WO2020111515A1

WO2020111515A1 - Dual laser output device having optimized laser coupling efficiency

Info

Publication number: WO2020111515A1
Application number: PCT/KR2019/013893
Authority: WO
Inventors: 이정민; 김정수; 임규동
Original assignee: 비손메디칼 주식회사
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2019-10-22
Publication date: 2020-06-04

Abstract

A dual laser output device having optimized laser coupling efficiency of the present invention comprises: a first oscillator which outputs a laser of a first wavelength; a second oscillator which outputs a laser of a second wavelength; a fiber coupler that makes a predetermined laser incident on an input point incident to an optical fiber; and a laser selection part having a beam selection mirror which is configured to block the laser of the first wavelength and guide the laser of the second wavelength to the fiber coupler by being placed on a first optical path through which the laser of the first wavelength reaches the input point of the fiber coupler, and to guide the laser of the first wavelength to the fiber coupler by being removed from the first optical path.

Description

Dual laser output device with optimized laser coupling efficiency

The present invention relates to a dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency, and more particularly, to a laser output device optimizing the optical path and coupling efficiency of two lasers of different wavelengths.

Thulium (Tm) lasers and Holmium (Ho) lasers are used in the medical field, particularly in the urology field.

The Thulium laser has a wavelength of approximately 1950 nm, and is generally irradiated by a continuous wave (CW) or quasi-continuous wave (QCW), and is mainly used for resection and hemostasis in surgical procedures. do.

Holmium laser has a wavelength of around 2100 nm, and is generally irradiated with a pulse. Holmium laser is also used for ablation and hemostasis like the thlium laser, but the thlium CW laser has a higher ablation and hemostasis effect, and the Holmium laser is pulsed, so its peak power is high, so it is mainly urinary tract stones. It is used for crushing.

According to these characteristics, two different lasers can be simultaneously irradiated in order to use a thulium CW laser for resection and hemostasis and a holmium laser for crushing of stones in the treatment of urinary/urinary/bladder stones in urology. An existing device is being used for the procedure.

1 shows the structure of a thulium and holmium laser output device according to the prior art.

First, a thulium laser (or a thulium fiber laser) is output by a fiber amplification method in which a basic light of a laser diode is injected into an optical fiber to amplify and then output through a collimator using thulium as a medium. Thulium fiber laser is a laser that is widely used for industrial purposes due to its high efficiency and high stability.

Meanwhile, the holmium laser is generated using a flash lamp. When the flash lamp supplies strong light energy to the Ho:YAG crystal by side pumping, the light is amplified between the two mirrors (HR and OC), and a holmium laser is output through the mirror (OC). The holmium laser generated by flash pumping follows the light emission characteristics of the flash lamp and is output in pulse form. Therefore, although the peak power is high, it can operate only in a pulsed state, and the laser output efficiency is not good compared to the pumped energy (usually, the output efficiency is 2-3%).

The thulium laser output from the thulium fiber laser oscillation module is incident on the transmission surface of the combiner, passes through the transmission surface, and enters the fiber coupler.

On the other hand, the holmium laser output from the holmium laser oscillation module is reflected from the mirror and incident on the reflective surface of the combiner, and is reflected from the reflective surface, and incident on the same fiber coupler as the thulium laser.

The fiber coupler causes the incident light to enter the optical fiber.

The optical fiber extends into the body through an endoscope or the like so that a thulium laser and/or a holmium laser can be irradiated to the treatment site.

In this way, if two lasers are configured to output simultaneously or selectively from one device, lasers of two different wavelengths can be emitted from one port, so that an efficient laser can be selected for urological surgery.

However, the combiner used herein should have the property of transmitting a thulium laser and reflecting a holmium laser. Thulium lasers usually have a wavelength around 1950 nm and holmium lasers usually have a wavelength around 2100 nm. Therefore, it is difficult to realize the characteristic of reflecting one laser and transmitting the laser in a similar range.

That is, when the maximum reflection efficiency is realized in the wavelength band of the holmium laser, some reflection characteristics can be exhibited even in the wavelength band in the vicinity, and as a result, the transmission efficiency of the thulium laser may be lowered.

Conversely, if the transmission efficiency in the wavelength band of the thulium laser is to be maximized, even the wavelength band in the vicinity may exhibit some transmission characteristics, and as a result, the reflection efficiency of the holmium laser may be lowered.

Therefore, the combiner that transmits the thulium laser and reflects the holmium laser is made in a state in which the transmission efficiency and the reflection efficiency are mutually compromised, so that at least one of the thulium laser and the holmium laser has to be reduced in efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention, in a laser output device capable of irradiating a thulium laser and a holmium laser through a single optical fiber, by optimizing the optical path of the laser and optimizing the coupling efficiency, the thulium laser and the holmium laser incident on the fiber coupler We want to maximize efficiency.

The thulium and holmium laser output device having an optimized optical path according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes: a first oscillator outputting a laser having a first wavelength; A second oscillator outputting a laser having a second wavelength; A fiber coupler that causes a predetermined laser incident on the input point to enter the optical fiber; The laser of the first wavelength is interposed in the first optical path reaching the input point of the fiber coupler, thereby blocking the laser of the first wavelength, directing the laser of the second wavelength to the fiber coupler, and the first optical path And a laser selector having a beam selection mirror configured to guide the laser of the first wavelength to the fiber coupler by being removed from the.

At this time, the first oscillator generates a laser of the first wavelength using thulium as a medium, whereby the first wavelength is in the range of 1900 to 2100 nm, and the second oscillator uses holmium as the medium, and the second wavelength To generate a laser, and the second wavelength may be in the range of 2100 to 2200 nm, or vice versa.

In addition, the laser output device further includes a first guide beam oscillator that outputs a first guide laser having a first visible wavelength that can be visually identified, wherein the first guide laser includes the beam selection mirror. When removed from one optical path and the laser of the first wavelength enters the fiber coupler, a path may be configured to enter the fiber coupler.

Alternatively, the laser output device may further include a second guide beam oscillator that outputs a second guide laser having a second visible wavelength that can be visually identified, and the second guide laser includes the second When a laser having a wavelength changes a path by the beam selection mirror and enters the fiber coupler, the path may be configured to enter the fiber coupler.

In addition, the first oscillator and the second oscillator may be arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the outer shape, and may be arranged such that each output side faces the same direction.

Further, the laser output device may further include a first reflection mirror 161 that reflects the laser of the first wavelength from the first oscillator to reach the fiber coupler, and the beam selection mirror 131. May be disposed between the first reflective mirror and the fiber coupler.

Meanwhile, the beam selection mirror is configured to be movable in a hinge shape along a predetermined rotation axis, is configured to be movable in a sliding manner toward the first optical path, or has a rotating plate that rotates along the rotation axis, and the rotating plate At least a mirror reflecting the laser of the second wavelength and a light transmitting member transmitting the laser of at least the first wavelength and the laser of the second wavelength are disposed around the rotation axis, and the mirror or the light transmitting member is rotated as the rotating plate rotates. It may be configured to be alternately interposed in the first optical path.

The dual laser output device according to the present invention configured as described above can minimize the laser energy loss in the optical path by optimizing the optical paths of the lasers output from the laser oscillators and optimizing the coupling efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to improve the output efficiency of the lasers.

1 is a structural diagram of a thulium and holmium laser output device according to the prior art.

2 is a structural diagram of a dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 shows various implementations of the beam selection mirror.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, since the terms referring to each component of the present invention are exemplarily named in consideration of their functions, the technical contents of the present invention should not be predicted and limited by the terms themselves.

First, with reference to FIG. 2, a schematic structure of a thulium and holmium laser output device with an optimized optical path according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency according to the present invention includes a first oscillator 120 outputting a laser of the first wavelength (first laser or thulium laser) and a laser of the second wavelength (second laser or , Holmium laser) and the second oscillator 150 outputting one or two

guide beam oscillators

111 and 115 for outputting a guide laser for visually identifying the point where the laser is irradiated, Configured to guide the guide laser, the first laser, and the second laser to a single input point of the fiber coupler 190 to direct the single optical fiber 192, at least any one of the first laser and the second laser It comprises a laser selector 131 configured to be selected and guided to the input point.

The first oscillator 120 may be defined as a component that generates and outputs a thulium laser having a first wavelength (eg, 1900 to 2050 nm band) using thulium as a medium in the present invention. Accordingly, below, the first oscillator 120 may be described and described as a thulium oscillator.

The first oscillator 120 using thulium as a medium may amplify and convert the incident CW basic light using an optical fiber amplification method to generate a first laser. Generally, the first laser output by the optical fiber amplification method is irradiated by the CW or QCW method depending on the output characteristics of the laser light source.

The second oscillator 150 may be defined as a component that generates and outputs a holmium laser having a second wavelength (for example, a 2100 nm band) using holmium as a medium in the present invention. Thus, hereinafter, the second oscillator 150 may be described and described as a holmium oscillator.

The second oscillator 150 using holmium as a medium may be generated by a side pumping method using light of a flash lamp, and is irradiated in a pulse manner according to the characteristics of the flash lamp.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the first oscillator 120 may be a holmium oscillator and the second oscillator 150 may be a thulium oscillator. In addition, each oscillator may be a laser oscillator of different wavelengths using different media and/or different generation methods.

The laser selector 131 includes at least one reflection mirror capable of reflecting the second laser, that is, the beam selection mirror 131. The beam selection mirror 131 is configured to be able to alternately move the first position and the second position. The beam selection mirror 131 may be a reflective surface capable of reflecting all or almost all of the second laser at least on one side, and may be a blocking surface blocking lasers of all wavelengths. Here, if the blocking surface can block at least the first laser, other wavelengths may be transmitted.

First, a path from the output portion of the first oscillator 120 to the input point of the fiber coupler 190 is defined as a first optical path.

In addition, the first position is defined as a position where the beam selection mirror 131 is interposed in the first optical path. At this time, the beam selection mirror 131 blocks the first laser and reflects only the second laser. (190).

The second position is defined as a position where the beam selection mirror 131 is removed from the first optical path. At this time, since the beam selection mirror 131 does not block the first optical path, the first laser is a fiber coupler 190 ).

As such, any one of the first laser and the second laser may be incident on the fiber coupler 190 according to the state of the beam selection mirror 131 of the laser selection unit, and the operator may select either one of the first laser and the second laser. You can select and perform the procedure.

In general, an oscillator that oscillates a laser may have a long shape. Accordingly, the first oscillator 120 using thulium as a medium and the second oscillator 150 using holmium as a medium may be arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction in the laser output device. In particular, they can be arranged in the same direction toward the fiber coupler 190. Accordingly, there is a need for a reflective optical element for guiding the laser output from each oscillator to a path leading to the fiber coupler 190 (eg, to a straight path reaching the fiber coupler).

To this end, a mirror 122 is disposed at the output of the first oscillator 120 to reflect the first laser toward the straight path. Likewise, a mirror 152 is disposed on the output of the second oscillator 150 to reflect the second laser toward the straight path to induce the fiber coupler 190.

When the optical elements and the optical path are configured as described above, the first laser output from the first oscillator 120 reaches the fiber coupler 190 through the reflection mirror 122 and the first reflection mirror 161. You will proceed to the path. In this case, the first laser passes only two reflective optical elements, and since the reflective mirror 122 and the first reflective mirror 161 can be manufactured to have almost complete reflective characteristics with respect to the first laser, the reflective mirror ( 122, 161), and there is no energy transmitted through it. Therefore, while the first laser is output and proceeds to the fiber coupler 190, there is little energy loss. Also, the optical path can be configured short.

Similarly, the second laser output from the second oscillator 150 proceeds through the reflection mirror 152 and the beam selection mirror 131 to the path reaching the fiber coupler 190. As such, the second laser also passes through only two reflective optical elements. Since the reflective mirror 152 can be manufactured to have complete reflective characteristics with respect to the second laser, it is not reflected by the

reflective mirrors

152 and 131 and transmitted through it. There is no energy to throw away. Therefore, while the second laser is output and proceeds to the fiber coupler 190, there is little energy loss. Also, the optical path can be configured short.

In this way, the dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency according to the present invention can optimize the optical paths of two different lasers having similar wavelength bands and output them through a single fiber coupler. It is possible to minimize the energy loss generated in the furnace.

The first laser and the second laser may be invisible lasers that are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, in order to visually confirm the position where the laser is irradiated, the present invention is configured to irradiate the guide laser together with the first laser and/or the second laser. The wavelength of the guide laser can usually be selected in the 400-700 nm band.

The first guide beam oscillator 111 may include a laser diode LD1 for outputting a first guide laser in an arbitrary color wavelength band visually recognizable by the operator. The first guide laser may be guided to the fiber coupler through the reflection mirror 112.

At this time, the optical path of the first guide laser is configured to pass through the reflection mirror 161 so as to overlap the optical path of the first laser, particularly, when passing through the laser selector 131, it is preferable to almost overlap (laser To be blocked or transmitted simultaneously by the selector). Here, the reflection mirror 161, the first guide laser is to be transmitted and the first laser should be implemented to reflect, since the difference between the wavelength of the first guide laser and the wavelength of the first laser is large, the reflection mirror 161 Even if is implemented as a dichroic mirror, the reflective properties of the first laser on the reflective surface are not deteriorated.

The second guide beam oscillator 115 is also configured to output a second guide laser in an arbitrary color wavelength band visually recognizable by the operator. The second guide laser may be guided to the optical path of the second laser through the mirror 116. The second guide laser may pass through the reflective mirror 152 and be guided to the optical path of the second laser. In particular, the second guide laser should overlap the optical paths in the laser selector so that it can be reflected simultaneously with the second laser by the beam selection mirror 131.

On the other hand, since the difference between the wavelength band of the second laser and the second guide laser is also large, even if the reflection mirror 152 is implemented as a dichroic mirror, the reflection characteristics of the second laser on the reflection surface are not deteriorated.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the colors of the first guide laser and the second guide laser may be set differently.

By providing one guide laser for each laser as described above, when the operator irradiates and performs any one laser using the laser output device according to the present invention, the procedure is performed while visually checking the irradiation point of the currently output laser. You can proceed.

Moreover, when the color of each guide laser is set differently, the currently irradiated laser can be distinguished, so that the procedure can be performed more effectively.

3 illustrates various implementations of the beam selection mirror that can be used in the present invention. (a) shows a flip-type beam selection mirror 131 which can be operated in a hinged form (or flip-type) and held in a first position and a second position. When the mirror is flipped around an arbitrary rotation axis, the mirror 131 may be interposed as the optical path of the first laser or removed from the optical path.

(b) shows a slide-type beam selection mirror 131 that can be moved in a slide manner and held in a first position and a second position. The mirror can be interposed or removed in the optical path of the first laser by moving in a plane direction of the mirror 131 or sliding in a normal direction or an arbitrary direction.

(c) can insert or remove the reflection mirror 138 in the optical path of the first laser by rotating the rotating plate, and also insert the light transmitting member 139 (for example, a lens or a through hole) into the optical path or The rotating plate-shaped beam selection mirror 131 is shown. A mirror 138 and a through hole 139 may be formed on the rotating plate, and by controlling the rotation angle of the rotating plate, the first laser is reflected through the mirror of the optical path of the first laser or the optical path of the first laser The first laser beam can be transmitted through the through hole 139. When the first laser is transmitted, the second laser and/or the second guide laser is transmitted to reach the fiber coupler 190.

This figure is for conceptually explaining various methods of the beam selection mirror, and the movable direction, the placement direction, the rotation axis and the rotation direction of the beam selection mirror are arbitrarily set, and the incident direction of the laser is also arbitrarily set. However, if it is an optical element capable of changing the optical path, it is obvious that a beam selection mirror having a variety of different moving modes and shapes can be applied.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims. In addition, a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains will be capable of various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent to the present invention are the present invention. It should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the rights of.

Claims

A first oscillator outputting a laser having a first wavelength;

A second oscillator outputting a laser having a second wavelength;

A fiber coupler that causes a predetermined laser incident on the input point to enter the optical fiber;

The laser of the first wavelength is interposed in the first optical path reaching the input point of the fiber coupler, thereby blocking the laser of the first wavelength, directing the laser of the second wavelength to the fiber coupler, and the first optical path Included by removing from the laser selector having a beam selection mirror configured to direct the laser of the first wavelength to the fiber coupler, including, a dual laser output device that optimizes the laser coupling efficiency.
According to claim 1,

The first oscillator generates a laser of the first wavelength using thulium as a medium, whereby the first wavelength ranges from 1900 to 2100 nm, and the second oscillator uses holmium as a medium and the laser of the second wavelength. And the second wavelength ranges from 2100 to 2200 nm,

Or, the dual laser output device, characterized in that consisting of the reverse, optimized laser coupling efficiency.
According to claim 1,

Further comprising a first guide beam oscillator for outputting a first guide laser of a first visible wavelength that can be visually identified,

The first guide laser is characterized in that the path is configured to be incident on the fiber coupler when the beam selection mirror is removed from the first optical path so that the laser of the first wavelength enters the fiber coupler. Dual laser output device with optimized laser coupling efficiency.
The method of claim 1 or 3,

Further comprising a second guide beam oscillator for outputting a second guide laser of a second visible wavelength that can be visually identified,

In the second guide laser, when the laser of the second wavelength is changed to a path by the beam selection mirror and incident on the fiber coupler, a path is configured to enter the fiber coupler. Optimized dual laser output device.
According to claim 1,

The first oscillator and the second oscillator are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the outer shape, and characterized in that each output side is arranged to face the same direction, the dual laser output device optimized for the laser coupling efficiency.
According to claim 1,

And a first reflection mirror 161 reflecting the laser of the first wavelength from the first oscillator to reach the fiber coupler,

The beam selection mirror 131, characterized in that disposed between the first reflective mirror and the fiber coupler, a dual laser output device optimizing the laser coupling efficiency.
According to claim 1,

The beam selection mirror,

Is configured to be movable in the form of a hinge along a predetermined axis of rotation, or

Is configured to be movable in a sliding manner toward the first optical path,

The rotating plate is provided with a rotating plate, and the rotating plate is provided with a mirror reflecting at least the second wavelength laser and a transmissive member transmitting at least the first wavelength laser and the second wavelength laser around the rotating shaft. The dual laser output device with optimized laser coupling efficiency, characterized in that the mirror or the translucent member is alternately interposed in the first optical path as the rotating plate rotates.