JPH02310502A - Laser casting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the degradation in light transmittance and failure of the lens of a projecting and casting rod and to facilitate maintenance and inspection by providing a lens maintaining and inspecting means on the side face near the lens of the projecting and casting rod. CONSTITUTION:The laser casting device is provided with a cylindrical case 1, the lens 6a disposed in the prescribed position in this case 1 and the maintaining and inspecting hole 1a (maintaining and inspecting means) on the side face near the lens 6a. Further, an aperture part 7 is provided on an end face plate 3. The projecting and casting rod 6 is constituted of the case 1, the lens 6a, supporting plates 2a, 2b, and the end face plate 3. Since the burned materials sticking to the lenses 6a can be removed through the maintaining and inspecting hole 1a in this way, the degradation in the light transmittance and failure of the lens 6a of the projecting and casting rod 6 are prevented and the maintenance and inspection are facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an improvement of a laser irradiation device having a projection irradiation rod that focuses laser light and projects it onto a surface to be irradiated.

(Prior Art) A laser beam is usually a thin beam of high energy density light having a Gaussian distribution, and this property is used to incise an affected area of a subject like a laser scalpel.

However, when treating a birthmark on a subject, for example, it is difficult to cauterize cells or capillaries of the birthmark on the surface layer of the skin uniformly over a wide area with a laser beam having a Gaussian distribution.

For this reason, the laser beam is directed over a specific range of the object,
A device that irradiates more uniformly (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-8397
3) is proposed.

As shown in FIG. 3, this device includes a laser generator 11, a lens 12 that converts the laser beam emitted from the laser generator 11 into a parallel beam or a focused beam, and a laser beam that passes through the lens 12. an optical fiber or articulated light guide (combination of reflecting mirrors) 13 for guiding light; a lens 14 for refocusing the laser light from the optical fiber or articulated light guide 13; The uniform light irradiation rod 15 has a flattened end face on the output side of the uniform light irradiation rod 15, and outputs the light.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when treating a birthmark on a subject using the conventional device having the above-described configuration, the uniform light irradiation rod 15 is brought into direct contact with the surface of the affected area of the subject while emitting laser light. The cells and capillaries of the scar are cauterized, but at this time, the steam from the burnt skin adheres to the end surface of the uniform light irradiation rod 15, reducing the light transmittance of the end surface, and in extreme cases, the uniform light irradiation rod 15
This creates the problem of damaging itself.

In order to prevent such problems, by using a projection irradiation means comprising a uniform light irradiation rod and a lens arranged at a predetermined distance in front of the end face of the uniform light irradiation rod, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. Attempts have also been made to prevent a decrease in light transmittance and damage to the uniform light irradiation rod itself.

However, even in this case, although the problem with the uniform light irradiation means has been solved, the vapor from the burnt skin adheres to the lens of the projection irradiation rod, reducing the light transmittance or, in extreme cases, damaging the lens itself. This creates a new problem of damage.

Additionally, when removing steam from attached skin or replacing lenses, laser light may enter the operator's eyes and cause eye damage, making maintenance and inspection of the equipment difficult. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser irradiation device that can prevent the reduction in light transmittance and damage to the lens of the projection irradiation rod and facilitate maintenance and inspection. That is.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The configuration of the present invention includes a laser beam output system that outputs a laser beam, a lens that focuses the laser beam, and a connection between the lens and the irradiated surface. In a laser irradiation device having a projection irradiation rod that forms a predetermined irradiation distance between them and projects and irradiates the laser beam onto a surface to be irradiated, a lens maintenance and inspection means is provided on a side surface of the projection irradiation rod near the lens. It is characterized by:

(Function) According to the present invention having the above configuration, it is possible to prevent a decrease in light transmittance and damage to the lens of the projection irradiation rod, and to facilitate maintenance and inspection.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. ) is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

This laser irradiation device includes a cylindrical case 1 and a cylindrical case 1.
a pair of support plates 2a, 2b attached in parallel to one end of the case 1; It includes an end plate 3 attached so as to be parallel to the lens 6a. In addition, the case 1. A maintenance and inspection hole 1a (maintenance and inspection means) is provided on the side surface near the lens 6a.

Further, the end plate 3 is provided with an opening 7 to form an irradiation end face. Incidentally, the projection irradiation rod 6 is constituted by the case 1 described above, the lens 6a, the support plates 2a and 2b, and the end plate 3.

On the other end side of the case 1, a uniform light irradiation rod 5 for uniformizing the light transmitted by the optical fiber 4 is arranged with its optical axis aligned with the center of the lens 6a. There is. Note that 1b in the figure is a passage hole through which the laser beam passes.

In the configuration described above, when the light from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is enlarged or reduced by the lens 6a, the lens 6a
The relationship between the focal length and the focal length is as follows.

The distance between the end surface of the uniform light irradiation rod and the center of the lens 6a is
As shown in the figure, if a, the focal length of the lens 6a is f, and the image magnification is n, then a = [(n+1)/n] f On the other hand, the aperture angle is θ, and one side of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is A. (assumed to be a square), and if the distance from the center to the end surface when projected onto the lens 6, a is L, then L=rth A/'2 +
a tanθ = A/V-2-+ [(n+1) /n f
tanθ Generally, the lens diameter is less than the focal length f (D<f
). Therefore, L<f/2,',A/v″T+ [(n + 1)/n]
f fanθ<f/2 A=3. n=3.3. Assuming θ=7.56° and f=25, r,=3/, rT+ [(3,3+1)/3
．． 31.25 Jan 7.56° = 2.12 + 4.32 = 6.44 On the other hand, f/2 = 25/2 = 12.5 Therefore, combinations of these values are possible. Furthermore, lens 6
If the light is incident on the entire surface of the lens 6a, the light will be distorted, so it is not possible to use the entire surface of the lens 6a. Therefore, it is sufficient to use up to about 1/2 of the focal length f of the lens 6a. That is, about L<f/4.

However, with the above numerical values, A=5. If n=2, L=5/v'ton+3/2 ・25tan 7.56°=
3.54+4.98=8.5 Compared with the lens diameter, L>f/3, and the enlarged and projected image has barrel distortion.

Considering the above, when the light emitted from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 reaches the lens 6a and is focused and formed as an enlarged or reduced image on the opposite side, the light emitted from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 It is necessary to determine the dimensions and position of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 so that the uniform light irradiation rod 5 and the lens 6a are located at a position where the distance does not extend beyond 2/3 of the focal length f of the lens 6a.

According to the laser irradiation device configured as described above, the laser output light having a uniform intensity distribution output from the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is focused by the lens 6a of the projection irradiation rod 6, and the focal length f of this lens 6a is The light is projected onto a specific position determined by the above, and an irradiation surface 7a having a uniform intensity distribution is formed.

Therefore, by operating this laser irradiation device so that the irradiation surface 7a coincides with the skin surface, it is possible to treat bruises and the like without directly contacting the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 with the skin surface. , and the burnt substances adhering to the lens 6a can be successively maintained and inspected through the maintenance and inspection hole 1a, and if necessary, the burnt substances adhering to the lens 6a can be removed through the maintenance and inspection hole 1a.

As described in detail above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to remove burnt substances adhering to the lens 6a through the maintenance inspection hole 1a, thereby reducing the light transmittance of the lens 6a of the projection irradiation rod 6. Damage can be prevented and maintenance and inspection can be easily performed. This also produces the effect of extending the life of the lens 6a.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, the shape of the projection irradiation rod can be changed as appropriate as long as it has a configuration that provides a uniform irradiation surface, and multiple maintenance and inspection holes may be provided (and the lens of the projection irradiation rod may be of a zoom type). Alternatively, it can be implemented as a configuration that can be exchanged with those with various magnifications.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a laser irradiation device that can prevent a decrease in light transmittance or breakage in the lens of a projection irradiation rod, and can also facilitate maintenance and inspection. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view with a partial cutout showing an embodiment of the present invention; ) is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the uniform light irradiation rod and the lens, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of a conventional laser beam irradiation device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Case, 1a... Maintenance inspection hole, 1b... Passing hole, 2a, 2b... Support plate, 3... End plate, 4...
...Optical fiber, 5...Uniform light irradiation rod, 6...
Projection irradiation rod, 6a... Lens, 7... Irradiation end face, 7a... Irradiation surface. Agent Patent Attorney Masayoshi Misawa Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A laser beam output system that outputs a laser beam and a lens that focuses the laser beam are provided, and a predetermined irradiation distance is formed between the lens and the irradiated surface, and the laser beam is directed onto the irradiated surface. A laser irradiation device comprising a projection irradiation rod for projecting irradiation, characterized in that a lens maintenance and inspection means is provided on a side surface of the projection irradiation rod near the lens. (2) The laser irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein the lens maintenance and inspection means is a maintenance and inspection hole drilled in a side surface near the lens.