JPH0644514U - Laser probe - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The optical fiber on the laser probe side and the optical fiber on the laser beam generator side can be detachably connected, which makes the laser probe disposable and thus the optical fiber on the practitioner side. In addition to eliminating the complexity of the positioning work, the optical fiber on the side of the laser light generator is prevented from being shortened to reduce the cost. A laser probe for inserting a laser probe into the nucleus pulposus and irradiating the nucleus pulposus with laser light to treat the nucleus pulposus. The laser probe 10 includes an operation unit 11 and a metal pipe 1.
2 and a fiber 13 disposed in the metal pipe with a gap between the metal pipe and the inner wall of the metal pipe. An optical coupling terminal 14 is provided at one end of the optical fiber 13, and is detachably connected to an optical coupling terminal 17 provided at the end of the optical fiber 16 on the laser light generator side by an optical coupler 15.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a laser probe, and more particularly, to a laser probe suitable for evaporating a nucleus pulposus in an intervertebral disc by utilizing the transpiration action of a laser beam and further reducing the intra-discal pressure.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Disc herniation is a condition in which the nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc breaks the surrounding annulus fibrosus and bulges out into the intervertebral column. As one of the treatment methods, it has been proposed to evaporate the nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc by using the transpiration action of laser light to reduce the intradiscal pressure.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are views for explaining an example of laser treatment according to the prior art as described above. In the drawings, 1 is a spinal needle, 2 is a nucleus pulposus, 3 is an inner needle. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner needle 3 is inserted into the spinal needle 1, and the spinal needle is inserted into the disc 2 as shown in FIG. 2 and then the inner needle 3 is removed. After confirmation by X-ray, a laser probe is inserted into the spinal needle 1 and the nucleus 2 is irradiated with laser light to evaporate the nucleus 2. At this time, gas is generated due to evaporation of the nucleus pulposus, and this gas must be taken out of the body.

Therefore, the present applicant previously proposed a laser probe capable of effectively removing the gas generated when the nucleus pulposus is evaporated by the irradiation of laser light.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the laser probe previously proposed by the applicant, in which the laser probe 4 is inserted into the spinal needle 1 and the optical fiber 6 is inserted in the laser probe 4. The optical fiber 6 for transmitting and emitting the laser light is inserted into the laser probe 4 in the drawing when the optical fiber 6 is inserted, and the end 6a side of the optical fiber 6 is connected to a laser light generator (not shown). Laser light is transmitted from the laser light generator, and the laser light is emitted from the tip 6b of the optical fiber 6 to evaporate the nucleus pulposus as described above.

In the vicinity of the operating portion of the spinal needle 1, there is integrally formed a gas venting channel 1 a that communicates with the inside of the spinal needle, and a laser probe 4 is inserted into the spinal needle 1 to pass the nucleus pulposus. Although it is vaporized, the gas generated at that time passes through the gap between the spinal needle 1 and the laser probe 4 and is discharged to the outside of the body from the gas vent channel 1a. Further, when the flow path 4a communicating with the inside of the laser probe 4 is provided near the operation portion of the laser probe 4, for example, physiological saline is introduced from the flow path 4a, and the gas provided on the spinal needle 1 is supplied. It is also possible to make it flow out from the discharge channel 1a, and by doing so, the optical fiber 6 can be cleaned and the inside of the spinal needle 1 can be cleaned.

[0007] Also, the gas in the nucleus pulposus can be removed by suctioning through the gas vent channel 1a, but at this time, since air flows in through the channel 4a, the gas can be vented more effectively. You can However, in this case, it is very unsanitary if the outside air is simply allowed to flow in through the flow passage 4a. In this case, therefore, a membrane filter or the like should be attached to the inflow passage 4a so that the outside air It is necessary to prevent miscellaneous bacteria contained in the bacterium from entering the nucleus pulposus. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 7 denotes a membrane filter, which is used by attaching the filter 7 to the inflow passage 4a when removing the suction gas, and by removing the filter 7 when flushing.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the V portion of FIG. 4, and the relationship between the spinal needle 1, the laser probe 4, and the optical fiber 6 is as shown in the drawing. Is positioned so that the tip of the optical fiber 6 is positioned inside the laser probe 4, which facilitates degassing, burns of the tissue, stains on the fiber tip, and the like. I try to prevent it. In FIG. 5, an arrow A indicates a flow path communicating with the flow path 1a, and an arrow B indicates a flow path communicating with the flow path 4a. During flushing, the physiological saline flowing from the flow path 4a is flow paths B, A. Through 1a.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the present invention]

 Thus, in the laser probe previously proposed by the present applicant, the optical fiber 6 extended from the laser light generator is inserted into the laser probe 4 as it is, and the position of the tip 6b is adjusted. The optical fiber 6 is fixed to the laser probe 4 by the fixing portion 4a, and it is very difficult to position the tip 6b of the optical fiber 6, and if the tip 6b is not accurately positioned, the optical fiber 6 The laser beam emitted from the laser beam hits the laser probe 4 and the laser probe locally heats up, or the optical fiber 6 projects from the laser probe and the tip of the optical fiber 6 directly hits the tissue. Damage the tissue or damage the optical fiber.

Further, as described above, since the positioning work of the tip of the optical fiber is very troublesome, the optical fiber may be broken during the work, the use efficiency of the optical fiber is poor, and the cost is high. Furthermore, one patient is treated several times, but it is necessary to replace the optical fiber each time, and performing such replacement work during the treatment work is a non-treatment of the treatment work. Invites efficiency.

For this reason, it has been practiced to set optical fibers to some laser probes in advance and to connect them to a laser light generator in order to use them at leisure. It was also difficult to prepare for it, and during the treatment work, it was necessary to go to the laser light generator and replace the optical fiber connection, and that work was very troublesome.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the tip of the optical fiber is cut off after each use, and when this is done, the total length of the optical fiber is gradually shortened and a considerable length remains, but the laser The distance between the light generator and the patient is less than the distance, and eventually the remaining optical fiber becomes unusable and must be replaced with a new long optical fiber. Not only is it economical, but the length of the optical fiber is getting shorter and shorter, making it difficult to operate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in particular, the optical fiber on the laser probe side and the optical fiber on the laser light generator side can be detachably connected, whereby the laser probe can be connected. Side optical fiber or the laser probe integrated with the optical fiber is made disposable so that the practitioner's side does not have to perform the task of positioning the optical fiber on the laser probe side and the length of the optical fiber on the side of the laser light generator is short. This was done with the aim of preventing this and reducing costs.

[0014]

【Constitution】

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides (1) a laser probe for inserting a laser probe into a spinal needle to irradiate the nucleus pulposus with laser light for treatment, wherein the laser probe is a metal pipe, A fiber disposed in the metal pipe with a gap between the metal pipe and the inner wall of the metal pipe, having an optical coupler at one end of the optical fiber, and provided at the end of the optical fiber on the laser light generator side. (2) The optical fiber is detachable from the metal pipe on the optical coupler side, and (2) the optical fiber is detachable from the optical coupler. Further, (3) the optical fiber is integrated with the metal pipe on the optical coupler side.

[0015]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a laser probe according to the present invention. The laser probe 10 includes an operating portion 11 made of a synthetic resin material and a metal integrally formed on the operating portion 11. It is composed of a pipe 12 and an optical fiber 13 which is inserted into the metal pipe 12 and integrally attached to an optical coupling terminal 14. The operation unit 11 is provided with degassing flow channels 11a and 11b that have the same function as the laser probe shown in FIG. 4, and by sucking through the flow channel 11b, the gas is removed from the air flow channel 11a. It reaches the tip 12a of the metal pipe 12 through the gap between the pipe 12 and the optical fiber 13, and there is a gap between the outside of the metal pipe 12 and a spinal needle (not shown) together with the gas generated by the evaporation of the laser light. It is sucked through the gap and is discharged from the suction port 11b.

Although the figure shows an example in which the operation unit 11, the metal pipe 12, the optical fiber 13, and the optical coupling terminal 14 are integrally formed, other examples include the operation unit 11 and the metal pipe. It is also possible to integrally form 12 and separately form the optical fiber 13 and the optical coupling terminal 14, and to integrally use them at the treatment site. From a practical point of view, it is more advantageous to integrally form all of them and make the entire one a disposable type in terms of work efficiency and hygiene.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 is an optical coupler, 16 is an optical fiber on the side of the laser light generator, 17 is an optical coupling terminal of the optical fiber 16, and by the optical coupler 15, as is well known, 13 and 16 are detachably connected to each other, the laser light transmitted from the laser light generator (not shown) through the optical fiber 16 is transmitted to the optical fiber 13, and the laser light is emitted from the optical end 13a of the optical fiber 13. For example, evaporate the nucleus pulposus. The dotted line 20 conceptually shows the connecting position of the spinal needle.

[0018]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the positional relationship between the optical fiber of the laser probe and the metal pipe is accurately determined at the production site, which makes handling at the treatment site extremely easy. , The work efficiency can be remarkably improved. Moreover, the disposable structure has advantages that it is very hygienic, and there is no fear of breaking or shortening of the optical fiber, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a laser probe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method of treating a nucleus pulposus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a spinal needle and an inner needle.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining one usage state of the laser probe previously proposed by the applicant.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a V portion of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Laser probe, 11 ... Operation part, 12 ... Metal pipe, 13 ... Optical fiber, 14 ... Optical coupling terminal, 15 ... Optical coupler, 16 ... Laser light generator side optical fiber, 17
… Optical coupling terminal.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A laser probe for inserting a laser probe into a spinal needle to irradiate the nucleus pulposus with a laser beam for treatment, wherein the laser probe comprises a metal pipe and an inner wall of the metal pipe. And an optical coupler disposed at one end of the optical fiber, and is detachably attached to the optical coupler provided at the end of the optical fiber on the laser light generator side. A laser probe characterized by the above. 2. The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is detachable from the metal pipe on the optical coupler side. 3. The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is integrated with the metal pipe on the optical coupler side.