponding to the irradiation condition set value. When the laser output is slightly shifted, the control unit 20 finely adjusts the output of the laser light source 21. If there is an output abnormality that exceeds this adjustment range, the drive of the laser light source 21 is stopped to stop laser irradiation. At the same time, control panel 7
An error is displayed and the operator is notified.

Further, the control unit 20 compares the laser output of the power sensor 27 at the emission end of the laser light source 21 with the laser output of the output sensor 16c immediately before emission of the handpiece unit 3. It is determined whether there is any abnormality in the light guide optical system up to the drive mirror 12b of the unit 3. In this case as well, if there is an abnormality, the laser irradiation is stopped, an error is displayed on the control panel 7 as described above, and the operator is notified.

If the laser output can be adjusted normally without any abnormality in the laser light source and the light guide optical system, the scanner controller 23 controls the driving of the drive motors 17a and 17b based on the scanning shape stored in the memory 28. Thus, the appropriately adjusted treatment laser beam is scanned and irradiated to the treatment site.

As described above, at the beginning of the therapeutic laser scanning, the directions of the drive mirrors 12a and 12b are changed to the output sensor 16c side, and the laser output immediately after the drive mirror 12b (just before emission from the handpiece unit 3) is measured. Thus, it is possible to reliably perform treatment with the output value set by the operator. In addition, since the laser output is measured by changing the direction of the laser beam by the drive mirrors 12a and 12b, optical components such as a beam splitter are not required, so that weight and cost can be reduced, and measurement using the beam splitter is performed. There is no output loss of the laser light as compared with the case of performing the operation. Further, the reflectivity or transmittance of the beam splitter is apt to change due to a change in the environment, and the output detection greatly fluctuates. However, since the handpiece unit 3 does not use the beam splitter, there is no influence.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The treatment can be appropriately performed with the set laser output.
In addition, the laser output at the emission end side can be easily checked, and an abnormality in the light guide optical system or the laser irradiation optical system in the handpiece can be easily known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a schematic external view of a laser treatment apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a main part block diagram showing a configuration of a control system and an optical system of the laser treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a main part configuration of a handpiece unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 laser device main body 2 articulated arm unit 3 handpiece unit 7 control panel 8 foot switch 12a, 12b drive mirror 16 output detection system 16a condenser lens 16b attenuating plate 16c output sensor 17a, 17b drive motor 20 control unit 21 laser light source 23 Scanner controller 27 Power sensor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a treatment part with laser light from a treatment laser light source, comprising: a handpiece having a laser scanning optical system having a scanning mirror for scanning the laser light on the treatment part; A light guide optical system for guiding the laser light from the treatment laser light source to the handpiece, drive control means for driving the scanning mirror, and an emission side detection sensor for detecting the output of the laser light reflected by the scanning mirror. There is an emission-side detection sensor disposed on the handpiece outside the scanning optical path when scanning the laser beam onto the treatment site with a laser light path that can be scanned by a scanning mirror,
A laser treatment apparatus comprising: 2. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for inputting an operation signal of the apparatus, wherein the drive control means causes the laser beam to travel to the emission side detection sensor based on the input of the operation signal. A laser treatment apparatus for controlling the driving of the scanning mirror. 3. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said input means is a means for inputting a trigger signal for laser irradiation, and said drive control means outputs said laser light to said emission side before performing laser scanning for treatment. A laser treatment apparatus, wherein the drive of the scanning mirror is controlled so as to be directed to a detection sensor. 4. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source side detection sensor for detecting an output of the laser light emitted from the laser light source before the laser light is incident on the light guiding optical system. Detecting means for comparing the laser output detected by the light source side detection sensor and the laser output detected by the emission side detection sensor to detect the appropriateness of the light guiding state of the light guide optical system and the scanning optical system; And a notifying means for notifying that the condition is abnormal when the condition is detected.