JPH0736823B2 - Laser probe holding device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser probe holder for a laser application machine such as a laser knife and a laser processing machine, and more particularly to a laser probe holder for guiding a laser beam generated by a laser generator to a target portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a laser scalpel has been known to perform incision / coagulation / hemostasis of living tissue or incision / evaporation treatment of an affected area such as polyps or ulcers by YAG laser light or CO ₂ laser light. It is composed of a laser generator for generating laser light and a light guide path connected to the laser generator for guiding the laser light generated by the laser generator to a target site. Recently, a lightweight and flexible laser fiber is often used as the light guide path.
In particular, a laser probe with a double structure in which a laser fiber is inserted in a Teflon tube and air is sent by utilizing the gap between the Teflon tube and the laser fiber is used. A laser scalpel that performs the above laser treatment by introducing a probe into a body cavity has been put into practical use. In this type of laser knife, a long laser probe having a length of several meters to several tens of meters is usually used so that the treatment can be performed even at a place sufficiently separated from the laser generator.

By the way, when a laser beam is guided to a target site by using an endoscope channel with such a long laser probe, since the laser probe itself is also highly flexible, it sags on the way to the floor surface. The laser probe may be contaminated due to the contact, and if the surgeon handles the laser probe without noticing it, the inside of the endoscope channel and the surgeon's hand are contaminated, resulting in surgery of the patient. There is a serious problem that the parts are contaminated. When the laser treatment is not performed, the laser probe is wound in a loop with the incident end connected to the laser generator so as to prevent the laser probe from interfering with the operator and covers the upper surface of the laser generator. It was supposed to be placed on a sterilized sheet, but if you touch the laser probe carelessly, this laser probe will slip from the top of the laser generator to the floor and become contaminated, and even the laser that fell on the floor. There are various problems that an operator, an assistant, a nurse, etc. step on and damage the probe without noticing it.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, a plurality of laser probe holding members are hung from the ceiling of an operating room, and the holding members hold the laser probe to avoid contact with the floor surface. However, in this case, it is necessary to install a holding member that has been sterilized each time in the room where the laser treatment is performed, and since the position of the holding member is fixed, hold it even when the laser treatment is not performed. The laser probe held by the member has a drawback that the degree of freedom of the operator, assistant, nurse, etc. is limited. Also, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 185843/1982, FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a first member rotatably connected by a shaft 8 to a supporting member 6 a provided at one longitudinal end of a recess 5 formed on one side of the upper surface of the laser generator 1. 1
The column 7 is held by the stay 16 in a state of being raised almost vertically, and the groove 9 opened to the upper end surface along the longitudinal direction of the first column 7 and the side surface excluding the upper end surface of the groove 9 are elongated holes 10.
A second support column 12 slidably inserted in the groove 9 closed by a cover plate 11 having a hole formed therein, a tightening screw 13 passed through the elongated hole 10 at the lower end portion thereof, and formed at the upper end portion. The first holding portion 14 for holding and fixing the laser probe 3 and the second holding portion 15 for fitting and holding the handpiece are used. When the laser generator 1 is not used, the second support 12 is attached to the first holding portion 14. There is disclosed a laser device in which the first support column 7 is housed in the support column 7 and housed in the recessed section 5 and the cover 6 is closed so as not to be exposed to the outside of the laser generator 1.

[0005]

However, in such a holding structure, the first structure for holding and fixing the laser probe 3 is used.
The holding part 14 and the second holding part 15 for fitting and holding the handpiece cannot be attached to and detached from the laser generator 1, and therefore cannot be sterilized and are always contaminated. When the operator operates the laser probe or handpiece held by this holding part, the operator's hands and the inside of the channel of the endoscope are contaminated, and as a result, the surgical site of the patient is also contaminated. It had a big problem in practical use. Note that this problem is solved
In order to remove the pillar 12 from the laser generator 1,
It can be considered to be present. However, this prop 1
2, the height for holding the laser probe 3 is changed.
In order to force it to expand and contract even during treatment
Etc. are externally applied in the axial direction. Therefore, the pillar 1
When 2 is simply removable, this axial direction from the outside
Due to the directional force, the support column 12 causes the laser generator 1 during the treatment.
The laser probe 3 fell off the floor and broke.
It creates the problem that it may be lost.
U

[0006] The present invention has been achieved to solve the above problems, be contaminated when using a long laser probe in the laser application machine follows Rezapuro
To avoid contaminating it when using
The laser generator can be easily attached and detached to allow sterilization, and when using the laser probe.
If you accidentally slip off the laser generator,
An object of the present invention is to provide a laser probe holding device that does not have a laser probe.

[0007]

The present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION, in the laser probe holding device of the laser application unit for guiding the laser beam generated by the laser generator to the target site with a laser probe, Les
User probe can be held and its axial direction
A probe holder having a shape whose length is longer than the width direction.
The holding means and the base end of the probe holding means are provided.
And has a width wider than that of the probe holding means.
Flange part and the flange holding part
The outer wall has a groove that detachably holds only from the width direction of the step.
And a laser generator .
In the present invention, the flange portion and the groove portion,
It may be configured to be magnetically attached by magnetic force.

[0008]

1 and 2 are perspective views of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view showing a stretchable and bendable tube according to the present invention in a stretched state, and FIG. 4 is a line I--I of FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1
Is a laser generator. The laser generator 1 is provided with a carrying handle 17 and a lead-out body 2 through which the laser light generated here is guided. The lead-out body 2 has a built-in condenser lens for collecting the laser light. The laser probe 3 is connected via the connector 4. This laser probe 3
Is introduced into the body cavity through the channel of the endoscope, and although not shown in detail, it has a double structure in which a laser fiber such as quartz or thallium bromoiodide is inserted into the Teflon tube. Air can be supplied by utilizing the gap between the laser and the laser fiber.

On the other hand, a T-shaped groove portion 18 having a T-shaped cross section made of a magnetic material such as iron or stainless is formed as a groove portion on a part of the upper outer wall surface of the laser generator 1.
By inserting the flange 20 as a flange portion in which the permanent magnet 19 is embedded shown in FIG. 3 along the T-shaped groove portion 18, the flange 20 is magnetically attached by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet and the insertion direction is Other than that, it is configured to be detachably connected so that it does not come out.

The flange 20 has a groove portion of the flange portion 20.
Align its axis in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction for
Thus, one end of a long flexible tube 21 as a probe holding means is fixed . As shown in FIG.
The width of the flange portion 20 is larger than the width of the flexible / bendable tube 21.
Is also wide. A stopper 22 is fixed to the other end of the expandable / flexible tube 21. Flexible tube 21 is shown in Fig. 3.
As shown in FIG. 5, the outer periphery thereof has a shape in which the convex portions 23 and the concave portions 24 are alternately and continuously repeated. Usually, the concave portion 24 is made of synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride, urethane, or polyethylene as compared with the convex portion 23. Is formed by thinning the wall thickness or by making a crease in the center of the recess 24, so that each recess 24 can be slightly stretched or bent to fix it in any length and shape. Has been done. Also,
On the outer periphery of the convex portion 23 of the expandable / flexible tube 21, the convex portion 2
3 A first probe elastic holder 2 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter and made of a rubber-like elastic body such as silicon or urethane.
5 are fitted in the radial direction, and the outer circumference of the convex portion 23 at the end of the expandable / bendable tube 21 has the same convex portion 23.
A second probe elastic holding body 26 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter and made of a rubber-like elastic body such as silicon or urethane is fitted in the radial direction. The first elastic probe holding body 25 and the second elastic probe holding body 26 can be fitted into the position / angle of any convex portion 23 of the expandable / bendable tube 21 by expanding the inner diameter. . As shown in FIG. 4, in the first probe elastic holder 25, a circular opening 28 slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the laser probe 3 is formed in a radially projecting portion 27 and is gradually communicated with the circular opening 28 in the radial direction. And a tapered opening 29 that spreads over the laser probe 3 is provided, and the boundary between the openings 28 and 29 is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameter dimension of the laser probe 3. The probe elastic holder 25 is pressed against the tapered opening 29, inserted into the circular opening 28, and held along the outer circumference of the expandable / bendable tube 21. In this case, by arranging the laser probe 3 so as to be held spirally along the outer circumference of the expandable / bendable tube 21 by the first elastic probe holder 25, the expandable / bendable tube 21 is placed at an arbitrary position. Expansion and contraction at an angle
Even if it is bent, the laser probe 3 can be made to follow freely without breaking. As shown in FIG. 5, in the second laser probe elastic holder 26, a dango-shaped opening 30 that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the laser probe 3 is formed in the projecting portion 27a on the opposite side, and the opening gradually communicates with the opening 30 in the radial direction. And a tapered opening 29a which spreads over the laser probe 3, and the boundary between the dango-shaped opening 30 and the tapered opening 29a is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the laser probe 3.
The laser probe 3 can be elastically held and fixed by the dango-shaped opening 30 by pressing the unsupported portion of the laser probe 3 into a loop shape and pressing it against the tapered opening 29a.

In the apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above, the sterilized laser probe 3 connected to the outlet port 2 of the laser generator 1 through the connector 4 is expanded and contracted with an appropriate degree of slack. The tapered opening 29 and the circular shape are formed by pressing an arbitrary portion of the flexible tube 21 into the tapered openings 29 attached to the plurality of first probe elastic holders 25 so as to form a spiral shape along the outer circumference of the flexible tube 21. Opening 2
The boundary of the laser probe 3 is larger than the diameter of the laser probe 3 and is inserted into the circular opening 28 to be held. Further, the tip end surplus unretained portion of the laser probe 3 is formed into a loop shape having an appropriate diameter and pressed against the tapered opening 29a attached to the second probe elastic holding body 26, whereby the tapered opening 29a and the dango-shaped opening 30 are formed. The dimension of the boundary portion where and contact is larger than the diameter dimension of the laser probe 3 and is inserted into the dango-shaped opening 30 and elastically held and fixed.

The expandable / bendable tube 21 has one end fixed to a flange 20 detachably connected to a T-shaped groove 18 formed on the outer wall surface of the laser generator 1 with a permanent magnet embedded in the bottom surface. cage, typically after having been subjected to sterilization processing, full
It is attached to the laser generator 1 together with the lunge 20.
It This flexible tube 21 itself has been sterilized and disinfected.
And contaminate the laser probe 3 held by it.
There is no. The expandable / bendable tube 21 expands / contracts when the laser generator 1 is not used, as shown in FIG.
It is a state in which the majority has been contracted press the bendable tube 21
It Even when the long laser probe 3 is used in this state , the middle part is bent and comes into contact with the floor surface, or the laser probe 3 is contaminated by directly contacting with the outer wall of the laser generator 1. In addition, it is possible to ensure the safety for the patient and the working space and the degree of freedom of the surgeon, assistant, nurse, etc. Further, when performing laser treatment using the laser generator 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the expandable / bendable tube 21 in which the laser probe 3 is spirally held along the outer circumference is used as an appropriate portion of the target portion. Extend / bend to the position / direction . At this time, the recesses 24 of the expandable / flexible tube 21 are expanded / contracted little by little and fixed in a free length . Therefore, Ru can follow the spiral shape along the outer periphery of the telescopic-bendable tube 21 without the laser probe 3 or broken. Furthermore ,
A loop is formed at the tip of the expandable / bendable tube 21 and the required amount of the laser probe 3 elastically held by the dango-shaped opening 30 is released from the dango-shaped opening 30 and inserted into the channel of the endoscope. As a result, it is possible to prevent contamination of the operator or the inside of the channel of the endoscope and ensure the safety so that the patient is not contaminated at all. In addition, once in the patient's body cavity
The exposed laser probe 3 is contaminated with the patient's body fluids.
The used laser probe 3 is preserved because it will be dyed.
The telescopic / flexible tube 21 that you have will also be contaminated.
U In that case, the expandable / bendable tube 21 is attached to the flange 2.
0 and remove from laser generator 1 to sterilize and disinfect
To do. After sterilizing and disinfecting, reattach to laser generator 1.
If so, it will contaminate the new uncontaminated laser probe 3.
Never. Further, the flange 20 is
Tensile from axial and linear direction orthogonal telescopic-bendable tube 21
Do not disengage from the T-shaped groove 18 except when force is applied.
Yes. Therefore, when the flexible tube 21 is expanded or contracted or bent,
Axial component of the flexible tube 21 that inevitably occurs
Even if the force of
It does not fall out of the device 1. Therefore, during treatment
Unexpectedly, the flexible / bendable tube 21 comes out.
Can be prevented and the laser probe 3 will fall on the floor and break.
It can prevent loss.

[0013]

As is evident from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, since sterilization for probe holding means is detachable from the apparatus main body is extremely easy, contaminated Rezapuro
Holding the probe contaminates the probe holding means.
Still contaminate it when using the next laser probe
To prevent the laser generator from easily
It can be detached and sterilized, and safety can be ensured without any contamination of the patient when using the laser application machine. Also, when using a laser probe
Contrary to the intention, whether the probe holding means is the laser generator main body
It can be prevented from coming off and the laser probe is damaged.
It can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a stretched and bendable tube according to the present invention in a stretched state.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional laser generator.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a column of a conventional laser generator.

8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the column shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Laser Generator 3 Laser Probe 18 T-Shaped Groove 19 Permanent Magnet 20 Flange 21 Flexible Tube 25 First Probe Elastic Holder 26 Second Probe Elastic Holder

Claims (2)

[Claims] Rezapuro of 1. A laser application machine that leads to the target site of laser light generated by the laser generator in the laser probe
The laser holding device can hold the laser probe.
And its axial length is longer than its width.
Holding means having a new shape and this probe holding means
The probe holding hand is provided at the base end of the means.
This flange with a flange that has a width wider than the width of the step
Detachable part only from the width direction of the probe holding means
And a laser generator having a groove portion held on its outer wall.
A laser probe holding device for a laser application machine, which is characterized by being provided . 2. The flange portion and the groove portion are magnetized by a magnetic force.
The laser probe holding device according to claim 1, wherein the laser probe holding device is magnetically attached .