JPH0595960A - Laser probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a laser probe for medical use and working use which has a tip changeable to allow disposal or reusing of the tip being dis-infected. CONSTITUTION:In a laser probe mounted at a tip part of a metal halide optical fiber 1, a laser probe body part is formed to house the tip part of the optical fiber 1 into a metal tube 2 with the inner diameter almost equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber 1. A replacement type light waveguide which has a metal hollow waveguide 3 with the inner diameter a bit larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube 2 and a fitting part 4 is fitted changeably into the tip part of the metal tube 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser probe which is attached to the tip of an optical fiber and used for medical treatment or processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional carbon dioxide gas laser probe which is attached to the tip of an optical fiber and is used for medical treatment or processing has a structure as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the tip of the silver halide optical fiber 1 made of silver chloride / silver bromide has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the silver halide optical fiber 1, and the inner surface of the metal is made of phosphor bronze. It is stored in the tube 2. The emission end face a of the silver halide optical fiber 1 is located several mm deep from the tip b of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2, and laser light is plated with gold in the section from a to b. Further, the light propagates while being reflected by the inner surface and is emitted from the tip b of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2. Then, the cooling gas is supplied to the optical fiber 1 and the phosphor bronze metal tube 2
And the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 are cooled by flowing through the gap between the optical fiber 1 and the metal bronze, and the substances processed by the laser beam and scattered are prevented from adhering to the end face a of the optical fiber 1.

[0003]

However, in the conventional example,
Since the tip portion of the optical fiber 1 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber 1 and is housed in a phosphor bronze metal tube 2 whose inner surface is plated with gold, the laser probe is constructed. It is difficult to attach and detach the phosphor bronze metal tube 2. However, when used for medical purposes, the tip of the laser probe needs to be disposable or removed for sterilization for sanitary reasons, and the conventional laser probe cannot be used for medical purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser probe which solves this problem and which has a replaceable tip portion and which can be used for medical purposes.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the laser probe of the first invention of the present application is a laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber is The laser probe body is formed by housing in a metal tube having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber, and a metal hollow waveguide having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube is provided at the tip of the metal tube. A replaceable waveguide having a fitting portion is fitted so as to be replaceable.

Further, in the first invention of the present application, it is preferable that the inner surface of the metal hollow waveguide is polished to a roughness of 1 μm or less and gold plated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the laser probe of the second invention of the present application is a laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber is set to the outer diameter of this optical fiber. Stored in a metal tube of approximately equal inner diameter, the tip surface of this metal tube,
A laser probe main body is formed into a window by hermetically sealing a thin plate made of a material having a high transmittance of a laser beam to be used, the tip of the metal tube has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube, In addition, a replaceable waveguide having a metal hollow waveguide whose inner surface is polished to have a roughness of 1 μm or less and plated with gold and a fitting portion is fitted in a replaceable manner.

In the second invention of the present application, it is preferable that the thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance is made of diamond or strontium fluoride.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, the metal tube accommodating the metal halide optical fiber has an inner surface plated with gold and has a slit serving as an outflow passage for the cooling gas passing through the metal tube. Is preferred.

The laser probe of the third invention of the present application is a laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber, and the inner surface thereof is The laser probe main body is formed by housing it in a metal tube having a slit serving as an outflow passage for cooling gas passing through the inside of the metal halide optical fiber, and at the tip of the metal tube, from the metal halide optical fiber. In addition to guiding the emitted laser light, the diameter of the portion near the optical fiber is large, the diameter becomes smaller toward the tip side, and the inner surface is polished to a roughness of 1 μm or less and gold-plated. A replaceable waveguide having a tapered hollow metal waveguide and a fitting portion is fitted in a replaceable manner.

[0011]

According to the first invention of the present application, a replaceable waveguide composed of a metal pipe having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube is replaceably provided at the tip of the metal tube of the laser probe main body. Since it is fitted, the tip of the laser probe can be easily attached and detached, and it can be used for medical purposes and only the tip can be disposable or disinfected.

Further, in the first invention of the present application, when the inner surface of the replaceable waveguide is polished to have a roughness of 1 μm or less and gold-plated, the laser light is almost completely reflected on the gold-plated inner surface, and at this portion. It is emitted without being attenuated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the tip portion of the optical fiber is housed in a metal tube having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber, and the tip surface of the metal tube has a transmittance of laser light to be used. Since the laser probe body is formed by sealing it in a window with a thin plate made of high material, and the cross section of the optical fiber is completely protected, there is no risk of damaging the end face of the optical fiber when attaching or detaching the tip of the laser probe. ..

Further, in the second invention of the present application, if a diamond thin plate is used for the thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance, the cost is high, but it is not scratched, the durability is improved, and If a thin plate made of strontium chloride is used, the durability is poor, but the cost is low.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, when the metal tube containing the metal halide optical fiber is provided with a slit serving as an outflow path for the cooling gas passing through the metal tube, the metal halide optical fiber and the metal tube are separated from each other. The cooling gas that has passed through the gap is discharged from the inside of the metal hollow waveguide to cool the optical fiber and the metal tube, improving the output of the laser probe, and the scattered materials scattered by the laser processing become thin diamond plates. It is possible to prevent the adhesion.

The third invention of the present application has all the above-mentioned effects other than the effect of the thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance, and the tapered metal hollow waveguide has a thin tip portion, so that Allows processing of narrow parts.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1 to 3, the tip of the silver halide optical fiber 1 made of silver chloride / silver bromide, which is connected to a carbon dioxide gas laser not shown, is located at the outer diameter of the silver halide optical fiber 1. The laser probe main body is formed by being housed in a phosphor bronze metal tube 2 having substantially the same inner diameter and the inner surface of which is gold-plated, and a locking groove is formed slightly inward from the tip of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2. A connector portion 5 having c is attached. A metal hollow waveguide 3 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube 2 and having an inner surface polished to a roughness of 1 μm or less and plated with gold, and a protrusion d that is locked in the locking groove c. A replaceable waveguide consisting of a sleeve fitting portion 4 having an inside is detachably fitted onto the distal end portion of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 of the laser probe main body portion, and the protruding portion d is formed in the locking groove c. The laser probe is locked and assembled.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.

When the laser probe is assembled as described above, the infrared laser light emitted from the carbon dioxide gas laser is
The light is transmitted through the silver halide optical fiber 1 and emitted from the tip of the silver halide optical fiber 1. The emitted infrared laser light propagates while being reflected by the inner surface of the metal hollow waveguide 3, and is emitted from the tip of the metal hollow waveguide 3.
Perform medical and other processing.

After performing the above-mentioned medical treatment and other processing,
The replaceable waveguides 3 and 4 to which the substances scattered during processing are attached can be easily removed and used, or can be sterilized and reused.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the tip of the silver halide optical fiber 1 made of silver chloride / silver bromide connected to a carbon dioxide gas laser (not shown) has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the silver halide optical fiber 1. Is housed in a phosphor bronze metal tube 2 whose inner surface is plated with gold, and the tip of this phosphor bronze metal tube 2 is hermetically sealed in a window shape by a thin diamond plate 6 to form a laser probe main body. The connector portion 5 is attached slightly inward from the tip of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2. A replaceable type having a metal hollow waveguide 3 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 and having an inner surface polished to a roughness of 1 μm or less and gold-plated, and a fitting portion 4. The waveguide is removably fitted onto the distal end of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 of the laser probe body to assemble the laser probe.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described next.

When the laser probe is assembled as described above, the infrared laser light emitted from the carbon dioxide gas laser is
The light is transmitted through the silver halide optical fiber 1 and emitted from the tip of the silver halide optical fiber 1. The emitted infrared laser light propagates while being reflected by the inner surface of the metal hollow waveguide 3 through the diamond thin plate 6 having a very small transmission attenuation amount with respect to the infrared laser light, and propagates in the metal hollow waveguide 3. It is emitted from the tip for medical and other processing.
At this time, since the tip surface of the silver halide optical fiber 1 housed in the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 is completely protected by the diamond thin plate 6, the tip surface of the optical fiber 1 is directly processed. It is possible to prevent the scattered substances from adhering to each other.

After performing the above-mentioned medical treatment and other processing,
The replaceable waveguides 3 and 4 to which the substances scattered during processing are attached can be easily removed and used, or can be sterilized and reused. And since the tip of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 is completely protected by the diamond thin plate 6, the replaceable waveguides 3 and 4 are
When this is removed, there is no risk of damaging the tip end surface of the optical fiber 1 or foreign matter entering the phosphor bronze metal tube 2, and it can be easily attached and detached.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that a slit at the tip of the phosphor bronze metal tube 2 which serves as an outflow passage for the cooling gas passing through the metal tube 2. e.

The operation of the third embodiment will be described next.

Since there is a slit e which serves as an outflow path for the cooling gas, the cooling gas passing through the gap between the optical fiber 1 and the metal tube 2 is discharged from the inside of the hollow metal waveguide 3 to the outside of the optical fiber 1. Also, the metal tube 2 can be cooled, the output of the laser probe can be improved, and the scattered matter scattered by the laser processing can be prevented from adhering to the diamond thin plate 6. Other than this, the second
The description is omitted because it is the same as the embodiment.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that the replaceable waveguide has a large diameter in the portion close to the optical fiber 1 and its diameter increases toward the tip side. Tapered metal hollow waveguide 3'which is smoothly reduced
Is to have. This makes it possible to process a narrower portion. Except for this, the description is omitted because it is the same as the third embodiment.

The laser probe of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but various modes are possible.

For example, the thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance may be strontium fluoride, barium fluoride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride or the like instead of the diamond plate of the embodiment. In the embodiment, a metal tube having an inner surface plated with gold is used as the hollow waveguide, but a sapphire tube having an inner surface coated with Ge may be used. Further, as the optical fiber, the silver halide optical fiber is used in the embodiment, but a thallium halide optical fiber of thallium iodide and thallium bromide may be used. Further, as the metal tube, a phosphor bronze tube is used in the embodiment, but a titanium tube, a gold tube, a metal tube having an inner surface plated with gold, or a resin tube such as Teflon tube may be used.

[0035]

The laser probe of the present invention has the following effects.

Since it has a replaceable waveguide, it can be used for medical purposes, and even if the tip is contaminated, the replaceable waveguide at the tip can be replaced to be disposable or sterilized for reuse.

Since the end face of the metal tube containing the optical fiber is protected by the thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance, there is no fear that the end face of the optical fiber will be damaged or soiled, and The replaceable waveguide can be easily attached and detached.

Since the slit for passing the cooling gas is provided at the tip of the metal tube, the cooling gas passing through the gap between the optical fiber and the metal tube is discharged from the inside of the metal hollow waveguide to the outside of the optical fiber. It is possible to cool the metal tube, improve the output of the laser probe, and prevent the scattered matter scattered by the laser processing from adhering to the diamond thin plate.

Since it has a tapered metal hollow waveguide whose diameter decreases smoothly toward the tip side,
It enables processing of narrower parts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a side view in which the replaceable waveguide of FIG. 1 is separated.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a side view in which the replaceable waveguide of FIG. 5 is separated.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a side view in which the replaceable waveguide of FIG. 7 is separated.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Silver Halide Optical Fiber (Metal Halide Optical Fiber) 2 Phosphor Bronze Metal Tube (Metal Tube) 3 Metal Hollow Waveguide 3'Tapered Metal Hollow Waveguide 4 Fitting Part 3 + 4 Replaceable Waveguide 5 Connector Part 6 Diamond Thin Plate c Locking groove d Projection e Slit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber is housed in a metal tube having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber to form a laser probe main body. A laser in which a replaceable waveguide having a metal hollow waveguide having an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the metal tube and a sleeve fitting portion is replaceably fitted on the tip end of the metal tube. probe. 2. The metal hollow waveguide has an inner surface with a roughness of 1 μm.
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the laser probe is polished to m or less and is plated with gold. 3. A laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber is housed in a metal tube having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber, and the tip surface of the metal tube is , A thin plate made of a material having a high transmittance of laser light to be used is hermetically sealed in a window shape to form a laser probe main body, and the tip of the metal tube has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube. A laser probe in which a replaceable waveguide having a metal hollow waveguide whose inner surface is polished to have a roughness of 1 μm or less and plated with gold, and a sleeve fitting portion is replaceably fitted. 4. A thin plate made of a material having a high laser beam transmittance,
The laser probe according to claim 3, which is made of diamond or strontium fluoride. 5. The metal tube accommodating the metal halide optical fiber according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an inner surface of the metal tube is plated with gold and a slit serving as an outflow passage for a cooling gas passing through the metal tube is provided. Laser probe. 6. A laser probe attached to the tip of a metal halide optical fiber, wherein the tip of the optical fiber has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber, and the inner surface of which is gold-plated, and The laser probe main body is housed in a metal tube having a slit serving as an outflow path for the cooling gas passing through the inside, and the laser light emitted from the metal halide optical fiber is guided to the tip of the metal tube. At the same time, the diameter of the portion near the optical fiber is large, the diameter is smoothly reduced toward the tip side, and the inner surface is polished to a roughness of 1 μm or less and the tapered metal hollow is plated with gold. A laser probe, wherein a replaceable waveguide having a waveguide and a fitting portion is fitted in a replaceable manner.