JP3662744B2 - Laser beam irradiation probe - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser light irradiation probe used in a laser medical apparatus for performing treatment by irradiating a diseased part with laser light, and more particularly to a laser light irradiation probe used in a laser medical apparatus used in the field of dentistry and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a laser probe used in a laser medical apparatus for dental treatment, a probe made of a cylindrical body as shown in FIG. 5A or a conical or chisel type as shown in FIG. 5B is used. Are known. FIG. 5C shows the energy distribution of laser light emitted from the tip 40a of the cylindrical laser probe 40. FIG. FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the chisel-type laser probe 30. FIG. 5E shows the energy distribution of the laser beam irradiated from the tip 30a of the chisel-type laser probe 30 in the longitudinal direction of the tip 30a, that is, in the X direction in FIG. FIG. 5F shows the energy distribution of the laser beam irradiated from the tip 30a of the chisel laser probe 30 in the short side direction near the center of the longitudinal direction of the tip 30a, that is, in the Y direction in FIG.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, these laser probes are usually made of a hard material such as glass, quartz, and alumina, and thus cannot be freely deformed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, it cannot be inserted into the periodontal pocket 5 that has entered deeply between the tooth 1 and the gum 3, and the affected part and calculus in the periodontal pocket 5 can be prevented. It was difficult to irradiate the laser effectively. For the same reason, it has been difficult to uniformly irradiate the boundary portion 7 between adjacent teeth 1 as shown in FIG. 6B evenly when removing tartar and cleaning the tooth surface. For example, in the cylindrical laser probe 40, as shown in FIG. 6 (c) and FIG. 6 (d) which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, the side surface of the tooth 1 is contacted in a point contact manner. Further, as shown in FIG. 6E, it was difficult to uniformly irradiate evenly because it was not possible to enter the narrow portion of the boundary between adjacent teeth 1. Furthermore, it goes without saying that it is difficult to uniformly irradiate evenly entering the periodontal pocket.
Similarly, the chisel-type laser probe 30 can be in line contact with the side surface of the tooth 1 as shown in FIG. 6F and FIG. 6G, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB. Although this is somewhat more advantageous than a cylindrical laser probe, the irradiation tends to be biased, and as shown in FIG. 6 (h), it is difficult to enter the narrow portion of the boundary between adjacent teeth 1 and unevenness. And uniform irradiation was difficult. Furthermore, it is needless to say that it is difficult to uniformly irradiate evenly in the periodontal pocket, especially at the boundary between adjacent teeth 1.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible laser beam irradiation probe that can uniformly irradiate a laser beam evenly on an affected part or tartar in a periodontal pocket or in a complicated shape.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a probe for laser light irradiation, which is attached to the tip of a handpiece and irradiates a target site with laser light generated by a laser generator, includes a plurality of optical fibers. together constituting a bundle, the incident end of the optical fiber is fixed to the handpiece united, outgoing end side of the other of said optical fiber is a non-unity over a predetermined length, the optical fiber, It is composed of a core that constitutes a central portion and a clad that covers the outside of the core, and the non-bundled portion deforms along the outer shape of the contacted object when it comes into contact with the contacted object such as an affected part. It is a restraint part .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the laser light irradiation probe that is attached to the tip of the handpiece and irradiates the target portion with the laser light generated by the laser generator, a plurality of optical fibers are bundled together. The incident end side of the optical fiber fixed to the handpiece is bound, and the exit end side of the other optical fiber is unbundled over a predetermined length, and the incident end is bound to the plurality of optical fibers. The non-binding portion extends from the end-side binding portion into a paintbrush shape, and the non-binding portion deforms along the outer shape of the contacted object when contacting the contacted object such as an affected part. It is characterized by being.
Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers are bundled in a laser light irradiation probe that is attached to the tip of a handpiece and irradiates a target portion with laser light generated by a laser generator. The incident end side of the optical fiber fixed to the handpiece is bundled, and the output end side of the other optical fiber is bundled in the same manner as the bundled portion on the incident end side. The non-binding portion is a non-binding portion that is unbound for a predetermined length while maintaining a state, and the non-binding portion deforms along the outer shape of the contacted object when it comes into contact with the contacted object such as an affected part. It is characterized by this.
[0006]
In the probe for laser beam irradiation according to the present invention, the exit ends of the optical fibers are drawn so that the exit ends are a plane, a curved surface, a conical surface, a tapered surface, or a plane having a predetermined angle with respect to the major axis of the probe. It may be molded. Moreover, it is preferable that the incident end side of the said optical fiber is bundled with the ring or the adhesive agent. Further, each of the optical fibers may have a diameter of about 0.5 to 100 μm. Furthermore, the bundle of bundled optical fibers may have a diameter of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm. The probe may be bent at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
According to the laser beam irradiation probe of the present invention, since the emission end side of the probe configured by bundling a plurality of optical fibers is not bundled over a predetermined length, the probe tip contacts the irradiated object. Sometimes the tip of the probe can be deformed along the outer shape of the irradiated object. For this reason, the probe tip, which is a bundle of thin and flexible optical fibers, can be closely fitted to a portion where the probe tip is narrowly inserted or a portion having a complicated shape. Accordingly, the tip of the probe can be easily inserted into the periodontal pocket, and the probe tip can be closely aligned with the narrow tooth boundary portion. Further, when the probe tip is brought into contact with an object to be contacted such as an affected part, each optical fiber in a non-bundled state spreads laterally as when a paint brush is pressed, so that laser irradiation with a wide width is possible. In addition, laser light is emitted from the tip of each optical fiber with the same energy intensity, so the laser light is evenly distributed over the affected area or calculus in the periodontal pocket or in the complicated tooth boundary. Can be irradiated.
The probe for laser beam irradiation of the present invention is suitably applied to, for example, calculus removal, tooth surface cleaning, sterilization in periodontal pockets, transpiration and sterilization of defective granulation surface layers.
Regarding the removal of calculus, damage to the tooth surface can be minimized in the removal of small calculus adhered to the tooth surface.
With regard to tooth surface cleaning, damage to the tooth surface can be minimized in removing plaque and the like thinly deposited on the surface layer of the tooth surface.
Although it can be said to be common to calculus removal and tooth surface cleaning, the tooth surface layer is a cementitious layer with a thickness of about 200 μm although there are individual differences, so damage to the surface layer of the tooth surface is less than 200 μm. It is desirable. According to the laser beam irradiation probe of the present invention, uniform laser beam irradiation is possible, which is suitable for minimizing tooth surface damage.
As for sterilization in the periodontal pocket, uniform laser light irradiation is possible, so that a uniform sterilization effect can be expected against periodontal disease bacteria in the periodontal pocket.
With regard to the transpiration and sterilization of the defective granulation surface layer, uniform laser light irradiation can be applied to the gingiva evenly, so that it can be minimized without excessively destroying the healthy tissue.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of the laser medical device 2. The laser medical device 2 includes a laser generation device 4 incorporating a laser generation source (for example, a generation source of an erbium-yag laser having a wavelength of 2.94 μm), and a light guide that guides the laser light generated by the laser generation device 4. (For example, an optical fiber cable) 6 and a handpiece 8 for irradiating a laser beam guided by the light guide 6 to a required part. The handpiece 8 has a distal end portion of the light guide 6 connected to the proximal end side thereof, and a probe 10 provided on the distal end side thereof, and laser light is emitted from the probe 10.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the probe 10 has a diameter of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm by combining a large number (for example, about 10 to 50) of optical fibers 12 having a diameter of about 0.5 to 100 μm. As a bundle with. The incident end 14 side of the optical fiber 12 fixed to the handpiece 8 is bound by a metal sleeve (ring) 16 having a predetermined length, and the incident end 14 is made to coincide with one end 16 a of the sleeve 16. On the other hand, the optical fiber 12 is not constrained from the other end 16b of the sleeve 16 to the exit end 18 of each optical fiber 12, and when the unconstrained portion 20 of the optical fiber 12 comes into contact with the object, It can be freely deformed along the outer shape. Note that the freely deformable portion of the optical fiber 12 preferably has a length of about 10 to 30 mm. Moreover, in this embodiment, since each optical fiber 12 is equal in the same length, the output end 18 is located on substantially the same plane. FIG. 2C shows an energy distribution when laser light is irradiated from the emission end 18 of the laser light irradiation probe 10 of FIG. Since the irradiation energy from each optical fiber 12 is finely distributed, when the optical fibers 12 are bundled, a uniform energy distribution without unevenness is obtained as a whole.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2B, each optical fiber 12 is composed of a core 12a that forms the center, a clad 12b that covers the outside of the core 12a, and a jacket 12c that covers the outside of the clad 12b. . The jacket 12c is preferably made of a polyimide resin in consideration of heat resistance and strength. In the probe 10 of this embodiment, the jacket 12 c is removed from the incident end 14 of each optical fiber 12 only by a predetermined length L (substantially the length of the sleeve 16), and this portion is held by the sleeve 16. Has been. This is to prevent the resin-made jacket 12c from being damaged by the heat generated when the laser light enters the incident end 14 of each optical fiber 12. However, when the jacket 12c is made of a material that is not damaged by the heat (for example, metal), it is not necessary to remove the jacket portion on the incident end 14 side.
[0011]
In the probe 10 of this embodiment, a large number of optical fibers 12 are bundled with a sleeve. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be bundled using other bundling tools. There are methods such as winding a wire and binding it. Further, the fibers 12 may be bound by bonding them with an adhesive without using the binding tool. Further, it may be bundled by covering with a polyimide tube that also protects the fiber. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lengths of the optical fibers 12 are aligned and their emission ends 18 are positioned on a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the probe 10, but by making the lengths of the fibers 12 different, As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the tips of these optical fibers 12 may draw a conical surface, a curved surface, or a surface cut obliquely with respect to the long axis of the probe 10. Further, the length from the location where the optical fibers 12 are bundled to the emission end 18 of the optical fibers 12 may be set to a desired length according to the irradiation target of the laser light, as shown in FIG. It may be shortened or may be lengthened as shown in FIG.
[0012]
In the laser light irradiation probe 10 configured as described above, the end 16b of the sleeve 16 to the emission end 18 of a number of optical fibers 12 are unbundled, and each optical fiber 12 follows the outer shape of the contacted object. It can be deformed. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the distal end of the thin and flexible optical fiber 12 can be easily inserted into the periodontal pocket 5 which is narrowly inserted, and adjacent to a complicated shape. It is possible to irradiate the laser beam uniformly on the boundary portion 7 of the tooth to be closely aligned. Further, when the probe tip is brought into contact with an object to be contacted, each optical fiber 12 in a non-bundled state spreads laterally as when a paintbrush is pressed, so that uniform laser irradiation with a wide width is possible. Further, since the laser beams having the same energy intensity are emitted from the emission ends 18 of the respective fibers 12, the laser light is widened with respect to the affected part in the periodontal pocket 5 or the boundary part 7 that is complicatedly embedded. Can be irradiated uniformly.
[0013]
In the above laser beam irradiation probe 10, the shape thereof is formed straight. However, the laser beam irradiation direction may be inclined with respect to the long axis of the handpiece 8 by bending the sleeve 16. . Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the probe 10 may be bent and bound to the longitudinal central portion of the curved portion with an adhesive, and the tip may be configured to be unbound. By comprising in this way, a probe front-end | tip can be made to follow along the periodontal pocket 5 etc. more.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a laser medical device.
2A is a perspective view of a probe for irradiating a laser beam, FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of one optical fiber, and FIG. 2C is a diagram showing an energy distribution of a laser beam irradiated from the probe for irradiating a laser beam. .
FIGS. 3A to 3C are side views showing modifications of the shape of the probe tip, and FIGS. 3D and 3E are diagrams of probes with different lengths from the bundled position of the optical fibers to the emission end. FIGS. The figure which shows a modification.
4A is a diagram showing a state in which a probe tip is inserted into a periodontal pocket, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the probe tip is placed along a boundary portion between adjacent teeth.
5A and 5B are partial side views showing the shape of a conventional probe tip, and FIGS. 5C to 5F are diagrams showing the energy distribution of laser light emitted from a conventional probe.
6A is a view showing a periodontal pocket, FIG. 6B is a view showing a boundary portion between adjacent teeth, and FIGS. 6C to 7H are views of irradiating a tooth with laser light using a conventional probe; The figure which shows an aspect.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a probe bent at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Laser medical device, 4 ... Laser generator, 6 ... Light guide, 8 ... Handpiece, 10 ... Probe for laser beam irradiation, 12 ... Fiber, 14 ... Incident end, 16 ... Sleeve (ring), 18 ... Outgoing end.

Claims (8)

In the probe for laser beam irradiation, which is attached to the tip of the handpiece and irradiates the target site with the laser beam generated by the laser generator,
Together constitute by bundling a plurality of optical fibers, the incident end of the optical fiber is fixed to the handpiece united, outgoing end side of the other of said optical fiber is a non-unity over a predetermined length, The optical fiber is composed of a core constituting a central portion and a clad covering the outside of the core, and when the non-bundled portion comes into contact with a contacted object such as an affected part, the outer shape of the contacted object A probe for irradiating a laser beam, wherein the probe is a non-constraint portion that deforms along . In the probe for laser beam irradiation, which is attached to the tip of the handpiece and irradiates the target site with the laser beam generated by the laser generator,
  A plurality of optical fibers are configured to be bundled, and the incident end side of the optical fiber fixed to the handpiece is bound, and the output end side of the other optical fiber is not bound over a predetermined length, The non-bundled portion extends in a paintbrush shape from the bundling portion on the incident end side where the plurality of optical fibers are bundled, and the non-bundled portion of the contacted object comes into contact with the contacted object such as an affected part. A probe for irradiating a laser beam, wherein the probe is an unconstrained portion that deforms along an outer shape.   In the probe for laser beam irradiation, which is attached to the tip of the handpiece and irradiates the target site with the laser beam generated by the laser generator,
  A plurality of optical fibers are bundled together, and the incident end side of the optical fiber fixed to the handpiece is bound, and the exit end side of the other optical fiber is substantially the same as the binding portion on the incident end side. The optical fibers are not bundled over a predetermined length while maintaining the state in which the optical fibers are bundled, and the outer shape of the contacted object when the unbound part comes into contact with the contacted object such as an affected part. A probe for irradiating a laser beam, characterized in that the probe is a non-constrained part that deforms along the axis. The exit end of the optical fiber is shaped so that the exit end forms a plane, a curved surface, a conical surface, a tapered surface, or a plane forming a predetermined angle with respect to the major axis of the probe. Item 4. The laser beam irradiation probe according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein an incident end side of the optical fiber is bound by a ring or an adhesive. 6. The laser beam irradiation probe according to claim 1, wherein each of the optical fibers has a diameter of about 0.5 to 100 [mu] m. The probe for laser light irradiation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bundle of bundled optical fibers has a diameter of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm. The probe for laser light irradiation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the probe is bent at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction.

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