JPH0661336B2 - Laser equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laser device, and more particularly to an optical axis of laser light generated by a laser oscillation source in a laser device and an optical axis of a core in a laser probe for transmitting laser light. The present invention relates to a laser device capable of detecting a positional deviation between and.

[Conventional technology]

Currently, laser devices are used in various types of equipment,
As is well known, as an example of this use, there is a laser device provided for medical use together with an endoscope.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 showing an example of application to this endoscope, 1 is an endoscope, and 2 is a well-known that the fiber is inserted in the center and is provided in the endoscope 1. The laser probe 3 inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel of 3 is a laser generator, and the laser generator 3 is a therapeutic YA.
A laser head 4 such as a G laser, an optical device 5 having a condenser lens 8 and a dichroic mirror 9, a guide laser 6 for visible light such as a He-Ne laser, and a foot switch 10, and a connector. The laser probe 2 is connected via 7.

That is, each laser beam oscillated from the laser generator 3 by operating the foot switch 10 is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 9 or reflected, and then inserted into the connector 7 by the condenser lens 8 to be connected. The laser probe 2 is focused on the laser light incident end face of the core and is transmitted to the laser emission end.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, in the laser device configured as described above, the optical axis of the laser light condensed by the condenser lens 8 and the optical axis on the laser probe 2 side do not match for some reason,
That is, if there is a positional deviation, the laser light is not correctly incident, and the jacket and holder around the fiber forming the laser probe 2 together with the fiber made up of the core and the cladding generate heat and are burned out. In addition, the laser light incident end face, the condenser lens 8 and the like may be contaminated by soot and the like generated at the time of burning and absorb the laser light, and eventually the laser probe 2, the condenser lens 8 and the like may be damaged. .

Therefore, a thermal sensor is attached to the holder portion near the laser light incident end surface of the laser probe 2 or to the outer peripheral surface thereof to detect a temperature rise and stop the laser oscillation or activate a warning device. Alternatively, near the front of the laser beam incident end surface of the laser probe 2,
A technical means has been developed in which a shield having a high reflectance is provided with a laser beam passage hole.

However, in the former technical means, the condenser lens 8
Optical axis of laser light focused by laser and laser probe 2
It takes a long time to detect the change in the form of temperature rise after an abnormal change such as a positional shift occurs between the optical probe and the optical axis on the side, and the laser probe 2 is considerably damaged. Since the heat sensor is attached to the inside or the outer peripheral surface of the holder portion, it requires a considerable degree of skill and labor for attachment and detachment, adjustment, and the like. Further, when the latter technical means is used, Since it is necessary to match the optical axis of the shield, this assembly work requires considerable skill and labor, and the handling precautions required to maintain it are inevitably required. Technical means also had considerable problems in practical use.

In view of the problems as described above, the present invention is capable of quickly detecting the positional deviation between the optical axis of the laser oscillation side and the optical axis of the laser probe, and at the same time, the laser apparatus is easy to manufacture and its maintenance is extremely easy. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, a laser device according to the present invention collects a laser beam from a laser oscillation source with a condenser lens and makes the laser beam incident end face of a core in a laser probe for laser beam transmission enter. In the laser device, the laser probe component of the laser light incident end face outer periphery of the core in the laser probe on which the laser light is incident is a conical slope, and the slope is a reflection surface, and in the vicinity of the periphery thereof, A plurality of optical sensors for receiving the laser light reflected by the reflecting surface are provided, and it is possible to detect the positional deviation of the optical axis of the fiber with respect to the optical axis of the focused laser light. It is a feature.

[Action]

Since the laser device according to the present invention is configured as described above, under normal conditions, the laser light from the laser oscillation source is condensed and incident on the laser light incident end face of the core of the laser probe without leakage by the condenser lens. , The optical axis on the laser light incident surface side of the core of the laser probe is positioned for some reason with respect to the optical axis of the laser light that is transmitted to the laser light emitting end surface of the laser probe but is condensed by the condenser lens. In the case where a deviation occurs, the laser light is immediately reflected on the laser light incident end surface of the core of the laser probe by the conical reflecting surface formed directly on the laser probe constituent portion on the outer periphery. It is reflected to the front outer circumference, detected by the optical sensor, and it is possible to immediately know that the above-mentioned displacement has occurred.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the laser device according to the present invention is basically a third example showing an application example in which this type of laser device is applied to an endoscope.
The laser device is the same as the laser device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the difference is in the laser beam incident end portion of the laser probe. Therefore, the illustration of the embodiment for explaining the laser device according to the present invention is a main portion thereof. Only the laser light incident end of the laser probe is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the description of the other constituent parts is made by quoting the constituent members and reference numerals of the laser device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as they are. I will explain it.

That is, each laser beam oscillated by the laser head 4, the guide laser 6 or the like as the laser oscillation source in the laser generator 3 is dichroic mirror 9.
It is condensed by the condenser lens 8 and is made incident on the laser light incident end face of the core 17 in the laser probe 13 inserted into the connector 7 and transmitted to the laser light emission end at the other end of the laser probe 13. It will be.

By the way, in the laser device according to the present invention, a fiber comprising a core 17 made of quartz, glass or other light-transmissive material and a clad 18 surrounding the core 17, and a clad 18
A laser probe 13 composed of a jacket 19 provided on the outer side of and a holder 20 provided on the outermost periphery of the outer side thereof.
The portion of the laser probe constituting the laser beam incident end surface of the laser probe 13 outside the core 17 is formed into a conical slope, and a reflection surface 13a is formed on this slope by attaching a reflection plate or coating a reflection agent. A plurality of optical sensors 14 are attached and fixed to a supporting base 15 in the vicinity of the outer periphery thereof, and each optical sensor 14 is respectively attached to an amplifier 16 which outputs a laser oscillation source interlock signal S, a warning signal or the like depending on the degree of detection. Since they are connected, if the optical axis of the core of the laser probe 13 is displaced from the optical axis of the laser light condensed by the condenser lens 8 for some reason,
The situation is immediately detected and the laser oscillation source is interlocked or a warning is issued.

In the above embodiment, the light sensor 14 is made of a material that is easy to detect reflected light, but in a laser device that uses infrared light, an infrared detection agent is used to make it visible. Can also be

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, in the laser device according to the present invention, the laser probe component of the laser light incident end face outer periphery of the core in the laser probe to which the laser light from the laser oscillation source is incident is a conical sloped surface. None, by using this slope to form a reflecting surface on the laser probe itself ,. Unlike this type of conventional laser probe, in which the thermal sensor is attached to the inside of the holder near the laser light incident end surface or the outer peripheral surface of the holder, the optical axis of the laser light condensed by the condensing lens generated for some reason. Since it is possible to immediately detect the positional deviation between the optical axis on the laser probe side and the optical axis on the laser probe side, it becomes possible to minimize these damages.

． As in this type and the conventional one, it is not necessary to adjust the mounting position of the laser light reflecting member with respect to the optical axis of the core forming the laser light incident end face of the laser probe, and the manufacturing is extremely simplified. Not only
Its maintenance and handling has become extremely easy.

It became possible to exert remarkable effects such as.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are views for explaining the main configuration of an embodiment of a laser device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of only a laser beam incident end of a laser probe. FIG. 3 is a general external view of a laser device applied to an endoscope,
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the optical device section. 1: Endoscope 2, 13: Laser probe 3: Laser generator, 4: Laser head 5: Optical device, 6: Guide laser 7: Connector, 8: Focusing lens 9: Dichroic mirror 10: Foot switch 13a: Reflection Surface, 14: Optical sensor 15: Support, 16: Amplifier 17: Core, 18: Clad 19: Jacket, 20: Holder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser device in which a laser beam from a laser oscillation source is condensed by a condenser lens and is made incident on a laser light incident end face of a core in a laser probe for transmitting laser light. The laser probe constituting portion of the outer periphery of the laser light incident end face of the core of the probe is formed into a conical slant surface, and the slant surface is used as a reflecting surface, and in the vicinity of its outer periphery, for receiving the laser light reflected by the reflecting surface. A laser device, wherein a plurality of optical sensors are provided to detect a positional deviation of the optical axis of the fiber with respect to the optical axis of the focused laser light.