JP2003325541A - Laser treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser treatment apparatus by which laser treatment is smoothly performed by reducing the waiting time of an operator for adjusting output. <P>SOLUTION: The laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a treatment region with laser beams from a treatment laser light source is provided with: an output detection means for detecting the output of the laser beams from the laser light source; a setting means for setting the parameter of a laser irradiation condition; an output adjustment means for test-emitting the laser beams from the laser light source and adjusting the output of the laser beams on the basis of the detected result detected by the output detection means; and a signal processing means which receives the changing signal of the parameter of the laser irradiation condition by the setting means even during output adjustment by the output adjustment means and processes the changing signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

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 for irradiating a treatment area of a patient with laser light for treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a laser treatment apparatus, a laser beam is test-irradiated for confirmation of laser output before irradiation of a treatment laser, and laser output is adjusted (calibrated) based on information from an output sensor. There is. In the conventional device, it is necessary to change to the READY state where therapeutic laser irradiation is possible.
The output was adjusted by irradiating the test light of the laser light with the pressing of the READY button as a trigger.

[0003]

However, in a device in which the output adjustment takes time, especially in a device using a temperature type output sensor, the measured value becomes maximum about 3 seconds after the start of emission, and from the maximum value. Since the output value is measured, the output adjustment may take as long as 10 to 15 seconds, which causes a long waiting time for the operator. Then, in the conventional apparatus, the setting (parameter) of the laser irradiation condition cannot be changed during the output adjustment by the test emission of the laser light, and various parameter changing operations are performed after the completion of the output adjustment currently being executed. There was a need. In particular, the waiting time becomes longer when the parameters related to the laser output are changed.

In view of the above problems, it is a technical object of the present invention to provide a laser treatment apparatus capable of smoothly performing laser treatment by reducing the waiting time of the operator during output adjustment.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration. (1) In a laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a treatment site with laser light from a treatment laser light source, output detection means for detecting the output of the laser light from the laser light source, and setting means for setting parameters of laser irradiation conditions. An output adjusting means for adjusting the output of the laser light on the basis of the detection result detected by the output detecting means by emitting the laser light from the laser light source as a test, and the laser by the setting means during the output adjustment by the output adjusting means. Signal processing means for receiving a change signal of the irradiation condition parameter and processing the change signal. (2) The output adjusting means according to (1), when the parameter related to the adjustment of the laser output is changed by the setting means, triggers the laser light from the laser light source by using the change signal as a trigger. And (3) In the laser treatment apparatus of (1), when the parameter relating to the adjustment of the laser output is changed by the setting unit during the output adjustment by the output adjusting unit, the signal processing unit causes the output adjusting unit to operate. The modified signal is processed so as to readjust the output.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a laser treatment apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential parts showing the configurations of a control system and an optical system. Reference numeral 1 denotes a laser device main body, and a control unit 20, a treatment laser light source 21, an aiming light source 22, a light guide optical system, and the like are housed in the laser device main body 1. In this embodiment, a CO2 laser light source that emits an infrared laser beam is used as the therapeutic laser light source 21, and an aiming light source 22 is used.
For this, a semiconductor laser that emits visible red light is used.

2 is an articulated arm, 3 is a handpiece,
Reference numeral 7 is a control panel for inputting various setting conditions such as laser irradiation conditions, and 8 is a foot switch for transmitting a trigger signal. The multi-joint arm part 2 is connected by joint parts so that several rigid pipes can be driven, and the operator can freely move the hand piece 3. A mirror is arranged at each joint of the multi-joint arm unit 2, and the treatment laser light and the aiming light coaxially arranged by the mirror in the laser device body 1 are passed through the multi-joint arm unit 2 to make the handpiece. Guide up to 3. The inside of the handpiece 3 is formed hollow so that the laser light is guided, and the condenser lens 13 is fixed inside. The condenser lens 13 serves to focus the laser light on the affected area. Further, the handpiece 3 is the articulated arm section 2
It can be attached to a different type of handpiece such as a scanner-type handpiece in which the laser spot is scanned by two galvanometer mirrors.

Reference numeral 27 is a temperature type output sensor for detecting the temperature rise of the laser energy of the laser light absorbed by the absorber by converting it into an electric signal, and a part of the laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 by the beam splitter 26. Take out and detect the laser output. The signal from the output sensor 27 is
The therapeutic laser light source 2 of the control unit 20 is sent to the control unit 20.
It is used for the output adjustment function of No. 1 and the monitoring function such as stopping the emission when there is an abnormality. A shutter 29 opens and closes a laser light path from the laser light source 21 to the outside of the main body 1. Two
Reference numeral 5 is a dichroic mirror that reflects the treatment laser and transmits the aiming light.

In an apparatus having the above structure,
The operation will be described. After the power switch 50 is turned on and the apparatus is activated, the parameters on the output adjustment of the laser beam and other parameters are changed by the switch on the control panel 7 to set the laser irradiation conditions. As a switch of parameters related to laser output adjustment, a switch 33 for setting a laser output value, switches 31a and 31b for selecting a continuous wave / pulse of laser light, and a switch 31c for switching to a scan mode (can be set when the scanner handpiece is used) ). If the switch is not operated for 1 second or more after the change signal of any of the parameters by these switches is input, the control unit 20 uses these signals as a trigger to test-emit laser light from the laser light source 21 and outputs it. Make adjustments. At this time, the laser light guide path is blocked by the shutter 29. In the above description, the time from when the switch is operated until the trigger signal is input is 1 second, but this time can be arbitrarily changed by the switch 44 of the control panel 7 according to the usage state of the device.

The laser output immediately after the test light is emitted from the laser light source 21 is detected by the output sensor 27. The control unit 20 confirms whether the output is the set output set by the control panel 7. If the measurement is different from the set value, the output of the laser light source 21 is controlled (calibrated) so as to reach the set value. In the temperature type output sensor 27,
The measured value becomes maximum about 3 seconds after the start of emission (it becomes maximum after about 3 seconds at any output value regardless of the output value),
The output value is measured from the maximum value. Therefore, it takes about 10 to 15 seconds to adjust the laser output.

The control unit 20 executes output adjustment by test emission of laser light as a process behind the operation of the apparatus. This allows further parameter changes during output adjustment. Even if the parameter of the laser irradiation condition is changed during the output adjustment by the test emission, the control unit 20 accepts the change signal and processes the change signal in parallel with the output adjustment. If the parameter change is not related to the laser beam output adjustment, the current output adjustment result remains valid, and the operator can perform a switch operation for changing the parameter even during the output adjustment. For this reason, the time for merely waiting for the completion of the output adjustment is reduced, and the time required for the output adjustment can be effectively utilized. Examples of the switch for changing parameters not related to laser output adjustment include a switch 34 for setting the laser irradiation time interval (ON TIME), a switch 35 for setting the laser irradiation interruption time interval (OFF TIME), and an aiming light amount. There are a switch (not shown) to be changed, a switch 37 for setting the irradiation density in the scan mode, a switch 38 for changing the scan shape in the scan mode, a switch 39 for changing its size, and the like. The information changed by these switches is displayed on a predetermined display unit such as the displays 40 and 41, and is used as drive information for the laser light source 21 and the like during laser irradiation. When using the scanner-type handpiece 3, a parameter change signal related to the scan mode is used as driving information for the galvanometer mirror.

When the parameter relating to the laser output adjustment is further changed, the control unit 20 receives the parameter change signal and adjusts the output by the test emission with the changed parameter again. in this case,
Since the output adjustment with the changed parameter is executed without waiting for the completion of the output adjustment currently being executed, the total waiting time is reduced.

The progress of the laser output adjustment is notified to the operator by a bar-graph shaped indicator 43 on the control panel 7. Also, during laser power adjustment, READY
When the / STANDBY switch 30 is pressed, the control unit 2
In the case of 0, the alarm 28 sounds an alarm to notify the operator without setting the READY state. When the output adjustment is completed, the control unit 20 stops driving the laser light source 21 and ends the test emission. The control unit 20 displays the fact that the output adjustment by the test emission has been completed on the display 40 and informs the operator of the alarm 28 with a sound different from the above warning sound.

After setting the irradiation conditions, the operator has a READY / STANDB
Press the Y switch 30 to switch the operating state of the device from the STANDBY state to the READY state. After that, the operator holds the handpiece 3 and performs alignment so that the aiming light guided from the aiming light source 22 strikes the affected area to be treated. After the completion of the laser irradiation alignment, the foot switch 8 is depressed to generate a trigger signal (command signal for starting laser irradiation). The trigger signal is input to the control unit 20. Control unit 20 that has received the trigger signal
Opens the shutter 29 and causes the laser light source 21 to emit therapeutic laser light. The treatment laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 is reflected by a mirror provided at each joint of the multi-joint arm portion 2 and guided to the handpiece 3,
The affected area is irradiated.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, if any switch parameter is not operated for 1 second or more after the change signal of any of the parameters by the switch of the parameter related to the laser output adjustment is inputted, the laser beam is emitted as a test output. The adjustment was performed. Not limited to this, for example, even in a device that presses the READY / STANDBY switch 30 and uses this as a trigger signal to perform output adjustment, the control unit 20 changes the parameters of laser irradiation conditions during output adjustment by test emission. Even if there is such a change signal, the change signal may be received and the change signal may be processed in parallel with the output adjustment.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to reduce the waiting time of the operator for adjusting the output and perform the laser treatment smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Laser device body 7 Control panel 20 Control unit 21 Laser light source 27 Output sensor 28 alarms 31a switch 31b switch 31c switch 33 switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a treatment site with laser light from a treatment laser light source, an output detection unit for detecting an output of the laser light from the laser light source, and a setting for setting parameters of laser irradiation conditions. Means, output adjusting means for performing test emission of the laser light from the laser light source and adjusting the output of the laser light based on the detection result detected by the output detecting means, and the setting means during the output adjustment by the output adjusting means. And a signal processing unit that receives a change signal of the parameter of the laser irradiation condition by the signal processing unit and processes the change signal. 2. The output adjusting means according to claim 1, when the parameter relating to the adjustment of the laser output is changed by the setting means, test-emits laser light from the laser light source using the change signal as a trigger. Laser treatment device characterized by. 3. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the parameter relating to the adjustment of the laser output is changed by the setting means during the output adjustment by the output adjusting means, the signal processing means performs the output adjustment. A laser treatment apparatus characterized by processing the change signal so as to readjust the output by the means.