JPH074393B2 - Optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable for guiding a laser beam to a target portion.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional laser knife and laser processing machine as shown in FIG. 8, a small-diameter optical fiber cable 2 having excellent operability for guiding laser light with a device 1 equipped with a laser oscillation tube.
Are using. With this, for example, a laser knife, an optical fiber cable 2 with a small diameter and excellent flexibility
It has been noted that the handpiece part 3 is inserted into the body using an endoscope or a rigid endoscope to treat the affected part without opening the blade. This optical fiber is being made of a material such as quartz, AgCl, CsBr, etc. that can transmit a power laser.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Inserting the optical fiber cable 2 as shown in FIG. 8 into the body,
The affected area is irradiated with a laser to evaporate, but in this case, there is a possibility that the normal tissue in the posterior part of the evaporated area is irradiated with the laser light. For this reason, a method has been adopted in which a gauze or the like impregnated with physiological saline or the like is placed between the affected area and normal tissue, and the gauze absorbs laser light. But,
This method cannot be used because it takes time to insert gauze, and in the case of the inside of the eye or the like, tissues that are extremely vulnerable to damage such as the retina are damaged even when contacted with gauze.

Means for Solving the Problems A technical means of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a protective plate for shielding laser light at an emitting portion of an optical fiber cable, and to the protective plate, a laser light absorbing liquid having a constant flow rate. And a temperature detecting means.

Action The action of this technical means is as follows. That is, when the optical fiber cable is inserted into the body to irradiate the affected area or the like, a protective plate is inserted between the affected area and normal tissue, and the laser is irradiated in this state. At this time, by causing a constant flow rate of the laser light absorbing liquid to flow out along the protective plate, laser irradiation of tissues other than the affected area is prevented, and the laser light is
Since it is absorbed by the laser light absorption liquid, heat generation by the laser light of the protective plate can be prevented, and by detecting the temperature of the protective plate, the laser light inhalation liquid flows out according to the temperature rise above a predetermined level Safe and reliable surgery can be performed without flowing the laser light absorption liquid of.

Embodiment FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the configurations of the optical fiber cable 4 and the output end of the handpiece portion 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A laser light absorbing liquid 6 (hereinafter referred to as a liquid) is configured to be injected into the handpiece portion 5 of the optical fiber cable 4, and the liquid 6 is, for example, physiological saline that is harmless to the human body. The handpiece portion 5 is composed of an optical fiber 7, a protective tube 8, an optical component (lens or window) 9 that transmits laser light, and an outer pipe 10. The end of the outer pipe 10 is bent to form a protective plate 11 that shields the laser light. Also, this protective plate 11
A temperature detector 12 (for example, a thermocouple) is attached to the device, and by inputting this signal to a control circuit and controlling the flow rate controller, the amount of the liquid 6 in the tank to be injected into the handpiece 5 can be controlled. Has become. Next, the use state will be described. The handpiece portion 5 of the optical fiber cable 4
The tip part of the is inserted into the body, the protective plate 11 is inserted between the affected part and the normal tissue, and laser light is irradiated. In this case, the affected area evaporates and disappears due to the energy of the laser light, and the laser light is applied to the protective plate 11. Therefore, part of the laser light is reflected by the protective plate 11 and part of it is absorbed. At this time, the temperature detector 12 measures the temperature, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (the set temperature differs depending on the tissue), the flow rate regulator (for example, a flow valve) is operated to inject the liquid 6 into the protective plate 11. As a result, the laser light is absorbed by the liquid 6, so that the reflection and absorption of the laser light by the protective plate 11 can be reduced. Next, in another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protective plate 11 is provided with slits 13 and grooves 14. With this structure, the protective plate 11 can be uniformly coated with a small amount of the liquid 6. It becomes possible to cover the whole. Further, FIG. 5 shows a protective plate made of a sintered body.
11 is configured and can be impregnated with the liquid 6. Further, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a structure in which the protective plate 11 is detachable so that the affected area evaporates on the protective plate 11 so that it can be easily replaced when it becomes dirty.

Effects of the Invention According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, it is possible to prevent laser irradiation to normal tissue during surgery in the body and the like, and further to reduce the reflected light of the laser light on the protective plate and Since heat generation can be prevented, safe and reliable work can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical fiber cable according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a handpiece portion of the optical fiber cable, and FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 7 are other drawings. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a handpiece portion of an embodiment, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a handpiece portion of the other embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a laser device using a conventional optical fiber cable. 4 ... Optical fiber cable, 5 ... Handpiece, 6
…… Laser light absorbing liquid, 7 …… Optical fiber, 11 …… Protective plate, 12 …… Temperature detector.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber that guides a laser beam to an irradiation position, a protective tube that protects the optical fiber, an optical member that covers the emitting end of the optical fiber and transmits the laser beam, and a protective plate that shields the emitted laser beam. , An optical fiber cable equipped with a means for injecting a certain amount of laser light absorbing liquid into this protective plate and a temperature detecting means. 2. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the protective plate is provided with an inflow groove for the laser light absorbing liquid. 3. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the protective plate is made of a porous material. 4. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the protective plate is detachable.