JP2007159601A - Laser beam irradiation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent such accidents that laser beam leaks from a broken part of an optical conductor for transmitting laser beam on the way of the transmission and people or devices in the periphery are injured. <P>SOLUTION: Laser beam from a laser beam generating element 10 is emitted from the distal end of an optical conductor 13 to an irradiated region 20 without contact via an optical conductor 11 and a hand-piece 12, etc., and the laser beam reflected from the distal end of the optical conductor 13 is detected by a reflected laser beam detecting means 15. If the detected laser beam is not more than a prescribed value, the laser beam generating element 10 is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser light irradiation apparatus, more specifically, a laser light irradiation apparatus that transmits laser light from a laser light source through a light guide and irradiates the treatment site from the end face of the light guide. Monitor whether the laser light irradiation device is normal, and if abnormal, turn off the laser light source to prevent accidents caused by failure of the laser light irradiation device, especially accidents caused by breakage of the light guide It is a thing.

  In dental treatment, various treatments using laser light have been proposed. For example, prevention of dental caries, tooth bleaching, diagnosis of pulp, treatment, sterilization of root canal, disinfection, drying, treatment, alveolar pus Widely used for analgesia and anti-inflammation of oral inflammation.

  FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram for explaining an example of a dental laser beam irradiation apparatus having a laser probe to which the present invention is applied, in which 1 is a laser beam generator and 2 is a laser beam transmission light. The conductor cable 3 is a handpiece. As is well known, the laser light generated in the laser light generator 1 is transmitted to the handpiece 3 through the light conductor cable 2 and extends from the tip of the handpiece 3 to protrude. And is used for various dental treatments as described above.

  In the laser light irradiation apparatus as described above, the laser light generated by the laser light source is emitted from the distal end portion of the light guide 4 through the light guide cable 2 through the handpiece 3 and the like, and various uses necessary for dental treatment. However, if the light guide 2 or 4 that transmits the laser beam is damaged during the process, the laser beam leaks from the damaged part, which is dangerous.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent an accident in which, in the laser light irradiation apparatus as described above, a laser light transmission light guide is broken and the laser light leaks from it, and damages surrounding people and equipment. It is a thing.

  The invention of claim 1 has a laser light source and a light guide into which the laser light from the laser light source is introduced, and irradiates the irradiated portion with the laser light from the tip of the light guide in a non-contact manner. In the laser beam irradiation apparatus for performing dental treatment, the laser light source has a reflected laser beam detecting means for detecting the laser beam reflected from the tip of the light guide, and when the reflected laser beam is a predetermined value or less, the laser light source It is characterized by turning off.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided an input laser light detecting means for detecting the laser light introduced into the light guide, and an output of the input laser light detecting means and the reflected laser light detecting means. The laser light source is turned off when the ratio to the output is less than a predetermined value.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided input laser light detecting means for detecting laser light introduced into the light guide, and an output of the input laser light detecting means and the reflected laser light detecting means. The laser light source is turned off when the difference from the output is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

  According to the present invention, even if the laser light transmission light guide in the laser light irradiation device is damaged or the like, and the laser light leaks from the laser light transmission light guide, the leakage is reflected by the reflected laser light from the tip of the light guide. Judging from the decrease, the laser light source is turned off, so that it is possible to prevent an accident caused by the breakage of the laser light transmission light guide and to provide a safer laser light irradiation apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an essential part for explaining an embodiment of a laser beam irradiation apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a laser beam emitting element, and 11 is a laser generated by the laser beam emitting element 10. A light guide through which light is introduced and the introduced laser beam is transmitted, 12 is a handpiece provided at the tip of the light guide 11, 13 is a light guide extending from the handpiece 12, and protruding. Laser light generated by the laser light source 10 passes through the light guide 11 and protrudes from the tip of the handpiece 12 (the light guide 13 may be integrated with the light guide 11, in the handpiece 12. The light guide 11 may be separated from the light guide 11 and may be separated from the light guide 11), for example, toward the tooth 20 that is an object to be irradiated, and used according to the purpose of use. In FIG. 1, 1 to 4 correspond to FIG. 2, 1 is a laser beam generator unit, 2 is a laser light transmission optical conductor cable unit, 3 is a handpiece unit, and 4 is a tip of the handpiece unit 3. The light guide part extending from is shown.

  In the laser light irradiation apparatus as described above, when the light guide 11 or 13 is damaged and the laser light leaks, the surroundings are heated by the leaked laser light, and peripheral devices are damaged. It is intended to prevent dangers such as harming the human body.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 14 denotes a semi-transparent mirror, and laser light from the laser light generating element 10 is introduced into the light guide 11 through the semi-transparent mirror 14, guided to the light guide 13 through the light guide 11, and the light guide. 13 is emitted from the tip portion of the light guide 13, but at that time, a part thereof is reflected by the tip surface 13 a of the light guide 13 and returns to the inside of the light guide 11. In the present invention, the returned laser light is reflected by the semi-transparent mirror 14 and detected by the optical sensor 15. The laser light emitted from the tip of the light guide 13 passes through the air (in a non-contact manner) and is irradiated to the treatment site (for example, a tooth) 20 to treat the treatment site. In this case, if the light guide 11 or 13 is damaged, the laser light leaks from the damaged portion, and the laser light transmitted to the light guide 13 is reduced, so that it is reflected by the end face 13a of the light guide 13. Laser light is also reduced. Therefore, the laser beam returning through the light guide 13 is also reduced, and the amount of light received by the optical sensor 15 is also reduced. Therefore, if the output of the optical sensor 15 is monitored during laser light irradiation, and the laser light source 10 is turned off when the output of the optical sensor 15 falls below a predetermined value, there is a danger due to leakage of the laser light as described above. Can be prevented.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes an optical sensor for detecting the laser light introduced into the light guide 11, and a part of the laser light before being introduced into the light guide 11 is reflected on the semi-transparent mirror 14 to reflect the optical sensor 16. The ratio or difference between the input laser beam detected by the optical sensor 16 and the reflected laser beam detected by the optical sensor 15 is calculated, and when this ratio falls below a predetermined value, or the difference is less than the predetermined value. When it becomes larger, the laser light source may be turned off. In this way, it is possible to cope with a case where a laser light source having a low output is used, and the range of use can be expanded.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the laser light transmission light guide is normal by detecting the laser light reflected and returned from the tip of the light guide of the laser light irradiation device, Since the laser light source is turned off when it is determined that there is an abnormality, it is possible to prevent an accident caused by damage to the light guide.

It is a principal part schematic block diagram for demonstrating one Example of the laser apparatus by this invention. It is a whole schematic block diagram for demonstrating an example of the dental laser apparatus which has a laser probe to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser beam generating apparatus, 2 ... Laser beam transmission cable, 3 ... Handpiece for laser beam irradiation, 4 ... Light conductor for laser beam emission, 10 ... Laser beam generating element, 11 ... Light conductor, 12 ... Handpiece, 13 ... Light guide for laser light irradiation, 14... Semi-transparent body, 15 and 16... Optical sensor, 20.

Claims (3)

  A laser having a laser light source and a light guide into which the laser light from the laser light source is introduced, and performing dental treatment by irradiating the irradiated part with laser light in a non-contact manner from the tip of the light guide The light irradiating apparatus includes a reflected laser light detecting means for detecting a laser beam reflected from a tip of the light guide, and the laser light source is turned off when the reflected laser light is a predetermined value or less. Laser light irradiation device.   Input laser light detecting means for detecting laser light introduced into the light guide, and when the ratio between the output of the input laser light detecting means and the output of the reflected laser light detecting means is a predetermined value or less, the laser The laser light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is turned off.   Input laser light detecting means for detecting laser light introduced into the light guide, and when the difference between the output of the input laser light detecting means and the output of the reflected laser light detecting means is a predetermined value or more, the laser The laser light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is turned off.

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