JPH0595961A - Laser probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an excellent dental laser probe which enables the irradiating with a laser light sideways as well as forward within a narrow oral cavity. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of openings 6 are arranged on the circumference of the tip side part of a hollow waveguide tube 5 mounted detachably on a protective tube 2. This enables the irradiation with a laser light sideways as well as forward thereby obtaining an excellent sanitary laser probe which achieves an effective dental treatment while allows the changing of the hollow waveguide tube.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the construction of a hollow waveguide for a laser probe for power transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a demand for a laser probe for dentistry so that it can irradiate a laser beam onto the entire oral cavity.

The laser probe will be described below.
FIG. 2 shows the structure of a conventional laser probe.
As shown in FIG. 2, a silver halide optical fiber 1 made of silver chloride or silver bromide is housed in a protective tube 2 of Teflon resin and fixed by a chuck 3, and a window 4 made of diamond is inserted in front of it. There is. further,
A hollow waveguide 5 made of a metal tube or the like having an inner surface polished and gold-plated is attached to the tip of the protection tube 2 to reduce the diameter of the tip.

The operation of the laser probe constructed as above will be described below. The hollow waveguide 5 having a small diameter for dental treatment is inserted into a narrow oral cavity, and dental treatment is performed by laser light.

[0005]

In the conventional laser probe described above, laser irradiation can be performed in front of the straight waveguide of the laser light by the hollow waveguide 5, but the laser irradiation treatment of the side surface of the hollow waveguide 5 can be performed. It has a problem that it cannot be done.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser probe capable of irradiating not only the front side of the hollow waveguide but also the side section.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the probe of the present invention has a structure in which a plurality of openings are provided on the circumference of the side surface of the distal end of the hollow waveguide 5. ..

[0008]

With this structure, the laser light is emitted from the opening of the side surface of the distal end of the hollow waveguide, so that not only the front direct irradiation but also the side surface can be simultaneously irradiated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the hollow waveguide tube 5
Is provided with an opening 6 on the circumference of the side surface of the tip, and is attachable to and detachable from the protective tube 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the openings 6 may be provided in a plurality of rows and a plurality of openings, and the shape may be a quadrangle, a rectangle, a circle, or an ellipse.

The operation of the laser probe configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. The hollow waveguide 5 having a reduced diameter is inserted into a narrow oral cavity for dental treatment, and the laser light can be emitted not only from the front as shown by the arrow but also from the opening 6 to irradiate the side surface. Become. The hollow waveguide 5 can also be removed from the protective tube 2 for hygiene purposes.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the hollow waveguide tube 5 can not only irradiate the laser beam forward, but also irradiate the side surface through the opening 6, so that it is very efficient in a narrow oral cavity. Good dental treatment is possible. Further, since the hollow waveguide tube 5 is detachable from the protection tube 2, it can be exchanged, and a very hygienic laser probe can be obtained.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiments, according to the present invention, the laser light irradiation by the hollow waveguide allows not only the front side but also the side surface, so that the dental treatment is very efficient in a narrow oral cavity. The therapeutic effect can be obtained, and the hollow waveguide can be replaced to realize a very hygienic laser probe.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side view of a laser probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of a hollow waveguide according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional laser probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Silver halide optical fiber 2 Protective tube 5 Hollow waveguide 6 Opening

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A laser probe having a hollow waveguide at the tip of a silver halide optical fiber made of silver chloride or silver bromide, the laser probe being at least on the circumference of the side surface of the tip of the hollow waveguide. A laser probe having one or more openings. 2. The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the hollow waveguide is removable from the protective tube.