JP2010207314A - Optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To downsize an optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus, such as one for dental use or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus includes a probe body 1 incorporating an optical scanning unit 11 for scanning light in a uniaxial direction, and an optical input/output unit 2 which is attached to the probe body 1 and inputs/outputs light from the optical scanning unit 11 outward, and the apparatus is provided with rotation direction change means for changing a relative position in the rotation directions of the optical scanning unit 11 and the optical input/output unit 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus utilized for, for example, dentistry.

  Conventionally, the configuration of an optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus utilized for medical purposes has been as follows.

  That is, a first optical scanning unit that includes a probe main body and a light input / output unit protruding from the probe main body, and scans light supplied toward the light input / output unit in the X-axis direction in the probe main body. And a second optical scanning unit that scans the light supplied toward the light input / output unit in the Y-axis direction.

That is, the first and second optical scanning units are provided in order to acquire the tomographic image in the X-axis direction and the tomographic image in the Y-axis direction of the measurement target (for example, a technique similar to this is disclosed in the following patent Document 1).
JP 2002-139421 A

  The problem in the conventional example is that the probe main body is enlarged.

  That is, in the above-described conventional example, the first light scanning unit that scans the light supplied toward the light input / output unit in the probe body in the X-axis direction and the light supplied toward the light input / output unit are the Y axis. Since the second optical scanning unit that scans in the direction is provided, the probe main body is enlarged due to this.

  If the probe main body becomes large in this way, for example, when used as a dental probe, it is difficult for a dentist or dental hygienist to hold the probe main body with one hand for a long time. Thus, the increase in the size of the probe body in this way has become unfavorable for dentists or dental hygienists.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to reduce the size.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a probe main body with a built-in optical scanning section that scans light in one axis direction, and is attached to the probe main body to input / output light from the optical scanning section to the outside. A light input / output unit, and provided with a rotation direction variable means for changing a relative position of the light scanning unit and the light input / output unit in the rotation direction, thereby achieving an intended purpose.

  As described above, the present invention includes a probe main body including a light scanning unit that scans light in one axis direction, and a light input / output unit that is attached to the probe main body and inputs / outputs light from the light scanning unit to the outside. And a rotation direction variable means for changing the relative position of the light scanning unit and the light input / output unit in the rotation direction is provided.

  That is, in the present invention, the optical scanning unit provided in the probe main body is configured to only scan light in one axial direction, so that the optical scanning unit itself is small, and thus the probe main body can be miniaturized. is there.

  Further, since the rotation direction variable means for changing the relative position in the rotation direction between the light scanning unit and the light entering / exiting unit is provided, even if the light scanning unit only scans light in one axis direction. If the relative position in the rotation direction of the light scanning unit and the light input / output unit is changed by the rotation direction variable means, the light that is eventually emitted from the light input / output unit and the light that returns to the light input / output unit is changed to the other axis direction. Thus, for example, tomographic images in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a probe main body, and a light input / output part 2 is mounted in front of the probe main body 1 in a protruding state.

  As will be described in detail later, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus according to the present embodiment inserts the light input / output unit 2 into the oral cavity 3 and the light of the teeth 4 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. A tomographic image is acquired.

  The probe main body 1 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a cable 5 is connected to the rear end. In the cable 5, wiring for optical input / output and electrical signals are accommodated.

  Further, as described above, the light input / output part 2 is rotatably mounted on the front end of the probe main body 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a small-diameter rotating cylinder 6 is provided on the front end side of the probe main body 1, and provided at the rear end of the light input / output unit 2 on the outer periphery of the rotating cylinder 6. A large-diameter rotating cylinder 7 is mounted, and the probe main body 1 and the light input / output section 2 are relatively rotated by sliding of the rotating cylinders 6 and 7.

  The relative rotation of the rotation cylinders 6 and 7 is configured such that the relative rotation angle of the two is variable by 90 degrees, and in order to stabilize the relative position of the rotation of 90 degrees. 4 and 5, the light input / output part 2 is provided with rotational position restricting grooves 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d at intervals of 90 degrees, and the probe body 1 is provided at intervals of 90 degrees. Rotation position restricting plates 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, convex portions 9aa, 9bb, 9cc, and 9dd are provided on the rotational position restricting plates 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d of the probe main body 1 at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.

  Further, the rotation position restricting grooves 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of the light entrance / exit part 2 are provided every 90 degrees in the circumferential direction starting from the position of the rotation operation part 10 as shown in FIG. If the light entrance / exit part 2 is rotated with respect to the probe main body 1, the state where the convex part 9aa is fitted with the rotational position restricting groove 8a shifts to the state where it is fitted with the rotational position restricting groove 8b.

  A rotation operation unit 10 provided on the outer periphery of the rotation cylinder 7 of the light input / output unit 2 is used when the light input / output unit 2 is rotated with respect to the probe main body 1, and is a dentist or a dental hygienist. FIG. 1 shows that the position of the light input / output unit 2 in the rotation direction with respect to the probe body 1 can be easily set to 90 degrees by operating the turning operation unit 10 with a finger while holding the probe body 1 with one hand. It can be rotated.

  Returning to FIG. 3 again, the probe main body 1 is provided with an optical scanning unit 11. The optical scanning unit 11 includes a base 12 fixed in the probe main body 1 and a base 12. A drive motor 13 fixed to the base 12, a mirror 14 swung by the drive motor 13, and a lens 15 provided in front of the mirror 14 are configured.

  On the other hand, a prism 16 is fixed in the light entrance / exit part 2 as shown in FIG. 3. If the light entry / exit part 2 is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the probe body 1 as described above, As is clear from the comparison between FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the scanning direction of the light emitted from the light input / output unit 2 can be changed by 90 degrees.

  That is, in the state of FIG. 3, the light emitted from the light input / output unit 2 is scanned in the X-axis direction, for example, but in the state shown in FIG. 6, the light is scanned in the Y-axis direction. ing.

  In FIG. 6, since the light input / output part 2 is mainly described, it seems that the probe main body 1 is rotated with respect to the light input / output part 2. Then, the rotation operation unit 10 is rotated by 90 degrees with the finger of the hand holding the probe main body 1, and then the hand holding the probe main body 1 is brought back to the state shown in FIG. 6, and in the state shown in FIG. It will be used continuously. That is, the light input / output part 2 can be rotated 90 degrees with one hand, and it can be re-used for use in the state shown in FIG. 6 without changing to another hand, which makes it extremely easy to use. .

  As will be described in detail later, the reason that the rotation of the light input / output unit 2 and the re-handling of the probe main body 1 with one hand can be performed is because the probe main body 1 is downsized. It is.

  In order to reduce the size of the probe main body 1 in this way, in the present embodiment, the optical scanning unit 11 provided in the probe main body 1 is configured to scan light only in one axial direction.

  Specifically, as described above, the optical scanning unit 11 provided in the probe main body 1 includes a base 12 fixed in the probe main body 1, a drive motor 13 fixed to the base 12, and the drive motor. 13 is configured by a mirror 14 oscillated by 13 and a lens 15 provided in front of this, and the fact that only one mirror 14 is provided is configured to scan light only in one axial direction as described above. It is.

  As a result, by providing the optical scanning unit 11 that scans light only in one axial direction in the probe main body 1 as described above, the probe main body 1 can be greatly reduced in size. As shown, the dentist or dental hygienist holds the probe body 1 with one hand, for example, acquires an optical tomographic image of the tooth 4 in the X-axis direction, and then draws it with that hand without changing it to another hand. In this state, the optical tomographic image in the Y-axis direction can be acquired, which is extremely easy to use.

  Here, since the light is scanned in the X-axis direction as shown in FIG. 3, the scanning of the light in the Y-axis direction as shown in FIG. 6 will be further described.

  That is, in the state of FIG. 3, the light scanned by the mirror 14 is scanned in the lateral direction on the tip inclined surface 16a of the prism 16, whereas in the state of FIG. 6, it is scanned by the mirror 14. As a result of the light being scanned in the longitudinal direction on the tip inclined surface 16a of the prism 16, the light is scanned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction with respect to the teeth 4 as described above. The optical tomographic image and the optical tomographic image in the Y-axis direction can be acquired.

  FIG. 7 is a drawing mainly explaining the optical system. A wavelength separation mirror 17 is provided between the lens 15 and the prism 16.

  In other words, an observation image for the tooth 4 can be obtained as a video signal by capturing the visible light obtained by separating the light input from the tooth 4 via the prism 16 by the wavelength separation mirror 17 into the camera module 18.

  An example of the observed image is shown in FIGS.

  8 and 9 show images of the display device 19, and the images of the lower stage 19 a are the current observation images. In FIG. 8, the lateral direction of the tooth 4 (for example, the X-axis direction) by line A in FIG. 8. Indicates that light is being scanned.

  Further, FIG. 9 shows that light is scanned in the vertical direction (for example, the Y-axis direction) of the tooth 4 by the B line.

  Reference numerals 19b in FIGS. 8 and 9 show optical tomographic images at the A line and the B line. This optical tomographic image is obtained by the configuration shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 20 denotes a light source. Light emitted from the light source is divided by the dividing unit 21, and a part of the light is supplied to the optical scanning unit 11 through the cable 5, and the X axis direction and the Y axis with respect to the tooth 4 described above. Scanning in the direction is performed.

  The remaining light divided by the dividing unit 21 is subjected to path length correction by the reference mirror 22 and supplied to the interference unit 23. In the interference unit 23, the light whose path length is corrected by the reference mirror 22 and the light returned through the optical scanning unit 11 are caused to interfere with each other, and the light receiving unit 24 converts the light into an electric signal, which is used for tomographic images. It supplies to the calculating part 25.

  The control unit 26 controls the observation image calculation unit 27 to display the observation image in real time on the lower stage 19a of the display unit 19 shown in FIGS. The tomographic image calculation unit 25 is controlled by the control unit 26, and optical tomographic images at the scanning positions indicated by lines A and B in the lower stage 19a of the display unit 19 shown in FIGS. 9 is displayed in real time on the upper stage 19b of the display unit 19 shown in FIG.

  The switch 28 shown in FIG. 10 is composed of a foot switch as shown in FIG. 11. When the switch 28 is depressed, the optical tomographic image displayed in the upper stage 19b of FIGS. 8 and 9 at that timing is taken. Thus, the image is displayed as a still image. Furthermore, this still image can be acquired by providing a memory or the like.

  FIGS. 12 and 13 are configurations for detecting whether the light scanning direction is the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 3 or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG.

  The state shown in FIG. 12 is a state where light is scanned in the X-axis direction as shown in FIG. 3. At this time, as described above, the rotational position restricting plate 9a enters the rotational position restricting groove 8a shown in FIG. Further, the rotation position restriction plate 9b enters the rotation position restriction groove 8b, the rotation position restriction plate 9c enters the rotation position restriction groove 8c, and the rotation position restriction plate 9d enters the rotation position restriction groove 8d. It has become a state.

  Here, what is important is that the rotational position restricting plate 9a enters the rotational position restricting groove 8a, and that the rotational position restricting plate 9b enters the rotational position restricting groove 8b. Since the conductive plate 29 is provided between the rotation position regulating groove 8b and the rotary position regulating groove 8b, as a result, the 5V power source is in a state where the 1 kΩ resistor 30, the conductive plate 29, and the 1 kΩ resistor 31 are connected in series. As a result, the control unit 26 connected between the resistors 30 and 31 detects 2.5 V, thereby confirming that the current state of the light input / output unit 2 with respect to the probe body 1 is the scanning position in the X-axis direction. recognize.

  When the light input / output unit 2 is rotated by the rotation operation unit 10 to the state shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotational position restricting plate 9b enters the rotational position restricting groove 8a shown in FIG. The rotation position restriction plate 9c enters the rotation position restriction groove 8b, the rotation position restriction plate 9d enters the rotation position restriction groove 8c, and the rotation position restriction plate 9a enters the rotation position restriction groove 8d. It has become.

  Here, what is important is that the rotational position restricting plate 9b enters the rotational position restricting groove 8a, and that the rotational position restricting plate 9c enters the rotational position restricting groove 8b. As a result, the 5V power source is in a state in which the resistor 32 of 2 kΩ, the conductor plate 29, and the resistor 31 of 1 kΩ are connected in series. As a result, the control unit 26 connected between the resistors 32 and 31 detects approximately 1.67 V, whereby the current state of the light input / output unit 2 with respect to the probe main body 1 is the scanning position in the Y-axis direction. Recognize that.

  Further, when the state of the light entrance / exit part 2 is neither the X-axis direction scanning position nor the Y-axis direction scanning position, that is, in the state where the above-described rotational position is not switched reliably, the control unit 26 detects 0V. Therefore, as a result, the control unit 26 can detect three states in which the scanning position is the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and an indefinite state.

  By providing such a detection unit, it is possible to notify the user about the current scanning direction and whether or not the scanning direction has been switched reliably.

  As described above, the present invention includes a probe main body including a light scanning unit that scans light in one axis direction, and a light input / output unit that is attached to the probe main body and inputs / outputs light from the light scanning unit to the outside. And a rotation direction variable means for changing the relative position of the light scanning unit and the light input / output unit in the rotation direction is provided.

  That is, in the present invention, the optical scanning unit provided in the probe main body is configured to only scan light in one axial direction, so that the optical scanning unit itself is small, and thus the probe main body can be miniaturized. is there.

  Further, since the rotation direction variable means for changing the relative position in the rotation direction between the light scanning unit and the light entering / exiting unit is provided, even if the light scanning unit only scans light in one axis direction. If the relative position in the rotation direction of the light scanning unit and the light input / output unit is changed by the rotation direction variable means, the light that is eventually emitted from the light input / output unit and the light that returns to the light input / output unit is changed to the other axis direction. Thus, for example, tomographic images in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be obtained.

  Therefore, for example, it is expected to be widely used as a dental optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus.

The perspective view which shows the usage example of one Embodiment of this invention Perspective view Perspective view showing it in cross-section The exploded perspective view The exploded perspective view of the principal part Perspective view showing it in cross-section Its optical block diagram Front view of the display Front view of the display Its electrical block diagram Perspective view of the switch Its electrical block diagram Its electrical block diagram

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe main body 2 Light entrance / exit part 3 Oral cavity 4 Tooth 5 Cable 6 Rotating cylinder 7 Rotating cylinder 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Rotation position regulation groove 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d Rotation position regulation board 9aa, 9bb, 9cc, 9dd Convex part 10 Rotating operation part 11 Optical scanning part 12 Base 13 Drive motor 14 Mirror 15 Lens 16 Prism 16a Tip inclined surface 17 Wavelength separation mirror 18 Camera module 19 Display device 19a Lower stage 19b Optical tomographic image 20 Light source 21 Dividing part 22 Reference Mirror 23 Interference unit 24 Light receiving unit 25 Tomographic image calculation unit 26 Control unit 27 Observation image calculation unit 28 Switch 29 Conductive plate 30 Resistance 31 Resistance 32 Resistance

Claims (5)

A probe main body with a built-in optical scanning unit that scans light in one axis direction, and a light input / output unit that is attached to the probe main body and inputs / outputs light from the optical scanning unit to the outside;
An optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus provided with a rotation direction variable means for changing a relative position in a rotation direction between the optical scanning unit and the light input / output unit. The optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation direction changing unit is configured such that an optical input / output portion is rotatable with respect to the probe main body. The optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a rotation operation unit is provided in the light input / output unit. The optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rotation position detection unit that detects a rotation position of the light input / output unit with respect to the probe main body. 5. The optical scanning unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning unit includes a base provided in the probe main body, a drive motor fixed to the base, and a mirror that is swung by the drive motor. The optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus described.

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