JPH04221542A - Laser probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a laser probe which can emit a laser beam in a desired direction and a desired irradiation range. CONSTITUTION:A laser probe 1 has a long flexible probe body 2 incorporating a plurality of laser conductive fibers 4. A diametrically enlarged conical member 5 is incorporated in the front end part of a probe body 2 in which the emitting end parts of the laser conductive fibers 4 are arranged, and is coupled thereto with a control wire 6 inserted through the body 2. Accordingly, the member 5 is moved by means of the control wire 6 so as to diametrically enlarge the front end part of the probe body 2 in order to change the direction of the emitting end of the laser conductive fibers 4.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to, for example, thermal treatment, destruction or ablation of living tissue in an occluded part of a body lumen, by irradiating laser light.
Or it relates to a laser probe that performs treatments such as hemostasis and coagulation.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, laser probes are known in which a plurality of laser light guiding fibers are inserted into a long and flexible probe body. For example, the main body is a so-called multi-lumen tube having a plurality of holes, and laser light guide fibers that are optically connected to a laser light source are inserted into the plurality of holes of the multi-lumen tube. It is something. The laser light guide fiber guides the laser light from the laser light source to the output end and irradiates the affected area in a concentrated manner.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the irradiation range and direction of the laser beam of the laser probe (multi-fiber probe) whose main body is a multi-lumen tube is usually the same as that of the laser guide disposed inside the multi-lumen tube. It is determined by the thickness of the optical fiber and the layout of the laser light guiding fiber within the multi-lumen tube. That is, if the thickness of the laser light guide fiber is large, the irradiation range will be wide, and if the plurality of holes are provided in parallel to each other, for example, along the longitudinal direction of the multi-lumen tube, then the irradiation range will be wide. ,
The laser light guide fibers are also inserted and arranged in parallel, and in such a case, the laser light guided in parallel from the laser light source to the emission end by the laser light guide fibers is emitted from the emission end in a substantially parallel manner. It is something that

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned laser probe, the direction of irradiation of the laser beam is always constant, e.g., the laser beam is emitted only in the parallel direction. Of course, if you are
In each irradiation operation, the irradiation range and irradiation direction are different, and in such a case, it is difficult to perform treatment with one type of laser probe. Therefore, laser probes with different design specifications were required depending on the size of the lumen or the like to be irradiated with laser light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a laser probe in which the emission characteristics of laser light can be selected in a desired irradiation direction and irradiation range.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a laser probe in which a plurality of laser light guide fibers are inserted into a long and flexible probe body. A radial expansion member is incorporated into the tip of the probe body where the output end of the light guide fiber is arranged;
An operating wire inserted into the probe body is connected to this member, and by moving the member with this operating wire, the distal end of the probe body is expanded in the radial direction, and the output end of the laser light guiding fiber is It is designed to change the direction of the

[0007]

[Action] By expanding the tip of the probe body,
Because the direction of the output end of the laser guiding fiber changes,
The irradiation direction of the laser beam emitted from the emission end also changes.

[0008]

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser probe 1 of this embodiment has a plurality of laser light guiding fibers 4 inserted into a long and flexible probe body 2. As shown in FIG. The probe body 2 is a multi-lumen tube that has a plurality of holes 3 inside it, and among these holes 3, the insides of the other holes 3 except for the central hole 3 coaxial with the probe body 2. It is constructed by inserting a laser light guiding fiber 4 which is optically connected to a laser light source (not shown). Further, the tip end surface of the laser light guide fiber 4 and the tip end surface of the probe main body 2 are substantially flush with each other. Therefore, the laser probe 1 is configured to guide the laser light from the laser light source to the tip of the probe body 2 through the laser light guide fiber 4, and to irradiate the tip surface of the probe body 2 as the output end 7. .

On the other hand, among the plurality of holes 3 . . . , the center hole 3 coaxial with the probe body 2 has its tip open to the outside, and has an operating wire 6 (hereinafter simply a wire 6 ) inside it. ) is inserted. and,
A substantially conical radial expansion member 5 is provided at the tip of the wire 6 to expand the tip of the probe body 2 in the radial direction. The radially expanding member 5 has a conical top 9 having the smallest diameter fixed to the tip of the wire 6 by adhesive, for example, and a tip 10 having the largest diameter formed sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the hole 3. . Further, the base end side of the wire 6 is connected to an operating body (not shown) that can push and pull the wire 6. Therefore, in the laser probe 1, the radially expanding member 5 is partially protruded from the tip of the probe body 2, as shown in FIG. By pressing the tapered part 8 of the radially expanding member 5 against the inner surface of the end of the hole 3 as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the probe body 2 can be elastically deformed and expanded in the radial direction. It looks like this.

[0011] Therefore, the laser probe 1 having the above structure has the following features:
By partially protruding the radial expansion member 5 from the tip of the probe body 2 and keeping the tapered part 8 from pressing against the inner surface of the end of the hole 3, the laser beam is directed from the output end 7 parallel to the axial direction. The wire 6 is pulled to draw the radially expanding member 5 into the hole 3,
By pressing the circumferential surface of the tapered portion 8 against the inner surface of the end portion of the hole 3, the diameter of the tip portion of the probe body 2 can be expanded to irradiate the laser beam to the sides as well. That is, by changing the tension of the wire 6, the irradiation direction and irradiation range of the laser beam can be changed.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In the drawings from FIG. 3 onwards, parts common to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

As in the first embodiment, the laser probe 17 of this embodiment has a long flexible multi-lumen tube as the probe body 11, and one of the plurality of holes provided inside the probe body 11. , central hole 14 with sealed tip
A laser light guide fiber 4 optically connected to a laser light source (not shown) is inserted through the other holes 3 except for the holes 3 . The material of the distal end portion 13 of the probe body 11 is softer than that of the portion on the proximal end side of the distal end portion 13, and is integrally molded with the proximal portion using a member such as rubber. For example, the hole 14, which is coaxial with the probe body 11, consists of a large-diameter portion 14a with a large hole diameter and a small-diameter portion 14b with a small hole diameter, into which the wire 6 whose proximal end is connected to an operating body (not shown) is inserted. ing. Inside the hole 14 and at the tip of the wire 6, there is provided a substantially conical radial expanding member 12 that expands the tip 13 of the probe body 11 in the radial direction. The radially expanding member 12 has a conical top portion 19 having the smallest diameter fixed to the tip of the wire 6 by adhesive, for example, and a tip portion 18 having the largest diameter.
is formed to be sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 14b of the hole 14 and slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 14a. Also,
The hole 14 has a tapered portion 16 at the boundary between the large diameter portion 14a and the small diameter portion 14b. Therefore, when the wire 6 is pulled, the inner surface of the tapered portion 16 and the outer surface of the tapered portion 15 of the radially expanding member 12 come into contact, and the radially expanding member 12 is easily moved into the small diameter portion 14b by the guide of the tapered portion 16.
It can be inserted inside.

Accordingly, the radially expanding member 12 is inserted into the hole 14.
The wire 6 is pulled from the state where it is disposed in the large diameter part 14a of the radially expanding member 12, and the tapered part 15 of the radially expanding member 12 is
4b, the radially expanding member 12 is easily drawn into the small diameter portion 14b by the guide of the tapered portion 16, and the tapered portion 15 of the radially expanding member 12 is pressed against the inner surface of the end of the small diameter portion 14b. For example, since the material of the distal end portion 13 of the probe body 11 is softer than the material of the portion on the proximal end side of the distal end portion 13, the distal end portion 13 deforms elastically and expands in the radial direction. In other words, the laser beam can also be irradiated to the sides.

Therefore, the laser probe 17 having the above structure can change the irradiation direction and irradiation range of the laser beam by changing the tension of the wire 6, as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, unlike the first embodiment, the tip of the hole 14 in which the radially expanding member 5 is disposed is sealed, so it has the advantage of being very easy to clean. Incidentally, in addition to the above embodiments, various methods of changing the irradiation direction and irradiation range of laser light by expanding the tip of the laser probe can be considered.

The laser probe 20 shown in FIG. 4 has an extremely flexible multi-lumen tube attached to the probe body 2.
4, and among the plurality of holes provided inside the probe body 24, the other holes 3 except for the central hole 23 whose tip is sealed
. . . A laser light guide fiber 4 optically connected to a laser light source (not shown) is inserted therein. The probe main body 24 is formed so that the material of the distal portion 21 is softer than the material of the proximal portion 22 thereof. Further, for example, the hole 23 coaxial with the probe body 24 may be
The wall thickness of the closing portion that seals the tip of the tube is thinner than the surrounding wall thickness. And hole 2
3 communicates with a fluid source (not shown) at its proximal end side, so that fluid from the fluid source can be guided to the closed portion at the tip of the hole 23.

Therefore, the laser probe 2 having the above structure
When fluid, such as air, from the fluid source is injected into the hole 23 of the probe body 24, the highly flexible distal end portion 21 of the probe body 24 expands like a balloon, as shown in FIG. At this time, the closed portion of the hole 23 in particular expands significantly. As a result, the laser probe 2
0, the laser beam can be irradiated laterally from the emission end 7, and the irradiation direction and irradiation range of the laser beam can be freely changed by changing the amount of fluid injected.

The laser probe 30 shown in FIG. 6 also has a long flexible multi-lumen tube attached to the probe body 3.
4, and among the plurality of holes provided inside the probe body 34, except for the hole 35 whose tip is sealed, a laser light guide fiber is optically connected to a laser light source (not shown) in the other holes 3... 4 is inserted and arranged. A coil tube 32 is provided at the tip of the hole 35 so as to fit into the inner surface of the hole 35 . The coiled tube 32 is made of a shape memory alloy (hereinafter referred to as SMA) that is memorized to expand and deform when heated. A heat transfer member 3 is located inside the tip of the hole 35 in which the coiled tube 32 is disposed.
1 is buried. Further, an SMA heating laser fiber 33 whose base end is connected to a laser light source (not shown) is inserted into the hole 35 , and the tip end of the SMA heating laser fiber 33 is inside the heat transfer member 31 . embedded in.

Therefore, the laser probe 3 having the above structure
0 transmits heat from the SMA heating laser fiber 33 to the coil tube 32 via the heat transfer member 31, expands and deforms the coil tube 32 by this heat, expands the tip of the probe body 34, and expands the output end 7. The irradiation direction and irradiation range of the laser beam emitted from the can be changed.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Since the output characteristics of the laser beam can be selected according to the desired irradiation direction and irradiation range, it is possible to perform treatment with one type of laser probe even when the sizes of the lumens, etc. targeted for laser beam irradiation are different. can be done. Therefore, it is advantageous because there is no need to prepare various laser probes with different design specifications depending on the irradiation conditions such as the irradiation direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a laser probe showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the laser probe of FIG. 1 in which the radial expansion member is pulled by a wire and the output end is expanded in the radial direction.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a laser probe showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laser probe configured so that the tip of the probe body expands into a balloon shape.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the tip of the laser probe in FIG. 4 is expanded into a balloon shape.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laser probe configured to expand the tip of the probe body with a shape memory alloy.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 17...Laser probe 2,11...Probe body 4...Laser light guide fiber 5, 12...Radial expansion member 6...Wire 7... Output end

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser probe in which a plurality of laser light guiding fibers are inserted into a long and flexible probe body, wherein a tip portion of the probe body where an output end of the laser light guiding fiber is disposed; A radial expanding member is incorporated into the probe body, and an operating wire inserted into the probe body is connected to this member, and the distal end portion of the probe body is expanded in the radial direction by moving the member with the operating wire. A laser probe characterized in that the direction of the output end of the laser light guiding fiber is changed by changing the direction of the output end of the laser light guiding fiber.