JP2007089875A - Laser therapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser therapy apparatus capable of relieving a patient from the tension and anxiety by realizing a painless treatment in a laser irradiation therapy and raising laser irradiation efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: The laser therapy apparatus comprises a laser resonator 11 for generating laser light 12, a power source 21 for electric discharge exciting which allows the laser resonator 11 to perform discharge exciting, an optical waveguide 14 for guiding the laser light 12 outputted from the laser resonator 11 to a body 17 to be irradiated, a condensing lens 13 for condensing the laser light 12 outputted from the laser resonator 11 in the optical waveguide 14 and allowing the light to be made incident, and a condition adjusting part 20 for adjusting the conditions of laser irradiation patterns to irradiate the body 17 to be irradiated. The laser irradiation patterns for irradiating the body 17 to be irradiated, on which the conditions are adjusted by the condition adjusting part 20, achieves the painless treatment by defining a pulse period in a laser irradiation time to be ≥50 μs and ≤160 μs, so that the laser irradiation efficiency is raised. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser treatment apparatus that performs treatment using the effects and effects of laser light such as transpiration, coagulation, hemostasis, and incision on living tissue.

  In recent years, laser light has been widely used for medical treatment in the medical and dental fields in order to perform various operations including incision and transpiration of flexible tissues including gingiva, nerve tissue, and medulla. The effectiveness of the laser light for the living tissue is determined by the wavelength of the laser light, the power level of the laser light, and the irradiation pattern of the laser light.

  The laser light applied to the living tissue is either a continuous waveform or a pulse waveform. As specific laser light irradiation conditions, for example, when laser light irradiation with a pulse waveform is preferable in a specific operation, laser light is used. Optimum values such as the irradiation time, the laser beam irradiation stop time, and the pulse period in the laser irradiation time are selected.

  The energy input to the living tissue by the irradiation with the pulsed laser beam is represented by the product of the power level of the laser beam and the pulse time. The therapeutic effect of living tissue increases in proportion to the energy, but at the same time, the pain felt by the patient increases due to the heat applied by the energy. In the treatment such as stomatitis and periodontal disease treatment or the treatment only on the living body surface, a non-invasive treatment technique that does not cause pain to the patient is strongly desired.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional laser treatment apparatus includes a laser resonator 54, a laser beam output from the laser resonator 54, and guide light oscillated from the guide light oscillation unit 55. A light guide 59 that leads to the irradiation site 60 through a plurality of reflecting mirrors 57 and a condensing lens 58, a laser light irradiation condition setting unit that includes an operation panel 51 having switches and input keys, an arithmetic means, and a memory. The laser beam irradiation control unit 52 includes a CPU and a computer, and includes a plurality of irradiation patterns stored in advance.

The laser light irradiation control unit 52 performs laser light irradiation based on a predetermined irradiation pattern selected from a plurality of irradiation patterns stored in advance according to a setting signal from the operation panel 51. The irradiation pattern consists of a combination of a laser beam irradiation time and a laser beam irradiation stop time, and the laser beam irradiation time and the laser beam irradiation stop time are set in consideration of the thermal action time at the irradiation site of the living body, thereby performing laser treatment. Is realized. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-81658 A (page 3, FIG. 1)

  In a conventional laser treatment apparatus, it is possible to set a combination of a laser beam irradiation time and a laser beam irradiation stop time in consideration of the thermal action time at the irradiation site of the living body, but the input energy can be changed by changing the irradiation pattern. It has not been disclosed that the efficiency of the laser output can be increased.

  Further, considering the time of thermal relaxation at the irradiated site, the laser stop time must be long, so that the treatment time by laser light irradiation is substantially shortened and the laser irradiation efficiency tends to be low.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and aims to increase the laser irradiation efficiency and achieve painless treatment to relieve tension and anxiety of the patient.

  A laser resonator that generates laser light, a discharge excitation power source that discharges and excites the laser resonator, an optical waveguide that guides the laser light output from the laser resonator to the irradiated object, and a laser output from the laser resonator A condensing lens for condensing light into an optical waveguide and a condition adjusting unit for adjusting a condition of a laser light irradiation pattern to irradiate the irradiated object. The laser beam irradiation pattern to be irradiated has a configuration in which the pulse period in the laser beam irradiation time is 50 μs or more and 160 μs or less.

  With this configuration, the laser light irradiation pattern with which the irradiated object is irradiated can have a pulse period of 50 μs or more and 160 μs or less during the laser light irradiation time.

  Further, in the laser treatment apparatus of the present invention, the irradiation excitation pulse width in the laser light irradiation time is 35% or more and 50% or less of the pulse period in the laser light irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjusting unit. The configuration is as follows.

  With this configuration, the irradiation pattern of the laser beam applied to the irradiated object can have an irradiation excitation pulse width of 35% or more and 50% or less of the pulse period in the laser beam irradiation time.

  Further, in the laser treatment apparatus of the present invention, the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjustment unit is such that the laser beam irradiation time is 0.6 ms to 1 ms and the laser beam irradiation stop time is 25 ms. The structure is long and shorter than 40 ms.

With this configuration, the laser beam irradiation pattern with which the irradiated object is irradiated can have a laser beam irradiation time of 0.6 ms to 1 ms and a laser beam irradiation stop time longer than 25 ms and shorter than 40 ms.

  Further, in the laser treatment apparatus of the present invention, the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjusting unit is configured such that the irradiation excitation pulse width during the laser beam irradiation stop time is 1 μs and the pulse period is 200 μs. have.

  With this configuration, the irradiation pattern of the laser beam to be irradiated can have an irradiation excitation pulse width of 1 μs and a pulse period of 200 μs during the laser beam irradiation stop time.

  A laser treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a laser resonator that generates laser light, a discharge excitation power source that discharges and excites the laser resonator, and an optical waveguide that guides laser light output from the laser resonator to an irradiated object. A condensing lens for condensing the laser beam output from the laser resonator into the optical waveguide and a condition adjusting unit for adjusting the condition of the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object, and a condition adjusting unit In the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted in the laser beam irradiation period, the pulse period in the laser beam irradiation time is set to 50 μs or more and 160 μs or less. It is possible to provide a laser treatment apparatus having an effect of eliminating tension and anxiety and realizing laser irradiation treatment with high efficiency.

Hereinafter, a laser treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the laser treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a laser resonator 11 that generates a laser beam 12, a discharge excitation power source 21 that discharges and excites the laser resonator 11, and a laser output from the laser resonator 11. An optical waveguide section 14 that guides the light 12 to the irradiated body 17, a condensing lens 13 that focuses the laser light output from the laser resonator 11 on the optical waveguide 14, and a laser light that irradiates the irradiated body An input unit 19 for inputting the irradiation pattern condition and a condition adjustment unit 20 for adjusting the laser beam irradiation pattern condition based on the input condition are provided.

  The condition adjustment unit includes a calculation unit and a storage unit. The storage unit has a laser beam irradiation time of 0.6 ms to 1 ms and a laser beam irradiation stop time longer than 25 ms and shorter than 40 ms. A combination irradiation pattern is stored.

  In the present embodiment, a carbon dioxide laser is used as the laser beam. Treatment with carbon dioxide laser is capable of fine treatment suitable for dentistry, has excellent surface transpiration and hemostasis, has a bactericidal effect, has cases that can be treated without anesthesia, and has a pain relieving effect There are advantages such as fast healing.

  The operation of the laser treatment apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the irradiation pattern of the laser beam 12 is adjusted by the condition adjusting unit 20 based on the information input from the input unit 19, and the laser resonator 11 is discharged and excited by the discharge excitation power source 21. The laser beam 12 emitted from the laser resonator 11 is restricted by the condenser lens 13, passes through the optical waveguide 14, and is regulated so as to irradiate only a minute treatment site by the small-diameter tip 15 at the tip. 17 is emitted as irradiation laser light 16. At the same time, the cooling gas 18 flows out from the small-diameter tip 15 to cool the irradiated object 17.

  Next, the laser beam irradiation pattern of the laser treatment apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first laser beam irradiation pattern.

  With respect to the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiation object, the laser beam irradiation time of 0.8 ms and the laser beam irradiation stop time of 30 ms are selected, and the irradiation pulse width of the irradiation pulse in the laser beam irradiation time is 100 μs, A pattern is shown when the period is set to 200 μs, the irradiation pulse width at the laser beam irradiation stop time is set to 1 μs, and the period is set to 200 μs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second laser light irradiation pattern.

  With respect to the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiation object, the laser beam irradiation time of 0.8 ms and the laser beam irradiation stop time of 30 ms are selected, and the irradiation pulse width of the irradiation pulse in the laser beam irradiation time is 50 μs, A pattern is shown when the period is set to 100 μs, the irradiation pulse width at the laser beam irradiation stop time is set to 1 μs, and the period is set to 200 μs.

In the first and second laser beam irradiation patterns, the irradiation pulse width at the laser beam irradiation stop time is set to 1 μs and the period is set to 200 μs. This is because the laser irradiation treatment can be realized with high efficiency while suppressing the occurrence of bleeding, which is a phenomenon of exposure to light, and eliminating the thermal mass that causes pain, relieving the tension and anxiety of the patient.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the comprehensive evaluation and the peak output when the pulse period of the irradiation pulse in the laser light irradiation time is changed to 200 μs, 180 μs, 160 μs, and 100 μs, and the total evaluation of the effects of pain and white turbidity of the affected area. is there.

  In this experiment, the laser beam irradiation stop time is fixed at 30 ms after verifying that the laser beam irradiation stop time is 20 ms or less and that pain is felt, and that the laser beam irradiation is delayed and the efficiency is lowered at 40 ms or more. Further, “white turbidity of the affected area” indicates protein denaturation of the affected area when laser treatment is performed.

  Moreover, in the evaluation of “pain”, the way of feeling pain differs depending on the subject who is the subject of the experiment even under the same conditions. So, if almost all of the subjects did not feel pain, “No”, some people may feel tingling, “somewhat”, if almost all of the subjects felt pain “Yes”.

  In addition, in the “white turbidity” evaluation, “Yes” is indicated when the cloudiness is smooth, “Yes” is indicated when the time is long, and “No” is indicated when the cloudiness is not observed.

  In the “Comprehensive Evaluation”, the combination of “Pain” is “No” and “White Muddy” is “Yes” is “Optimal”, and “Pain” is “Yes” or “White Muddy” is “No” "Inappropriate" in any case, and "Appropriate" in other combinations.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even if the pulse period is changed from 200 μs to 180 μs, if the output peak is not 5 W, there is no white turbidity effect on the affected area equivalent to that in the condition 1. Next, when the pulse period is changed to 160 μs, the white turbidity effect of the affected area can be obtained even when the laser peak output is lowered from 5 W to 4.5 W, and the efficiency is improved. Further, when the pulse period is set to 100 μs, a similar cloudy effect of the affected area can be obtained even if the laser peak output is further reduced to 4 W.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the laser output efficiency is improved as the pulse period is shortened. However, if the pulse period is smaller than 50 μs, the affected area cannot be clouded, and it is necessary to set a pulse period of at least 50 μs or more.

  In FIG. 5, when the laser beam irradiation stop time is set to 30 ms and the period is set to 100 μs, the results of pain and cloudiness when the irradiation time is changed from 0.6 ms to 1.0 ms are combined with these results. The result of evaluation is shown. The evaluation criteria for “pain”, “white turbidity”, and “total” in FIG. 5 are the same as those in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, under the condition where the irradiation time is 0.8 ms, an optimum result was obtained when the peak output was in the range of 4 W (duty 40%) to 4.5 W (duty 45%).

  However, under the condition where the irradiation time is 0.7 ms, an optimal white turbidity effect cannot be obtained unless the peak output is 5 W. When the irradiation time is 0.9 ms, the peak output is 4 W (duty 40%). Pain occurred, and when the peak output was 3.5 W (duty 35%), the clouding effect of the affected area could not be obtained.

Furthermore, under the condition that the irradiation time is 0.6 ms, there is no pain even if the peak output is 5 W. On the other hand, the effect of white turbidity in the affected area is slightly reduced, and when the irradiation time is 1.0 ms, the peak output is 3.5 W (duty 35%) caused some pain, and the cloudiness effect was reduced.

  As described above, when the laser beam irradiation stop time is set to 30 ms and the cycle is set to 100 μs, when the irradiation time is changed from 0.6 ms to 1.0 ms, the peak output is obtained at the irradiation time of 0.8 ms. The optimal treatment result was obtained even when the value was lowered to 4 W (duty 40%).

  In addition, when the irradiation time was in the range of 0.6 ms to 1.0 ms, an appropriate effect was obtained even when the peak output was 4 W (duty 40%) or less.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the reason for the difference in white turbidity effect in the treatment of the affected area due to the first and second laser light irradiation patterns in FIGS. 2 and 3.

  The area of the on-time during the laser irradiation time in FIGS. 6A and 6B (the total area of the shaded area in the drawing) represents the total amount of heat. If the output voltage peak value of the laser is the same, the area of both is the same. However, the time from the start of the on pulse to the end of the on pulse in the laser irradiation time extends from 700 μs to 750 μs. Further, the off time in the laser irradiation time is as short as 100 μs to 50 μs.

  As a result, the laser irradiation time is apparently extended by 50 μs, and the same effect as when the irradiation stop time is shortened by 50 μs is produced. Further, since the oscillation frequency is increased, the laser is easily started and the laser output is increased.

  As described above, according to the laser treatment apparatus of the present embodiment, the same effect can be obtained with respect to the white turbidity of the affected area with an output setting with a small laser output. Thereby, in the treatment by laser light irradiation, painless treatment can be realized, the tension and anxiety of the patient can be eliminated, and the laser irradiation treatment can be realized with high efficiency. In addition, a margin can be secured against contamination of the probe and chip and a decrease in the output of the laser tube, and a highly reliable laser treatment apparatus can be realized.

  As described above, the laser treatment apparatus according to the present invention has an effect of realizing painless treatment and eliminating tension and anxiety of the patient in treatment by laser light irradiation, and realizing laser irradiation treatment with high efficiency. It is useful as a laser therapy device.

The block diagram of the laser treatment apparatus in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the 1st laser beam irradiation pattern of the laser treatment apparatus in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the 2nd laser beam irradiation pattern of the laser treatment apparatus in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the evaluation result which integrated the effect of the pain and the cloudiness of an affected part, and peak output at the time of changing the pulse period in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the result of the comprehensive evaluation which integrated the effect of pain and cloudiness when changing the irradiation time in embodiment of this invention The figure explaining the cause which the difference of the cloudiness effect in the affected part treatment by the difference of a 1st laser beam irradiation pattern and a 2nd laser beam irradiation pattern arises Configuration diagram of conventional laser therapy equipment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Laser resonator 12 Laser beam 13 Condensing lens 14 Optical waveguide 15 Thin diameter chip | tip 16 Irradiation laser beam 17 To-be-irradiated object 18 Cooling gas 19 Input part 20 Condition adjustment part 21 Power supply for discharge excitation

Claims (4)

A laser resonator that generates laser light;
A discharge excitation power source for discharging and exciting the laser resonator;
An optical waveguide for guiding the laser beam output from the laser resonator to the irradiated body;
A condensing lens that condenses and enters the laser light output from the laser resonator into the optical waveguide;
A condition adjustment unit that adjusts the conditions of the laser beam irradiation pattern that irradiates the irradiated object,
The laser treatment apparatus characterized in that the laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjustment unit has a pulse period of 50 μs or more and 160 μs or less in the laser light irradiation time. The laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjusting unit has an irradiation excitation pulse width in a laser beam irradiation time of 35% or more and 50% or less of a pulse period. Item 2. The laser treatment device according to Item 1. The laser beam irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjustment unit is such that the laser beam irradiation time is 0.6 ms to 1 ms and the laser beam irradiation stop time is longer than 25 ms and shorter than 40 ms. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a laser treatment apparatus. The laser light irradiation pattern irradiated to the irradiated object whose condition is adjusted by the condition adjusting unit has an irradiation excitation pulse width of 1 μs and a pulse period of 200 μs in a laser light irradiation stop time. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 4.

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