JPH02271849A - Laser device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve safety by providing a storing means to store the driving power of a laser oscillator and the output average value of laser beam, display means to display the output average value and output adjusting means for the laser beam. CONSTITUTION:When treatment is executed by a CW, for example, the CW is selected by a CW, Q-sw and calibration selection part 17a and when an output adjustment part 17b is adjusted, a current value is displayed in a current display part 14a. The output value in the CW corresponding to the current value is read from a storing means 13 and displayed in an average output display part 14b. When a foot switch 16 is stepped, on the set output laser beam is emitted from the tip of a laser probe 3. On the other hand, when the treatment is executed by a Q-sw pulse, the Q-sw is selected and the frequency of the Q-sw is set by a Q-sw frequency set part 17c. When the output adjustment part 17b is adjusted, the current value is displayed in the current display part 14a. In response to the output value in the CW corresponding to the current value, the average output of the Q-sw pulse in the set frequency is displayed in the average output display part 14b. When the foot switch 16 is stepped Q-sw pulse laser beam is emitted from the tip of the laser probe 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a laser device that outputs laser light in different modes such as continuous wave and pulse wave.

[Prior art] In recent years, various laser devices have been put into practical use.

Laser light from the above laser device has come to be widely used in various fields.

For example, a laser device used for treatment of a living body is CW (″i
Some lasers are capable of oscillating both Q-sw pulses (pulsed wave lasers) and Q-sw pulses (pulsed wave lasers).

CW and Q-sw pulses have different peak outputs and average outputs, and have different effects on living tissue even if the excitation lamp and discharge electrode have the same current and voltage values.

For example, CW is used when cauterizing cancer, etc., and as shown in PCT WO361062/69, pulsed lasers such as Q-sw pulses are used for stone destruction, etc. depending on the purpose. CW and Q-sw pulses are selected.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the conventional laser device having both CW and Q-sw functions, even if the current value to the excitation lamp etc. is the same,
By switching the frequency of W and Q-sw or Q-sw, the average output changes.

In particular, in the case of switching from Q-sw to CW or increasing the frequency of Q-sw, the average output increases, creating a dangerous situation for living organisms.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser device that can be used safely even if the oscillation mode of the laser is changed.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The present invention provides a storage means for storing the correlation between the driving power for oscillating the laser oscillator, the average output value of the laser beam, and information for determining the average output value, and the storage means. By providing a display means for displaying the average output value of the laser light corresponding to the driving power from the information stored by the information stored in the drive power, and a means for adjusting the output of the laser light, the method can be used without actually emitting the laser light.
Safety can be improved by making it possible to check the average value of laser output at that drive power in advance.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 5 relate to the first practical example of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the control mode setting means, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the display means, and FIG. 4 is an explanation showing a specific example of the display means. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the oscillation output waveform of laser light.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser device 1 of the first embodiment is configured to attach one end of a laser probe 3 to the exit port of a laser oscillator 2 that emits laser light, so that the laser probe 3 can be attached to a target part 4 of a living body from the tip surface. Laser light can be irradiated.

The laser oscillator 2 is connected to a pair of mirrors 7a by supplying power from a power source 6 to an excitation lamp 5.

The laser forming medium between 7b is excited and oscillates as a laser.

The laser oscillator 2 has a Q switch 8 and a shutter 9 disposed on the emission optical axis, and has a Q
It is driven or 0N10FF (opened) by the switch driver 11 and shutter driver 12.

This control means 10 is also connected to the power supply 6 and has an excitation lamp 5
The laser oscillation output can be controlled by variably controlling the current flowing to the laser.

The control means 10 also includes a storage means 13 for storing information.
, display means 1 for displaying information stored in this storage means 13, etc.
4. It is connected to a power meter 15 that measures the power of the laser beam output from the laser probe 3, and is further connected to a foot switch 16 that turns on/off the emission of the laser beam; and a mode setting means 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mode setting means 17 includes CW, Q-
8W, CW to select one of the calibrations
, Q-sw, Kireri selection-932 selection section 17a, output adjustment section 17b, and Q-8W frequency setting section 17c.

Before irradiating the target area 4 etc., calibration is selected in advance and output adjustment is performed in each available mode.

To perform this calibration, the laser probe 3
Insert the tip of the power meter 15 into an opening (not shown) of the power meter 15.

Thus, the output adjustment section 17b changes the current supplied from the electric current 11Gf6 to the excitation lamp 5. In this case, the current value is displayed by the current display section 14a constituting the display means 14 as shown in FIG. 3, by the LED segments in FIG. 4(a), or on the display 18 screen as shown in FIG. Ru. When you step on the foot switch 16, the CW
is selected, the shutter 9 opens and the power meter 15 is irradiated with laser light. The output value of the laser beam measured by the power meter 15 is displayed on the display means 14 in FIG.
is displayed on the average output display section 14b that constitutes the.

Also, the output value of this laser beam is read into the control means 9 at fixed time intervals, and several values are compared, and if the range of change is within a fixed range, the maximum value and the minimum value within this range are compared. The values are averaged to obtain the average output value of the laser beam.

The obtained average output value and the current value in that case are then stored in the storage means 13. After this, the control means 9
stops the output of laser light.

By performing this operation similarly for other current values, information data representing the relationship between the current value to the excitation lamp 5 and the average output of the laser beam for that current value is sequentially stored (i.e., The output value for each set current value is stored in the storage means 13).

Similarly, by performing calibration for Q-sw, each current value in the case of Q-sw and the average output value in that case are stored in the storage means 13.

In the case of the above Q-sw, each current value and average output value for each frequency are further stored in the storage means 13.

The display means 14 has a current display section 14a and an average output display section 14b that are displayed by LED segments as shown in FIG. 4(a) or on the display 18 as shown in FIG. 4(b). It may also be one that displays the current value and average output value.

Further, when the CW mode is set, a constant output value is output as shown in FIG. 5(a). This output value matches the output set by the output adjustment section 17b.

Also, when the Q-sw mode is selected, the peak value changes as shown in Figure 5(b) or (C) depending on the set frequency, and the average output value changes depending on the set frequency. When the frequency is high, the peak value is smaller than when the frequency is low (Figures 5(b) and 5(c) are shown for different frequencies f1 and f2. Here, f
t>f2).

The operation of the first embodiment configured in this way will be described below.

CWSQ-8W when treating with CW.

For example, CW is selected in the calibration selection section 17a.

When the output adjustment section 17b is adjusted, the current value is displayed on the current display section 14a.

Further, the output value at CW corresponding to this current value is stored in the storage means 1.
3 and displayed on the average output display section 14b.

When the foot switch 16 is stepped on, the set output laser beam is emitted from the tip of the laser probe 3.

On the other hand, when performing treatment with Q-sw pulses, similarly to CW, select Q-sw and roughly Q-8W frequency setting section 17
C sets the frequency of Q-sw. However,
When the output adjustment section 17b is adjusted, the current value is displayed on the current display section 14a.

Further, the average output of the Q-sw pulse at the set frequency is displayed on the average output display section 14b, corresponding to the CW output value according to the current value.

That is, since the storage means 13 initially stores the average output value at all settable frequencies of the Q-sw pulse corresponding to each output value of CW, this display is possible.

When the foot switch 16 is pressed, the set average output Q-
An 8W pulsed laser beam is emitted from the tip of the laser probe 3.

All of the above operations are performed under the control of the control means 10.

According to the first embodiment, the average output in each mode can be checked without actually emitting laser light, and safety for patients can be improved. Furthermore, even when machining or the like is performed by emitting a laser beam under a special environment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the machining or the like fails due to emitting an excessive amount of laser light.

Note that if a value between the values obtained through calibration is set, the output value corresponding to that value is displayed by interpolation or the like.

This interpolation method includes linear interpolation, etc.
The method is not limited.

FIG. 6 shows a laser device 21 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a calculation means 22 is further provided.

Calibration is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The relationship between the CW output value and the current after calibration is the function W-aO+a1 i+a2 i2+a3
1 +..., and its coefficient a(1, al.

. . . an is determined by the least squares method, and storage means 1
3 stores the values of the coefficients aO, al, . . . an. The number of terms to be determined here is set in advance.

When performing CW treatment, the calculation means 22 calculates the output value for the current and outputs it to the display means 14.

When performing Q-sw treatment, the CW output is calculated from the current value, and the average output of the Q-sw pulse at each frequency is calculated from the CW output and displayed on the display means 14.

The conversion formula from CW to Q-8W is stored in the storage means 13 in advance.

This second embodiment has the same effect as the first actual droplet example, and since it does not store individual data but stores relational expressions representing them, the storage capacity of the storage means 13 is small. .

FIG. 7 shows a laser device 25 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, an average output confirmation input means 26 is provided in the first actual flow example. This average output confirmation input means 26 can be configured with a push button, for example.

As in the first Saneura example above, the average output is displayed on the display means 14.

Next, if the laser beam having the displayed average output may be emitted, the average output confirmation input means 26 is pressed.

Then, the laser beam can be emitted, and foot switch 1
If you press 6, it will fire.

Note that when there is a change in the frequencies of CWSQ-sw and Q-sw, no laser light is emitted even if the foot switch 16 is depressed until an input is received from the average output confirmation input means 26.

The effect of this embodiment is that safety can be improved compared to the case where only the average output is displayed.

Next, an example of use of the present invention in an electronic endoscope device 31 will be described with reference to FIG.

The electronic endoscope 31 includes an electronic endoscope 33 having an elongated insertion section 32, a light source device @34 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 33, and a signal processing unit for the imaging means of the electronic endoscope 33. a control device 35 that displays a captured endoscopic image using a video signal generated by the control device 35;
It consists of 6.

The electronic endoscope l1t33 has a treatment instrument insertion port (forceps port) 3.
For example, by inserting the laser probe 3 of the laser device 1 of the first embodiment, it can protrude from the distal end side of the insertion portion 32 through the treatment instrument channel.

Therefore, the insertion section 32 of the electronic endoscope 33 is inserted into a body cavity, etc., the target region 4 is set in a state where it can be observed, the tip of the laser probe 3 is opposed to the target region 4, and the foot switch 16 is turned on. When stepped on, it can emit laser light.

When a medical treatment is performed using the electronic medical aid 1133, there is an advantage that there is no need to use a filter or safety goggles for blocking laser light.

In this usage example, it is explained that it is used by inserting it into the forceps port 37 of the electronic endoscope 33, but the electronic endoscope 113
3, but can be applied to all endoscopes equipped with a forceps port.

Furthermore, if the device is inserted to the affected area using X-ray fluoroscopy or the like, an endoscope is not required.

Incidentally, the correlation between the current value and the CW ratio output can be stored in the storage means 13 in advance, thereby eliminating the need for calibration.

Note that if the output value changes not only due to the relationship between the current value and the output, but also when changing the voltage, etc., data on these voltages, etc. may also be stored in the storage means.

Also, when switching modes, the drive current is automatically set so that the average output value when laser light is emitted in the switched mode is maintained at the output value set in the output adjustment section before switching. You may also do this.

In each of the above embodiments, a laser oscillator 2 using an excitation lamp 5
However, the present invention can be applied to any type of laser such as a CO2 laser or a dye laser.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the oscillation mode of the laser is changed, there is provided a means for checking the average output in that mode without actually emitting the laser light. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive laser beam irradiation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 5 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the control mode setting means, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the display means, and FIG. 4 is an explanation showing a specific example of the display means. Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the oscillation output waveform of the laser beam.
7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an external view of an example of use of the present invention. 1... Laser device 2... Laser emitter 3.
...Laser probe 5...Excitation lamp 8...Q
Switch 9...Shutter 10...Control means 13...Storage means 14...Display means
14a...Current display section 14b...Average output display section 17...Mode setting means Plumbing Rv Fig. 6 (a) (b) Fig. 6 +7b

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a laser device capable of outputting laser beams in different modes, a correlation between an average value of laser beam output corresponding to a current value supplied to a laser oscillator and information determining the average value is stored. A laser device comprising: storage means for displaying the average value; display means for displaying the average value; and output adjustment means for adjusting the output of laser light by changing the current value.