KR20010067481A - A Probe Structure of a Therapeutic Laser System - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A probe structure of a laser treatment device is provided to ensure the free movement of a patient by fixing a probe mounted with a laser diode on the affected part. CONSTITUTION: The structure of a probe(1) allows the laser diode to be fixed on the affected part by a decompressing absorption method with many laser diodes being uniformly spaced from the affected part. The probe structure is constituted by a bell-shaped elastic probe case(10); a laser diode(20,21) fixed in the probe case to face a bottom opening part of the probe case; an electric power introduction part(30) connected to a lead line of the laser diode; an air inlet and outlet part(40) penetrating the probe case; and a decompression adjustment device communicating the air inlet and outlet part.

Description

Probe Structure of a Therapeutic Laser System

The present invention relates to a probe structure of a laser therapy device, and more particularly, the probe of the laser therapy device is fixed to the affected area while irradiating a therapeutic laser to the affected area or the affected area for treatment, so that the patient can move relatively freely. And to a probe structure of an improved laser treatment device that does not require the operator to reside next to the patient.

Laser medical devices are mainly used for surgical lasers used for microincision and bleeding prevention during surgery, pain relief and treatment of arthritis patients, auxiliary treatment for fractures, treatment of dermatitis, especially athlete's foot, acne or burns Physical therapy for the treatment of the While the laser medical device for surgery uses the high energy of the laser, the laser such as a physical therapy device utilizes the laser energy of low power according to the oscillation frequency and the therapeutic effect. The present invention relates to the latter laser physiotherapy device.

Laser physiotherapy equipment used in the treatment of arthritis, fractures, skin treatment, etc. is to use a laser light of 600 ~ 1500nm wavelength corresponding to the visible and infrared region. When the laser of this wavelength is intensively irradiated, it is known that the laser penetrates into the human tissue and stimulates moisture and various biological molecules constituting the cells, thereby vibrating minutely about 2,000 times per minute. . This vibration of human cells not only generates heat, but also accelerates cell metabolism, speeds up blood flow, promotes the production of ATP, promotes the excretion of waste in the body, and balances the supply of nutrients in the body. It is known to give pain relief and to treat inflammation.

The laser physiotherapy device is composed of a medium for generating laser light, a power supply unit, which is a laser light generator, and a laser light transmission device, similarly to a surgical laser device.

However, there is no development and improvement of the probe in each part of the laser physiotherapy device. ① Install the probe at the end of the joint arm and adjust the joint arm to irradiate the affected area with the laser, or ② Medical assistants carry out the probe directly, or ③ using only two mirrors to irradiate the affected area with the laser beam is used.

Therefore, when using a conventional laser physiotherapy device, the movement of the patient is extremely limited during the treatment time (in the case of ① and ③) or unnecessary inconvenience is required to reside (②). There was a disadvantage that it was difficult to investigate the necessary lesions. In particular, in the case of the ③ method, some energy is absorbed from two mirrors in structure, and part of the energy is lost due to dust floating in the air.

In the laser physiotherapy apparatus, the LD-mounted probe is fixed to the affected part while the laser is irradiated to the affected part or near the affected part for treatment, so that the patient can move relatively freely. It is intended to provide a probe structure of a laser treatment device that does not need to be.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a method of irradiating a affected area with laser light in the prior art.

Figure 2 is a device configuration of the laser physiotherapy device to which the probe according to the present invention is applied.

3A, 3B and 3C are cross-sectional schematic, bottom and perspective views of the probe according to one embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

Figures 4a and 4b is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the probe and the affected area when the probe according to an embodiment of the present invention to the affected area and the operation of the treatment device.

******** Explanation of the major reference symbols ********

1. Probe 5. Articulated arm 10. Probe case

20.LD 21.LD lead wire 22.LD substrate

30. Power supply part 40. Air inlet part 50. Pressure reducing part

100. Physical Therapy

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a probe structure for fixing a laser diode (Laser Diod, hereinafter referred to as 'LD') by a reduced pressure adsorption to the affected part in a spaced apart state from the affected part.

The present invention provides a longitudinal probe case of elastic material; One or a plurality of LDs fixed inside the probe case such that a light emitting surface faces a lower opening of the probe case; A power supply unit connected to the lead wires of the LD to supply power; An air entry part formed through the probe case; It relates to a probe structure of a laser physical therapy device, including; air pressure control device is in communication with the air entry portion of the probe case.

Therefore, the probe according to the present invention has a structure in which all of the probes are centered on allowing the probe to be adsorbed by reduced pressure or vacuum (hereinafter, referred to as 'decompression') in the affected part.

The probe case 10 mounts the contents of the probe 1 and functions to fix the probe 1 to the affected part when applied to a patient. Therefore, the probe case 10 is made of an elastic polymer so that the affected part has less irritation and the affected part can be appropriately corresponded to the bending. It is preferable that the material is, for example, silicon material, which is easily deformed by external force while maintaining its shape and does not harm the human body. In order to protect the LD 20 to be mounted, the upper part is made of a solid material, and the lower part (part in contact with the affected part) may be made of silicon.

The LD 20 may also be referred to as a semiconductor laser as a semiconductor emitting laser light, and various wavelengths may be selected according to the object and purpose of treatment. For example, a gallium-aluminum-arsenic (GAAlAs) -based laser semiconductor for 780 nm wavelength, an indium-gallium-aluminum-phosphorus (InGaAlP) -based semiconductor for 670 nm wavelength, and indium-gallium- for 1300 nm wavelength Arsenic-phosphorus (InAgAsP) -based semiconductors can be used. In the probe 1 according to the present invention, one to a plurality of LDs 20 can be applied. At this time, if necessary, only the LD 20 having the same wavelength may be used, or the LD 20 having different wavelengths may be mixed to increase the effect of treatment.

The rear lead wire 21 of the LD 20 is connected to the power introduction part 30 to receive power for emitting light. The power supply unit 30 is a wire having a predetermined capacity, and the probe case 10 penetrates from the outside to the inside. For convenience of manufacturing, the LD 20 may be mounted on the substrate 22 to be integrally installed.

Since the probe 1 according to the present invention should be fixedly attached to the affected part for a long time (treatment time), the inside of the probe case 10 should be formed at a suitable degree of decompression during operation of the device. To this end, the probe 1 according to the present invention has an air entry part 40 formed therethrough through the probe case 10. The air access portion 40 is a tubular shape in which the probe case 10 penetrates from the inside to the outside. The air inlet 40 is connected to the pressure reducing device 50 installed outside the probe case 10 via an airtight hose. The depressurization control device 50 includes a vacuum pump, and in use, excessive suction force is generated in the affected part, so that a bruise occurs, or the decompression degree is lowered, so that the probe 1 is prevented from being detached from the affected part. ), It is recommended to install a vacuum control valve. When a plurality of probes 1 are handled by one pressure reducing device 50, a pressure reducing distributor and a solenoid valve may be installed. The massage effect may be added to the affected part by controlling the depressurization controller 50 so that the degree of decompression is changed repeatedly.

Except for the lower opening of the probe case 10, the respective components are hermetically coupled to each other.

The power supply portion 30, the air inlet portion 40 and the airtight hose is preferably made of a material that can be freely bent for the convenience of work.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described the present invention in more detail. The drawings and the descriptions related to the drawings are only examples of the present invention, and the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a method of irradiating the affected area with laser light in the prior art. As can be seen from the above, as described above, when the conventional laser physiotherapy machine 100 is treated to the patient, the probe 1 is installed at the distal end of the joint arm 5 and the joint arm 5 is adjusted to control the laser light. It is supposed to investigate the affected part. Therefore, if the patient moves to some extent, the affected area will be out of the irradiation area, so the patient had to fix the posture "without freezing" during the treatment.

2 is a block diagram of the laser physical therapy apparatus 100 to which the probe 1 according to the present invention is applied. Although not shown, the physical therapy apparatus 100 is provided with a sensor unit for detecting the status of each component. According to the signal of the adjustment device (such as the device control panel) by the user and a predetermined program, the controller supplies or cuts power to each component. In addition, the controller transmits the current status of each component to the display device to display a variety of information. As described above, the depressurization control device 50 includes a vacuum pump, an air filter, a vacuum control valve, a distributor equipped with a solenoid valve, and the like, and is connected to the air inlet 40 of the vertical probe case 10.

3A, 3B, and 3C are cross-sectional schematic views, bottom views, and perspective views seen from the lower side of the probe 1 in which three LDs 20 are provided, respectively. As can be seen from the figure, the light emitting surface of the LD 20 is fixedly mounted downward, that is, toward the lower opening of the probe case 10. Three LDs 20 are mounted on the substrate 22. The number of installation of the LD 20 may be varied as needed.

For convenience of drawing, the air inlet 40 and the airtight hose are shown without distinction. In addition, the power inlet 30, air inlet 40 and hermetic hose are originally shown as straight but bend freely. Although the end of the air inlet 40 is formed in the center of the LD 20 installation area in the figure, it does not matter where the end of the air inlet 40 is provided.

After all the components of the probe are installed, it is preferable to fill the upper space inside the probe case 10 with polymer in order to increase durability and airtightness of the probe 1.

4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the probe 1 having the structure according to the present invention and the affected part of the probe 1 at the time of initial contact with the affected area and during operation of the treatment device. When the operation is started, the pressure reducing device 50 operates to suck the air in the space enclosed by the probe 1 and the affected part to form a reduced pressure so that the affected part is slightly raised into the probe case 10 while the probe 1 is operated. It will be fixed. As described above, the probe 1 according to the present invention is fixed to the affected part of the patient, so that the patient can move the body relatively freely, and irradiate the laser light to the precisely desired part.

Meanwhile, in the process of applying the probe having the structure according to the present invention to the affected part, the opening and closing time of the solenoid valve connected to the vacuum pump is appropriately adjusted to open for a predetermined time (for example, about 3 seconds), and then again for a predetermined time ( About 3 seconds). As a result, the affected part is periodically vibrated by air pressure, thereby imparting a massage effect to the affected part, thereby shortening the treatment time.

Since the probe of the laser physiotherapy device according to the present invention is fixed to the affected part of the patient during the operation of the device, the patient can move relatively freely, and the operator does not have to reside next to the patient, and the gap between the laser emitting surface and the affected part is set narrow Therefore, the laser beam can be irradiated to the desired area more efficiently than the physical therapy device having the conventional probe structure. In addition, a massage effect may be added to the affected part, thereby increasing the therapeutic effect of the affected part.

Claims (4)

In the probe (1) structure of the LD (20) laser physiotherapy apparatus (100), A vertical probe case 10 made of an elastic material; One or more LDs 20 fixed to the inside of the probe case 10 such that a light emitting surface faces a lower opening of the probe case 10; A power supply unit 30 connected to the lead wire 21 of the LD 20 to supply power; An air inlet 40 formed through the probe case 10; Probe structure of a laser physical therapy device comprising a; pressure reduction control unit 50 is in communication with the air entry portion 40 of the probe case (10). The method of claim 1, The probe case 10 is a material of the probe structure of the laser physical therapy device, characterized in that the elastic and harmless polymer. The method of claim 1, The LD (20) is a probe structure of the laser physical therapy device, characterized in that 1 to 5. The method of operating a physiotherapy device having a probe structure according to claim 1, wherein the decompression control unit (50) periodically repeats decompression and decompression.