JPH0368350A - Laser light irradiation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To irradiate an irradiating part with a laser beam by concentrating attention by releasing a laser beam cut-off means after detecting the fact that an operator catches a holding part at the terminal edge of a light introducing member. CONSTITUTION:When an operator catches a handpiece 3, a detection signal supplied from a detecting means 11 is transmitted to a control circuit 10, which allows a beam 8 to retreat from the laser beam L. When an operator holds the handpiece 3 towards a laser beam irradiation object, e.g. eye 20, and contacts the detecting means 11, the control circuit 10 instructs a driving part 9 to retreat the beam stop 8. Therefore, the laser beam L is collected to the incidence edge of an optical fiber 4 by a condenser lens 7, and irradiated to the diseased part of the eye 20 through the optical fiber 4. When irradiation terminates, the contact with the detecting means 11 is suspended, and then the beam stop 8 cuts off the laser beam L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a laser light irradiation device that performs work by irradiating laser light.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional laser beam irradiation devices are provided with a safety activation device that operates to irradiate laser beams only during work.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In many cases, the release switch for releasing the safety activation device and irradiating the laser beam is provided on the main body, so workers often have to carefully press the release switch while paying attention to the area to be irradiated. I was always careful to see if it was solved. That is, the operator could only pay attention to the irradiated area, which had a great impact on work efficiency and, in particular, on ensuring safety since laser light is dangerous.

Purpose of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser beam irradiation device that can solve the problem of the worker's attention to the irradiation area being distracted and can irradiate the laser beam without paying attention to the irradiation area. do.

Summary of the Invention The gist of the present invention is a laser beam irradiation device as set forth in the claims.

Means to solve problems Please refer to FIG.

A laser oscillator 5 as a laser light emitting means emits laser light. An optical fiber 4 as a light guide member guides laser light. Beam stop 8, which is a means of blocking laser light
and the drive unit 9 blocks the laser beam. A hand piece 3 serving as a holding portion is located at the tip of the optical fiber 4 and is held by an operator. The detection means 11 detects that the handpiece 3 is grasped. A control circuit which is a control means] 0 cancels the beam stop 8 in response to a detection signal from the detection means 11.

When the operator grasps the handpiece 3, a detection signal from the detection means 11 is transmitted to the control circuit 10. The control circuit 10 moves the beam stop 8 out of the laser beam.

Example 1 Refer to the laser beam irradiation device shown in FIG.

The laser beam irradiation device has a main body 1, a foot switch 2, a hand piece 3, and an optical fiber 4.

[Main body 1 co-laser oscillator 5 is connected to laser power supply 6. The laser light output from the laser oscillator 5 is passed through a condensing lens 7,
It reaches the handpiece 3 via the optical fiber 4.

The beam stop 8 blocks laser light.

This beam stop 8 can be withdrawn by a drive 9.

The control circuit 10 is connected to the laser power source 6, the drive unit 9, the foot switch 2, and the detection means 11 of the hand piece 3.

The detection means 11 is, for example, a touch sensor, and the conductor 1
2 to the control circuit 10.

The optical fiber 4 is covered with a cover 13, and the conductor 12
It is also covered with a cover 13 as shown in FIG. This makes it easy to handle even long optical fibers and conducting wires.

The handpiece 3 is held by the operator. When grasped, the detection means 11 is activated.

[Operation] First, the beam stop 8 is positioned between the condenser lens 7 and the laser oscillator 5 by the drive unit 9.

When the operator presses the foot switch 2, the control circuit 10 activates the laser power source 6 and the laser oscillator 5 outputs laser light. However, at this point the laser beam is blocked by the beam stop 8.

When the operator holds the handpiece 3 toward the laser beam irradiation target, for example, the eye 20, and touches the detection means 11, the control circuit 10 issues a command to the drive section 9. The drive 9 moves the beam stop 8 out. Therefore, the laser beam is focused by the condensing lens 7 onto the incident end of the optical fiber 4, and is irradiated to the affected part of the eye 20 through the optical fiber 4.

To end the irradiation, it is sufficient to stop touching the detection means 11. This causes the beam stop 8 to block the laser beam.

By the way, as the detection means 11, a pressure sensor, a sensor using a change in capacitance, an optical sensor, a sensor using a change in electrical resistance, a sensor using a change in angle, a temperature sensor, a sound wave sensor, etc. can be used. Further, as the laser light, argon laser light, CO2 laser light, or the like can be used.

Example 2 A foot switch serves as a laser beam irradiation switch. However, an irradiation switch may be provided on the handpiece instead of this foot switch.

In FIG. 3, the foot switch is omitted, and instead, the hand piece 3 is provided with an irradiation switch I00.

The other parts are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so their explanation will be omitted. The irradiation switch 100 is connected to the control circuit 10 by a conductor 1O. As shown in FIG.
is housed in the cover t3 of the optical fiber 4 in the same way as the conducting wire 12. The irradiation switch 100 can use the same type of sensor as the detection means 11 or a different type of sensor.

By doing so, laser beam irradiation can be performed using only the hand piece 3.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, an operator can irradiate or block laser light simply by grasping the holding portion. In other words, the operator's attention to the irradiation area is not distracted and the laser beam can be irradiated in a concentrated manner on the irradiation area.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a drawing showing Embodiment 2, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the laser beam irradiation device of the present invention. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. FIG. 1... Main body 2... Foot switch 3... Hand piece 4... Optical fiber 5. ......Laser oscillator 8...Beam stop ↓0...Control circuit 12...Conducting wire 13...Cover 36

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser light emitting means for emitting laser light, a light guide member for guiding the laser light, a laser light blocking means for blocking the laser light, and a holder for a worker to grasp the tip of the light guide member. A laser beam irradiation device comprising a part, a detection means for detecting that an operator has grasped the holding part, and a control means for releasing the laser light blocking means based on a detection signal from the detection means. .