JPH034051Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention is a display device for displaying the laser power level of each channel when the output from one laser oscillator is divided into multiple channels. It is used, for example, to display the laser power output for each channel of a multi-channel output type laser treatment device.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, medical laser equipment has become popular.
For example, attempts have been made to use low-power laser beam energy in place of conventional needle therapy (acupuncture). In such a treatment device, the output from a single laser oscillator is usually divided into multi-channel laser beams, which are guided to a plurality of probes to stimulate so-called acupuncture points scattered throughout the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to display the power level of the laser beam divided and guided to each probe, and to control the stimulation amount of optical energy for each probe.

Conventionally, the following methods have been used to measure and display laser power.

Before use, measure and display the power at the laser output end (probe tip) with a power meter.
Do not measure power while in use.

Total reflection mirror of laser oscillator (100% reflection mirror)
The leakage light is measured and processed to calculate the power and display it.

Measures the excitation current of the excitation lamp, performs arithmetic processing, calculates the power, and displays it.

The laser power and excitation current are measured and stored in advance, and thereafter the excitation current is measured and arithmetic processed to determine the laser power and displayed.

[Problem to be solved]

Among the above methods of measuring and displaying laser power,
The problem with this method is that if the laser power is switched between high and low while it is actually in use, the output cannot be displayed. In addition, the method ~ is a measurement/display means developed for a single output laser device, and is a means for displaying the power of each laser beam when dividing the output from a single laser oscillator and using it as a multi-channel laser beam. is in an undeveloped state. Therefore, the inventor of this application has devised a device that measures and displays each laser beam after it has been divided into multiple parts by installing a power meter, and has filed a separate application. can be determined accurately, but the problem is that a power meter is required depending on the number of channels, making it very expensive.

Especially in the case of a simple laser treatment device, etc., where it is sufficient to know the approximate strength and weakness of the laser power,
Using an expensive power meter is uneconomical and undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a simple display that displays the output of each channel of a multi-channel laser beam in stages according to its intensity.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the display device of the present invention receives leakage light from a total reflection mirror of a laser oscillator or leakage light from an excitation lamp with a light receiver and photoelectrically converts the leakage light,
The detection signal (a signal that can indirectly estimate the laser beam output of the laser oscillator) according to its strength is amplified by multiple amplifiers installed according to the number of channels (the number of divided uses of the laser output). The signal is applied to a potentiometer linked to a laser power variable setting means provided for each channel, and the laser beam power level signal of each channel obtained from the potentiometer is inputted to a level meter driver to generate a control signal. , I gave it to the display level meter to display the power level. Note that the level meter for display uses, for example, a plurality of light emitting elements [for example, five light emitting diodes (LEDs) for each channel].
], and the number of light-emitting elements to be lit changes in accordance with changes in the level meter control signal.

[Effect]

When the current of the excitation lamp of the laser oscillator is changed, its brightness changes and the laser output changes.
This laser output can be estimated by detecting leak light from the total reflection mirror of the laser oscillator or leak light from the excitation lamp with a light receiver.

The detection signal obtained by the light receiver is detected by a potentiometer that is linked to the rotation of a variable knob, for example, which is included in a laser power variable setting means (consisting of a light attenuation filter and a means for determining the amount of light attenuation) provided for each channel. The yometer converts it into a laser beam power level signal for each channel. A power level display according to this power level signal is performed by a level meter.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the main part configuration showing one embodiment of the present invention. In order to simplify the explanation, this embodiment shows the case of a medical laser device using a three-channel laser beam. Note that the power level indicator of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, but can be widely applied to multi-channel output type laser devices. In the figure, 1 is a laser oscillator that generates the main laser beam, and here
A YAG laser (λ≒1.06μm) is used. 2 is a main laser beam, and 3 is a main shutter disposed within the optical path of the main laser beam. Reference numeral 4 is for applying pulse modulation to the laser beam, and the optical chopper is rotationally driven by a pulse motor. 5 and 6 are semi-transmitting mirrors, and 7 is a total reflecting mirror, both of which are provided as means for dividing the main laser beam 2 into three parts. 8,9,1
0 is a laser beam divided into three parts,
Hereinafter, they will be referred to as CH ₁ , CH ₂ , and CH ₃ . 11,
Numerals 12 and 13 are variable power setting means for adjusting the energy of CH ₁ , CH ₂ and CH ₃ , respectively. 14,
Shutters 15 and 16 selectively block the optical paths of CH ₁ , CH ₂ , and CH ₃ , respectively, and are equipped with a total reflection mirror on the back surface. 17, 18, 19 are CH ₁ , respectively
CH ₂ and CH ₃ condensing lenses 20, 21, 22 are light guide means (for example, optical fibers), 23, 24,
25 are respectively provided at the tip of the light guide means.
This is a probe for emitting CH ₁ , CH ₂ , and CH ₃ . The energy of the laser beams emitted from the probes 23, 24, 25 is adjusted by the power variable setting means 11, 12, 13, which all have the same configuration, and regarding one of them 11. I will add a supplementary explanation here. Reference numeral 26 denotes a light attenuation filter, which is constructed of, for example, a variable density filter or a semi-transmissive mirror, and is capable of steplessly reducing the light between 0 and 100%, and is rotated and positioned by a servo motor 27. The positioning mechanism includes a potentiometer 31 that is linked to the rotation of variable knobs 28, 29, and 30 that determine the amount of light attenuation, and a servo motor 27.
a potentiometer 32 for detecting the position in conjunction with the
and a servo motor drive circuit 33.

Note that 34 is a laser oscillator that generates a aiming laser beam, and here a He--Ne laser is used to generate low-power visible light. Laser oscillator 3
The output of 4 is the semi-transmissive mirror 35, 36 and the total reflective mirror 37.
The aiming laser beam is divided into three by
The light is emitted from the probes 23, 24, 25 via the light guiding means 20, 21, 22.

Note that this invention is not a device related to the laser treatment device itself, so a description of the treatment device will be omitted. Please refer to the official bulletin of the device, etc.

Next, the power level indicator portion of the multi-channel (in this case, three channels) laser beam will be explained.

The laser oscillator 1 includes a laser rod 38, excitation lamps 39 and 40, a resonant mirror 41, and a total reflection mirror (100% reflection mirror) 42, and the laser output is based on leakage light from the excitation lamps 39 and 40. It is detected by taking out the light through optical fibers 43 and 44 and guiding it to a light receiver 46 via a photocoupler 45. Note that although two excitation lamps are shown here, one excitation lamp may be used. Further, as a means for detecting the laser output, the leakage light from the 100% reflection mirror 42 may be guided to the light receiver 47 as shown by the dotted line in the figure.

The detection signal detected by the photoreceiver 46 or 47 is amplified by the first stage amplifier 48, and further by the amplifier 4.
At 9, 50, and 51, signals for each channel are amplified and inputted to display sections 52, 53, and 54.

Since the display sections 52, 53, and 54 all have the same configuration, one of them, 52, will be explained. The signal amplified by amplifier 49 is given to potentiometer 55. The potentiometer 55 is interlocked with the potentiometer 31 of the power variable setting means 11 by the rotation of the variable knob 28, whereby changes in the power level of the laser beam CH ₁ are taken out as a signal. This power level signal is input to level meter driver 56, where a control signal is generated. Level meter 5 for display by this control signal
7 displays the power level of the first channel (CH ₁ ).

The level meter 57 for display is an array of, for example, five light emitting diodes (LEDs), and displays in five levels: weak, slightly weak, medium, slightly strong, and strong, depending on the number of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The approximate power level of the laser beam can be determined by the number of lit LEDs.

The level meter corresponds to the power drop due to deterioration of the excitation lamp. That is, when the brightness becomes dark due to deterioration of the excitation lamp, the output of the amplifier decreases and the power level signal input to the level meter driver 56 via the potentiometer decreases, so the control signal also decreases. This is useful because the number of lit display level meters decreases, indicating that the laser power has decreased.

〔effect〕

As described above, the power level indicator of the present invention can display the actual measured value of the laser beam power of each channel in a step-by-step manner, even though the actual value of the laser beam power is unknown. When the power of each laser beam is changed using the variable power setting means, the strength of each laser beam is constantly displayed, making multi-channel output laser devices equipped with this display extremely easy to use. Become. Furthermore, since the structure is simple and the price is low, it is suitable as a display device for a simple laser treatment device or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Laser oscillator, 5, 6...Semi-transparent mirror, 7
... Total reflection mirror, 8, 9, 10 ... Laser beam,
11, 12, 13... power variable setting means, 2
8, 29, 30...variable knob, 31, 32, 5
5... Potentiometer, 39, 40... Excitation lamp, 42... Total reflection mirror (100% reflection mirror), 4
6, 47... Light receiver, 49, 50, 51... Amplifier, 52, 53, 54... Display section, 56... Level meter driver, 57... Level meter.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A multi-purpose device comprising a laser oscillator, a means for dividing a laser beam generated by the laser oscillator into a plurality of channels, and a power variable setting means for the laser beam divided by the means. A power level indicator for each channel in a channel output type laser device, which includes a light receiver that receives leak light from a total reflection mirror of the laser oscillator or leak light from an excitation lamp, photoelectrically converts the light, and outputs a detection signal; an amplifier provided for each channel that amplifies the detection signal of the light receiver, and a display section that receives the amplified detection signal as input and displays the power level of each laser beam, and the display section is configured to display the power level of each laser beam. a potentiometer that generates a power level signal from a detection signal applied to its input in conjunction with a power variable setting means; a level meter driver that receives the power level signal generated by the potentiometer; and a level meter driver. and a level meter that is driven by a control signal outputted by the controller and displays the power level, and is characterized in that the power level set by the power variable setting means can be displayed for each channel. Power level indicator for multi-channel output laser equipment. 2. The level meter is an arrangement of a plurality of light emitting elements, and the number of lit light emitting elements changes according to changes in the control signal output by the level meter driver.Claim 1 of Utility Model Registration A power level indicator of the multi-channel output type laser device described in 2.