JPH01250270A - Medical laser apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the present apparatus capable of selectively using pulse irradiation and continuous irradiation, by providing a half mirror reflecting part of laser beam and a chopper on the light path in front of an oscillation means for oscillating guiding laser beam. CONSTITUTION:The laser beam oscillated from an oscillation means 1 is partially reflected by a half mirror 2 and the reflected laser beam is incident to a beam detecting sensor 3 which, in turn, sends the signal showing the incidence of the laser beam to a monitor means 26 and this monitor means 26 detects the normal emission of the laser beam. The laser beam passing through the half mirror 2 is emitted in a pulsating state when the chopper 4 is present on a beam path 6 but emitted continuously when the chopper 4 is retracted from the beam path 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a medical laser device having a chopper that blinks a guide light.

[Prior Art] Medical laser devices use Nd-YAG lasers and the like for treatment purposes, but this is dangerous because the irradiation target cannot be confirmed because it emits invisible light. Therefore, the irradiation target is confirmed using, for example, a He--Ne optical laser as the guide light. As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-59917, a conventional laser device is equipped with a chopper and a light-receiving sensor in the shape of both waves. The guide light reflected by the sensor is incident on the light receiving sensor, and it is monitored whether the guide light is being emitted or not.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, depending on the condition of the irradiated area, it may be easier to see if the guide light is continuously irradiated. However, the conventional structure could only perform pulse irradiation and could not cope with this.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a medical laser device that can selectively use pulsed irradiation and continuous irradiation.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] As shown in FIG. 1, a half mirror 2 is provided on the optical path 6 in front of the oscillation means 1 that oscillates the guide laser light to reflect a part of the laser light. A light receiving sensor 3 is provided on the optical path 5 of the laser beam reflected by the half mirror 2.
is connected via a signal cable 27 to means 26 for monitoring the emission state of laser light. Also, half mirror 2
A chopper 4 is removably provided on the optical path 6 in front of the optical path.

A portion of the laser light oscillated by the oscillation means 1 is reflected by the half mirror 2, and the reflected laser light enters the light receiving sensor 3 at a temperature of 0.degree. The light-receiving sensor 3 sends a signal indicating that the laser beam is incident to the monitoring means 26, and the monitoring means 26 detects that the laser beam is normally emitted.

On the other hand, the laser beam transmitted through the half mirror 2 is transmitted to the chopper 4.
When the chopper 4 is on the optical path 6, it emits pulses, and when the chopper 4 is retracted from the optical path 6, it emits continuously.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 2 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as a specific example, He-Ne
Let's discuss the case of a laser.

As shown in FIG. 2, a He-Ne laser oscillation tube 1 is provided as an oscillation means, and a half mirror 2 is provided on the optical path of the He-Ne laser beam in front of the tube 1. A light receiving sensor 3 is provided on the optical path 5 of the He-Ne laser beam. This light receiving sensor 3 is a means 2 for monitoring the emission state of the He-Ne laser beam using a signal cable 27.
6. In front of the half mirror 2, on the optical path 6 of the He-Ne laser beam transmitted through the half mirror 2, a protruding chopper 4 is provided so as to be freely insertable and removable. That is, the chopper 4 is attached to a shaft 8 of a motor 7 for rotating the chopper 4, and the motor 7 is attached to a support stand 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support stand 9 has a bottom portion 11 that moves on the bench lo, and the bottom portion 11 has a protrusion 13 that enters into a guide groove 12 formed in the form of a dovetail groove formed on the upper surface of the bench 1°. The support stand 9 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical path 6. Further, a rack 14 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom 11 of the support base 9, and a pinion 15 is positioned so as to mesh with the rack 14. This pinion 15 is attached to a shaft 17 of a motor 16, and a cable 20 for sending a drive signal to the motor 16 is connected to a control section 25. The bench 10 is provided with stoppers (4 locations) 18 for regulating the movement of the support base 9. Also, stopper 1
8 is provided with microswitches 19 as shown in FIG.

When it is desired to irradiate the He--Ne laser beam in pulses, the motor 16 is driven to rotate the pinion 15, and the chopper 4 on the support base 9 is moved in a direction closer to the optical path 6 of the Ne--Ne laser beam.

When the support base 9 moves to a predetermined position, the bottom part 11 presses the microswitch 19 provided on the stopper 18 closer to the optical path 6, and when the control unit 25 detects a signal from the microswitch 19, this control is activated. The part 25 is the motor 16
Stops driving. Therefore, the chopper 4 is
It stops at the top. Therefore, when the motor 7 is rotated, the chopper 4 rotates, and the laser beam is transmitted and irradiated through the cuts in the blades, and is blocked by the blades, so that the laser beam is irradiated in pulses.

Further, when it is desired to continuously irradiate the He-Ne laser beam, the support stand 9 is moved in a direction away from the optical path 6 of the He-Ne laser beam, and the chopper 4 is retreated from the optical path 6.

At this time, a microswitch 19 provided on a stopper 18 farther from the optical path 6 is pressed to stop driving the motor 16. A part of the He--Ne laser beam reflected by the half mirror 2 in both pulsed and continuous directions is incident on the light receiving sensor 3, and a signal indicating this is sent to the monitoring means 26.

With this method, it is possible to select between pulse irradiation and continuous irradiation of the guide light, and the light receiving sensor 3 can monitor the emission of the guide light during either irradiation.

5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A motor 21 is attached to the support stand 9. During pulse irradiation, the chopper 4 blocks the optical path 6 as shown in FIG. 6, and during continuous irradiation, the motor 21 is driven as shown in FIG. 9 is rotated in a horizontal plane and retracted so that the chopper 4 does not block the optical path 6. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a stopper 22 is attached to the bench 10, and microswitches (not shown) are provided on the sides of (a) and (bo), respectively, and the support base 9 When the user presses the microswitch, the drive of the motor 21 is stopped.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the chopper 4 is made of a shape memory alloy, and means 23 for blowing hot air and cold air to close the blades.
has been established.

At room temperature, the blades are folded down as shown in FIG. 9 to create a shape that does not block the optical path 6. If this state remains as it is, the He-Ne laser beam will be continuously irradiated. Further, when performing pulse irradiation, when hot air is blown by the blower means 23, the blades of the chopper 4 open and block the optical path 6, allowing pulse irradiation.

When continuous irradiation is performed again, by blowing cold air from the blowing means 23, the shape quickly recovers to the shape at room temperature. Note that the temperature of the air to be sent is determined by the shape memory alloy; for example, if the shape memory alloy deforms at θ''C, the hot air must be higher than θ0C, and the cold air must be lower than θaC.

Although the He--Ne laser is used in each of the above embodiments, it is possible to use various lasers other than the He--Ne laser, such as an LED, a semiconductor laser, and a He-Cd laser.

Furthermore, if this device is used not only for guide light but also for therapeutic laser light, it is possible to switch between pulsed and continuous therapeutic laser light.

Furthermore, the shape of the chopper may be of various shapes, such as a blade shape as shown in the embodiments, or a disk with a slit-like hole 24 as shown in FIG. is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select between pulse irradiation and continuous irradiation of the guide light. Furthermore, the emission of the guide light can be monitored even during continuous irradiation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front view of the chopper section of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views showing different operating states of the chopper section, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a front view of a chopper showing a modification thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... He-Ne laser oscillation tube, 2... Half mirror 13... Light receiving sensor, 4... Chopper, 5, 6...
...Optical path, 7...Motor, 9...Support stand, 16...
- Motor, 26...means for monitoring. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 7, Figure 8. Figure 10 Written amendment 1, Indication of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-078816 2, Name of the invention Medical laser device 3, Person making the amendment Relationship with the case Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 4 , Agent: UBE Building 7, 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Contents of amendment (1) The claims are amended as shown in the attached sheet. (2) Change the “guide light” in the 15th line of the first page to “laser light”
Correct to. 2. Claims: means for oscillating laser light; a half mirror for reflecting a part of the laser light emitted from the oscillation means; a sensor for receiving the light reflected by the half mirror; means for monitoring the emission state of the laser beam;
A medical laser device comprising a chopper provided in an optical path in front of the half mirror, the chopper being able to be inserted into and removed from the optical path. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi

Claims (1)

[Claims] A means for oscillating a guiding laser beam, a half mirror for reflecting a part of the laser beam emitted from the oscillating means, a sensor for receiving the light reflected by the half mirror, and an output for emitting the laser beam by the output of the sensor. A medical laser device comprising means for monitoring a state and a chopper provided in an optical path in front of the half mirror, the chopper being able to be inserted into and removed from the optical path.