JPH03218773A - optical probe - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention transmits the power of a laser beam to an optical probe through an optical fiber to irradiate a diseased part of an irradiated body, that is, a living body.
It mainly relates to medical optical probes that relieve pain and promote wound healing.
No. This relates to an optical probe that guides and emits laser light ranging from red to infrared, such as semiconductor laser light.

Conventional technology The structure of a conventional optical probe is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber that guides laser light through one light input end face and outputs the laser light from the other light output end face 2. In this example, it is composed of three optical fibers. Reference numeral 3 denotes an optical fiber fixing body that encompasses the output end of the optical fiber 1 and forms a light output unit 6 with each light output end face 2 of the optical fiber 1 facing the surface thereof, and is made of metal or hard synthetic resin. It is formed of. Reference numeral 6 denotes a hand piece part that includes the optical fiber 1 and the optical fiber fixing body 3 and is used by the operator to grasp the optical probe with his/her hand.
, the optical fiber fixing body 3, and the handpiece section 6 form an optical probe 7. Note that 8 is a protection tube that protects the optical fiber 1.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such conventional optical probes, as shown in FIG. 8, when the light emitting surface 5 of the optical probe 7 is brought into close contact with an object 8 to be irradiated, such as a living body, laser light is irradiated. Since the biological surface is generally not flat and the fixing part 6 of the optical fiber is a hard member, it may not be possible to bring all of the light emitting end surfaces 2 of the optical fiber 1 into close contact with the biological surface. In such a state, the emitted laser light will leak, and as a result, the power density of the laser light 9 irradiated to the living body will decrease, resulting in a decrease in the therapeutic effect. Furthermore, there is a problem that the emitted laser beam 9 is scattered by the living body surface 8, resulting in danger.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical probe for laser light that can eliminate leakage of emitted laser light, prevent deterioration of therapeutic effects, and eliminate danger.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises one or more optical fibers and a hand piece that covers the light emitting end of the optical fiber, and the tip of the hand piece. An optical probe is constructed by disposing an optical fiber fixing body made of a flexible material that surrounds the optical fiber, the optical fiber having a light output surface facing the light output end of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber fixing body made of a flexible material that surrounds the optical fiber. It is something.

In addition, the light output surface of the optical fiber fixing body is formed into a concave surface,
Furthermore, an air suction path for suctioning air is provided so as to face the light output surface of the optical fiber fixing body, thereby configuring an optical probe.

Effect The present invention has the above-described configuration, and since the optical fiber fixing body has flexibility, when the light emitting surface of the optical probe is brought into contact with the biological surface, the light emitting surface will move along the abutting part of the biological surface. Since they are in close contact, no gap is created between the light emitting end face of the optical fiber and the surface of the living body, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in power density, scattering, and leakage of the irradiated laser light.

Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes an optical fiber into which laser light is introduced from one light input end face and which emits the laser light from the other light output end face 12. In this example, It is composed of three optical fibers. Reference numeral 13 denotes an optical fiber fixing body which embeds and encloses the output end 121L of the optical fiber 11 and forms a light output end 14 with the light output end 12 of the optical fiber 11 facing the surface thereof, and is made of silicone rubber, urethane rubber, etc. The light emitting surface 14 is formed in a planar shape.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a handpiece portion integrally connected to the rear of the optical fiber fixing body 13. The optical fiber 11, the optical fiber fixing body 13, and the hand piece portion 15 constitute an optical probe 16. Then, the operator grasps the end piece portion 16 and operates the optical probe 16. The flexible material may be any material as long as it can achieve the effects of the present invention, and is not limited to silicone rubber or urethane rubber.

Next, the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, and the third embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be explained with reference to the drawings and FIG. Note that the same members as those in the first embodiment are given the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted.

First, in FIG. 2, the light emitting surface 14 of the optical fiber fixing body 13 is formed into a concave shape 17, so that the optical fiber fixing body 13 is pressed against and attracted to the object to be irradiated.

Next, in FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 18 denotes an air suction path disposed with its suction hole facing the light output surface 14 of the optical fiber fixing body 13, and in this embodiment, the periphery of the light output surface 14 is The light emitting end face 12 of the optical fiber 11 is disposed around the light emitting end face 12 of the optical fiber 11. This air suction path 18 can be implemented either in the first embodiment or in the second embodiment, and a conventionally known air suction device can be used. .

To explain the operation in the above configuration, the handpiece portion 15 of the optical probe 16 is held and the light emitting surface 14 of the optical fiber fixing body 13 is brought into contact with the living body (hereinafter referred to as living body) ▲ which is the irradiated object. , Since the optical fiber fixing body 13 is made of a flexible material, the light emitting surface 14 of the optical fiber fixing body 13 deforms along the shape of the surface of the living body ▲.
(See FIG. 5) The light exit surface 14 is in close contact with the living body ▲. Although the first embodiment has sufficient adhesion of the light emitting surface 14 to the living body ▲, in order to further improve the adhesion and eliminate the need to hold the optical probe 16, the second embodiment Since the light emitting surface 14 is formed as a concave surface 17, the optical probe fixing body 13 can be pressed against the living body ▲, and the optical probe 16 can be attracted to the living body by the suction cup action of the concave surface 17.

Furthermore, as in the third embodiment, since the air suction bow 18 is disposed around the peripheral edge of the light output surface 14 of the optical fiber fixing body 13 and around the light output end surface 12 of the optical fiber 11, After the optical fiber fixing body 13 is brought into contact with the living body ▲, the optical probe 16 can be more reliably attracted to the living body ▲ by suctioning air with an air suction device. In addition, the light emitting surface 14 is formed into a concave shape 17, and the air suction path 18 is provided on the emitting surface 14, so that the optical fiber fixing body 13 reliably comes into close contact with the living body ▲, and therefore the optical fiber Since the power density of the laser beam emitted from the light emitting end face 12 of No. 11 does not decrease, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the therapeutic effect, and since the emitted laser beam is not scattered from the surface of the living body, the danger caused by this is also prevented. Furthermore, the operator does not need to hold the optical probe, and it is possible to provide an optical probe that is easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show optical probes according to embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external view of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external view of the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an external view of the second embodiment. is an external view of the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment is an external view of the third embodiment.
6 is a side view of the same optical probe in use, FIG. 6 is an external view of the conventional example, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the same in use. 11... Optical fiber, 12... Light output end face, 12 &... Light output end, 13...
Optical fiber fixing body, 14... Light output surface, 15.
...Hand piece part, 16 ... Optical probe, 17 ... Concave shape, 18 ... Air suction path.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) Consisting of one or more optical fibers and a hand piece that covers the light output end of the optical fiber, the hand piece has a light output end at the tip of the hand piece. An optical probe comprising an optical fiber fixing body made of a flexible material that surrounds the optical fiber and has an end face facing the surface to form a light exit surface. 2) The optical probe according to claim 1, wherein the light exit surface of the optical fiber fixing body is formed into a concave surface. (3) The optical probe according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising an air suction path for suctioning air so as to face the light exit surface of the optical fiber fixing body.